Language/Tswana/Vocabulary/Education
Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will explore vocabulary related to education. We will also include cultural information and interesting facts to make the lesson more engaging!
With the completion of this lesson, consider investigating these related pages: Express Surprise & Health.
Basic Vocabulary[edit | edit source]
Let's start with some basic vocabulary related to education:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Setswana | /se.t͡swa.na/ | Tswana language |
| boloka | /bo.ɬo.ka/ | to learn |
| thuto | /tʰu.to/ | education |
| sekolo | /se.ᵏo.ɺo/ | school |
| setswalo sa thuto | /se.t͡swa.lo sa tʰu.to/ | educational institution |
| nna ke itse boloka madi a rona | /nːa ke i.t͡se bo.ɬo.ka ma.di a ro.na/ | I know how to count our money |
Now, let's learn some more specific words related to education:
Subjects[edit | edit source]
Here are some common school subjects:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| maths | /ma.t͡ʃi/ | mathematics |
| setswana | /se.t͡swá.na/ | Tswana language |
| phuthego | /pʰutʰe.ɡo/ | science |
| soshaledi | /so.ʃa.le.di/ | social studies |
| leleno | /ɺe.ɺe.no/ | physical education |
| sedirisanyo | /se.di.ɺi.sa.njo/ | psychology |
| tlhogo | /t͡ɬʱo.ɡo/ | literature |
Here's a dialogue where you can see these words in context:
- Teacher: Thuto e tsamaile ka eng? (What are we learning today?)
- Students: Ke mathese (We are learning maths)
- Teacher: Ke boloke sentle (Study well)
Levels of Education[edit | edit source]
Here are the different levels of education:
| Tswana | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| kgaolo ya bana | /kʰa.ɣa.o.lo ja ba.na/ | early childhood education |
| sekolo sa sekolo | /se.ᵏʰo.ɺo sa se.ᵏo.ɺo/ | primary school |
| sekolo sa sekondari | /se.ᵏʰo.ɺo sa se.kʼon.dari/ | secondary school |
| bosetšhaba | /bo.se.tsʰa.ba/ | university |
| lefatshe la semmuso | /ɺe.fat͡ʃʰe la se.mːu.so/ | community college |
| pheng ya kgwedi | /pʰeŋ ja kʼʷe.di/ | summer school |
And here's a dialogue using these words:
- Student: Ke ithuta sekolo sa sekondari (I am studying in secondary school)
- Teacher: Ke itumelela (I approve)
Fun Facts[edit | edit source]
- Tswana is one of the official languages of South Africa and Botswana, and it is one of the most widely spoken languages in southern Africa. - The name "Tswana" comes from the Sotho-Tswana people who are native speakers of the language. - In Tswana culture, education is highly valued and considered important for social and economic mobility. - The University of Botswana is one of the top tertiary institutions in Africa and offers a variety of courses in different fields.
Practice Time![edit | edit source]
To improve your Tswana Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Now, it's time to practice what you have learned. Complete the following sentences with the correct word:
1. Ke boloke ____ ka lefatshe la semmuso. (I study at a community college) 2. Ke sa tsebe _____ (I don't know maths) 3. Ke ithuta _____ _____ (I am studying science) 4. Kgaolo ya bana ke ___ ___ _____ (early childhood education) 5. Sekolo sa sekolo se ______ ______ (primary school)
➡ 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]
- Tswana - Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
- Peace Corps/ Botswana - An Introduction to the Setswana Language
- Tswana Definition, Meaning & Synonyms | Vocabulary.com
Other Lessons[edit | edit source]
- Drinks
- Fruits
- Count to 10
- Food
- Clothes
- Colors
- Greetings
- Days of the Week
- How to Say Hello and Greetings