Language/Tswana/Vocabulary/Colors

Tswana Vocabulary - Colors

Hi Tswana learners! 😊

In this lesson, we will learn the names of colors in Tswana. Colors are an important part of our lives and learning their names will help you to better express yourself in Tswana. You can also use these words to describe your surroundings and communicate more effectively with Tswana speakers. Let's get started!

Once you've mastered this lesson, take a look at these related pages: Useful phrases, Geography, Family & Health.

Basic colors

Here are the basic colors in Tswana along with their pronunciations and translations:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
metsi	meh-tsee	blue
naga	nah-gah	black
tshweu	tsh-way-oo	white
tlhogo	tlhoh-goh	yellow
tshimollo	tshi-moh-llow	green
mphatlalatsane	mphat-la-lat-sah-neh	orange
ntlha	ntlhah	red
koloi	koh-loh-ee	purple

Some of these colors may sound similar to colors in other languages. For example, "metsi" in Tswana means "blue" whereas "mizu" in Japanese also means "water" and "blue". This similarity between languages is not uncommon!

Here are some examples of how to use these words in a sentence:

• Ke ithuta tlhogo - I am learning yellow.
• Go tlhoka metsi - It needs blue.
• Setlhare sa gago se tlhoka koloi - Your shirt needs purple.

Advanced colors

Here are some more advanced colors in Tswana that you can learn:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
kwaitshepe	kwhy-tsheh-peh	pink
lentswe	leh-ntsw-eh	brown
maswe	mah-swheh	gray
tlasa	tlhah-sah	gold

Just like the basic colors, you can use these words to better describe your surroundings and communicate with Tswana speakers. Here are some examples:

• Go nna ka ithuba le kwaitshepe - I want a pink one.
• Kua le lefatshe le tshwanetse go nna lentswe - There is earth that should be brown.
• Nako ya tsela e maswe - The road is gray.
• Ke batla tlasa - I want gold.

Cultural significance of colors

Colors have cultural significance across different societies, and Tswana culture is no different. Here are some cultural facts about colors in Tswana culture:

• The color blue (metsi) is associated with water and purity in Tswana culture.
• Red (ntlha) is associated with fire and danger.
• White (tshweu) is associated with cleanliness and purity, and is often worn during important events such as weddings and funerals.
• Black (naga) is often worn during mourning periods.

Knowing these cultural facts can help you better understand Tswana society and its traditions.

Dialogue

Here's a dialogue to help you practice using the colors we've learned:

• Person 1: Nna ke tshweu. (I am white.)
• Person 2: Ke tshoga naga. (I am wearing black.)
• Person 1: Ke ithuta tlhogo. (I am learning yellow.)
• Person 2: Mme metsi ga a itse. (But, s/he does not know blue.)

Conclusion

Congratulations, you have learned the names of colors in Tswana! Remember to practice them by describing your surroundings and using them in a conversation with a Tswana speaker. To improve your Tswana vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Don't stop here, continue to explore different aspects of Tswana by checking out our Vocabulary and grammar sections.

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➡ 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. 😎

Finished this lesson? Check out these related lessons: Animals, Food, Feelings and Emotions & Count to 10.

Other Lessons

• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Food
• Days of the Week
• Health
• Clothes
• Animals
• Express Surprise
• Count to 10
• Fruits
• Geography

Sources

• Tswana phrasebook – Travel guide at Wikivoyage
• Colors (Setswana) Flashcards | Quizlet
• (PDF) Color Terms in Setswana: A Linguistic and Perceptual Approach