Vehicles

13 phrases · Sepedi (Northern Sotho) with romanization, English and audio

  1. Koloi

    Car

    Usage

    A car; the plural is dikoloi

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Koloi ya ka e gana go duma" (my car does not start); "sefatanaga" also means car or vehicle

  2. Thekisi

    Taxi

    Usage

    A taxi; the plural is dithekisi. South African minibus taxis are also usually called by this word

    Grammar Note

    A loanword from English taxi; "dithekisi" is common

  3. Pese

    Bus

    Usage

    A bus; "peseng" means on the bus

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Bana ba emetše pese" (the children are waiting for the bus)

  4. Setimela

    Train

    Usage

    A train; the loan "terene" also exists

    Grammar Note

    Example: "E be e le setimela se setelele kudu" (it was a very long train)

  5. Sethuthuthu

    Motorcycle

    Usage

    A motorcycle

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Sethuthuthu sa go fihla ka 125cc" (a motorcycle of up to 125cc)

  6. Paesekela

    Bicycle

    Usage

    A bicycle, borrowed from English

    Grammar Note

    Example: "O namela paesekela ya gagwe" (he rides his bike)

  7. Sefofane

    Aeroplane

    Usage

    An aeroplane; the plural is difofane. The airport is boemafofane

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Sefofane se fofa ka godimo ga thaba" (the aeroplane flew over the mountain)

  8. Sekepe

    Ship

    Usage

    A ship

    Grammar Note

    A common word, mostly the sense "vessel" in registration forms

  9. Seketswana

    Boat

    Usage

    A small boat, as in "the ant used the leaf as a boat"

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Thuša seketswana go fihla sehlakahlakeng" (help the boat get to the island)

  10. Ampulense

    Ambulance

    Usage

    An ambulance, borrowed from English

    Grammar Note

    Example: "mootledi wa ampulense" (ambulance driver); rare in writing

  11. Lori

    Truck / lorry

    Usage

    A truck or lorry; the plural is dilori

    Grammar Note

    Example: "laesense ya go otlela lori" (a truck driver's licence)

  12. Karikana

    Cart / wagon

    Usage

    A cart pulled by horses or oxen

    Grammar Note

    Example: "Pere le karikana" (horse and cart)

  13. Sefatanaga

    Vehicle / transport

    Usage

    A general word for a vehicle or car

    Grammar Note

    E.g. "Se ke sefatanaga sa rena" (this is our car)

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