Language/Tswana/Vocabulary/Health

Tswana Vocabulary - Health

Hi Tswana learners! 😊
In this lesson, you will learn useful Tswana vocabulary related to health. It is important to know these terms when talking to doctors or describing your symptoms.

Don't miss the chance to check out these pages as you wrap up this lesson: Geography & Useful phrases.

Basic Vocabulary

Let's start with some basic vocabulary.

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
Bophelo	bɔpʰɛlɔ	Health
Boithaopo	bɔiθaɔpʰɔ	Hygiene
Kgwebo	k͡xʷɛbɔ	Disease
Go kwala	kʷǎːlà	To be sick
Go bona letsatsi	bɔnà lɛ̀tsʰatsʰi	To have a sunburn
Leswalo	lɛswàlɔ̀	Pain
Senthara	sɛntʰàɾà	Headache

Here are some useful sentences using the above vocabulary:

• Ke tsamaya go fitlhela bophelong. (I'm going for a health check-up)
• Re fitlhela kgwebo ya COVID-19. (We're testing for COVID-19)
• Ke tsena wa tsamaya ka ngwaga yo o otlhe ka go bona letsatsi. (I usually go outdoors during summer and get sunburn)
• Ke sena nako ya go kwala. (I don't have time to be sick)

Symptoms

Next, let's look at some common symptoms and their corresponding Tswana words.

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
Leholo	lɛhɔlɔ	Fever
Go kwena	kʷɛ̀nà	To cough
Go godisa	gɔgɔdɪ̣sà	To sneeze
Diaparo	dɪàpʰàrɔ̀	Diarrhea
Tswakisenyegile	t͡swàkʰísɛnɪ̣ɛ̀ɣilɛ	Nauseous
Go lwala	lʷǎːlà	To vomit

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: Ke tlhokega ka leholo. (I have a fever.)
• Person 2: Go kwena o kgonne. (You're coughing a lot.)

Injuries

Now, let's learn some Tswana words related to common injuries.

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
Mefuta	mɛ̀fùtʰà	Knee
Kgaperana	k͡xàpʰɛ́rànà	Ankle
Botlhokwa ba putswa	bɔ̀t͡ɬʰɔ̀kʷà bà pùtsʷà	Bruise
Moithuti	mʊ̀ɪ́tʰʊ̀tʰi	Band-Aid
Go chaaba	kʷʰàːbà	To sprain
Go kwala mo mokgwa wa go iokolola	kʷǎːlà mɔ̀ mɔ̀kʰwa wà kʷɔ̀ʟɔ̀là	To get a concussion

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: Ke tla go thusa ka motho yo a chaabang selemo sa gagwe. (I'll help you with someone who sprained their ankle.)
• Person 2: Ke a lela moithuti. (I need a Band-Aid.)

Medications

Finally, let's look at some Tswana words related to medications and treatments.

Tswana	Pronunciation	English
Motlhang	mɔ̀tɬʰàŋ	Pill
Mosali	mɔ̀sálì	Syrup
Sentlhane	sɛ̀ntlʰànɛ̀	Injection
Go itlhakela ditlhokego	kʷɔ̀ ɪ́t͡ɬʰàkʰɛ̀là dɪ̀tɬʰɔ̀kʰɛ̀ɣɔ̀	To prescribe medication
Go ba tswelela	kʷá bà t͡swɛ̀lɛ̀là	To rehabilitate

Here's an example dialogue:

• Person 1: Morwa wa namane a tsenwa sentlhane. (The baby was given an injection.)
• Person 2: Ke dira jang go ba tswelela? (How can I rehabilitate?)

Remember, if you need medical help, go to the hospital or clinic. Tswana is not difficult to learn, but it's important to practice regularly to improve. To improve your Tswana Vocabulary, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!

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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. 😎

Other Lessons

• Clothes
• Family
• Useful phrases
• Drinks
• How to say Good Bye?
• Animals
• Fruits
• Food
• Days of the Week

Sources

• Peace Corps/ Botswana - An Introduction to the Setswana Language
• Tswana Vocabulary - Health
• Tswana medical terms - Wikiversity