Language/Southern-sotho/Grammar/Pronouns
Hi Southern Sotho learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will be exploring pronouns in Southern Sotho, an important part of speech that is widely used in everyday communication. Pronouns enable us to replace a noun with a word that refers to the same thing or person without using the same word repeatedly. This article aims to provide you with a quick guide to understanding pronouns and their usage in Southern Sotho.
Introduction[edit | edit source]
Pronouns are an essential part of communication and are used frequently in any language. They enable us to refer to a previously mentioned noun without repeating it, which can help improve the flow of speech and readability of the text. In Southern Sotho, like any other language, the pronouns represent a wide range of features such as person, gender, number, specificity, and other parameters.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Conditional Mood, Future Tense, Questions & How to Use Be.
Types of Pronouns[edit | edit source]
There are several types of pronouns found in Southern Sotho, and each type performs a different function in a sentence. Let's explore these different types of pronouns.
Personal Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Personal pronouns are used to refer to people or things, and they change according to the subject or object usage. Southern Sotho personal pronouns have three persons and two numbers, as seen in the table below:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ke | /kɛ̂/ | I, me |
| O | /ɔ̀/ | You (singular) |
| E | /ɪ̀/ | He, she, it |
| Re | /rɪ̂/ | We, us |
| Le | /lɪ́/ | You (plural) |
| Ba | /bà/ | They |
Example:
- Person 1: Ke a ba bona. (I see them)
- Person 2: Ke bone ba hae. (I see his/her/their)
Reflexive and Intensive Pronouns[edit | edit source]
Southern Sotho Reflexive and intensive pronouns are formed by adding '-self' or '-same' after the personal pronoun. Thus, 'myself, herself, himself, or themselves' will be translated as 'ke mokeli ka ja, e ka ja sa mong?'
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ho | /hɔ/ | Oneself |
| Ka | /ka/ | Myself |
| Sa | /sa/ | Himself, herself, itself |
| Kholo | /xɔlɔ/ | Themselves, ourselves |
Example:
- Person 1: Ke mo kholo ka ja. (I, myself, cooked)
- Person 2: Ke hlōkomele ha ke ka ja Tshepo le Habelo, bona ba sa etsa. (I took care of myself, Tshepo and Habelo didn't)
Demonstrative Pronouns[edit | edit source]
In Southern Sotho, Demonstrative pronouns are used to indicate specific individuals or objects in a sentence. They distinguish between near and far by adding a suffix to a stem to change its meaning. For example, "ene" refers to something that is close, while "ho" refers to something that is far.
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ena | /ɛ́na/ | This (near) |
| Ho | /hɔ/ | That (far) |
| Lena | /lɛ́na/ | This (near) |
| Hodima | /hɔ́di:mɑ̀/ | That one (far) |
Example:
- Person 1: Ena ke metsi a hae. (This is her water)
- Person 2: Hodima ke tshepe hape. (That one is far away)
- Person 1: Lena ke ke letse. (This is where I'm standing)
Indefinite Pronouns[edit | edit source]
An indefinite pronoun is a pronoun used to refer to something unspecified or nonspecific. Southern Sotho indefinite pronouns do not distinguish gender or number, and they refer to an unknown person/thing or an entire group. Common indefinite pronouns include:
| Southern Sotho | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Lilemo | /li:lɛmɔ/ | Anyone, someone |
| Boemong | /bɔɛ:mɔŋ/ | Everyone, someone |
| Ntate | /ntɑ̀tɛ́/ | Someone, a person |
Example:
- Person 1: Lilemo ke tla o tšaba. (Someone will greet you)
- Person 2: Boemong ba etsa lipontšo ha ba batla. (Everyone is different when shopping)
- Person 1: Ntate u tlameha che ke tlore. (You want me to do it on your behalf)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
Southern Sotho pronouns play an essential role in everyday communication. They assist in the formation of grammatically correct sentences and add coherence to a conversation or text.
Remember that the best way to learn any language is to put it into practice. Try to use these pronouns during your conversations or writing to improve your Southern Sotho skills. To improve your Southern Sotho Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Say Hello and Greetings in Southern Sotho, How to Use Have & Adjectives.
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]