Language/Tswana/Vocabulary/Meals-and-Dining

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Tswana → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Food and Drink → Meals and Dining

Introduction

In this lesson, we will explore vocabulary related to meals and dining in Tswana. Food is an important aspect of any culture, and learning the names of different meals, dishes, and beverages in Tswana will not only enhance your language skills but also provide insights into the Tswana culture and way of life. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to confidently discuss meals, order food, and understand common dining customs in Tswana-speaking regions.

Vocabulary

Meals

Let's start by learning the names of different meals in Tswana:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
mokgwa wa go ruta	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta	breakfast
mokgwa wa go phela	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈpʰeːla	lunch
mokgwa wa go ruta le go phela	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta lɛ ɡɔ ˈpʰeːla	brunch
mokgwa wa go ruta le go iketsa	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta lɛ ɡɔ iˈkʰet͡sa	elevenses
mokgwa wa go phela le go ruta	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈpʰeːla lɛ ɡɔ ˈruːta	afternoon tea
mokgwa wa go ruta le go iketla	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta lɛ ɡɔ iˈkʰet͡ɬa	dinner
mokgwa wa go ruta le go tshwara	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta lɛ ɡɔ ˈt͡ʃʰwaɾa	supper
mokgwa wa go ruta le go tsoma	mɔkɡʷa wa ɡɔ ˈruːta lɛ ɡɔ ˈtsʰɔma	midnight snack

Drinks

Now, let's learn some common beverages in Tswana:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
lejwalo	lɛˈʒwaːlɔ	water
mofu	ˈmɔfu	milk
sekgwa	ˈsɛkʰɡʷa	tea
kofi	ˈkʰɔfi	coffee
bojalwa	bɔˈʒaːlwa	juice
moseto	mɔˈsɛtɔ	soda
pharologano	pʰaɾɔlɔˈɡanɔ	lemonade
phepelo	pʰɛˈpʰɛlɔ	alcohol

Dishes

Here are some common dishes in Tswana:

Tswana	Pronunciation	English Translation
bogobe jwa pap	bɔˈɡɔbɛ ʒwa pap	maize porridge
seswaa	sɛˈswaː	shredded beef
morogo	mɔˈɾɔɡɔ	wild spinach
dikgobe	diˈk͡ʰɔbɛ	vegetable stew
matlho	ˈmɑt͡ɬɔ	chicken
diphaphatha	diˈpʰapʰaːtʰa	fried bread
boerewors	ˈbuːrɛvɔːrs	traditional sausage
lerotse	lɛˈɾɔt͡ʃɛ	bread

Cultural Insights

Tswana culture places great importance on communal dining and sharing meals. In traditional Tswana households, meals are often served in a communal bowl, and family members gather around to eat together. This practice fosters unity and strengthens family bonds. It is also common for Tswana people to invite guests to share a meal as a gesture of hospitality and friendship. Food is seen as a way to connect with others and show care and respect.

In Tswana cuisine, you will find a rich variety of flavors and ingredients. Traditional Tswana dishes often feature staple foods like maize, sorghum, and millet, which are used to make porridges, bread, and other dishes. Meat, especially beef and chicken, is commonly consumed, and it is often cooked slowly to achieve tenderness and enhance the flavor. Wild spinach, known as "morogo," is a popular vegetable in Tswana cuisine and is often used in stews and side dishes.

When dining in a Tswana household or restaurant, it is customary to wash your hands before and after the meal. This is a sign of cleanliness and respect for the food. Tswana meals are typically eaten with the hands, using the right hand to pick up food and the left hand to hold a bowl or plate. It is polite to eat slowly and savor each bite, as rushing through a meal may be seen as disrespectful. In some Tswana communities, it is customary to offer a portion of your food to others as a gesture of friendship and goodwill.

Practice Exercises

Now, let's practice using the vocabulary we have learned. Complete the following exercises:

1. Match the Tswana words with their English translations:

a) mokgwa wa go phela le go ruta b) sekgwa c) bogobe jwa pap d) moseto e) lejwalo

i) chicken ii) juice iii) lunch and breakfast iv) maize porridge v) tea

Solution: a) iii) lunch and breakfast b) v) tea c) iv) maize porridge d) ii) juice e) i) chicken

2. Choose the correct word to complete the sentence:

a) Ke batla _____. (I want water.) b) O dira _____. (He is making tea.) c) Re kgona go ruta le go _____. (We can have dinner and breakfast.) d) Kena go _____. (I'm going to eat.) e) Ke tla go dira _____. (I will make coffee.)

Solution: a) lejwalo (water) b) sekgwa (tea) c) phela (dinner) d) ruta (eat) e) kofi (coffee)

Conclusion

Congratulations! You have learned vocabulary related to meals and dining in Tswana. By mastering these words, you will be able to confidently navigate dining situations and engage in conversations about food in Tswana-speaking regions. Remember to practice using these words in context to further reinforce your understanding. In the next lesson, we will explore prepositions and conjunctions in Tswana, which will help you express location, time, and relationships. Keep up the great work!

Table of Contents - Tswana Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Basic Greetings

• Greetings and Introductions
• Polite Expressions

  ---

Sentence Structure

• Subject Pronouns
• Verb Conjugation

  ---

Numbers

• Counting 1-10
• Ordinal Numbers

  ---

Days of the Week and Months

• Days of the Week
• Months of the Year

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Plural Nouns

  ---

Common Objects and Places

• Household Items
• Places in Town

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative Adjectives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Drink

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Meals and Dining

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions of Place
• Prepositions of Time
• Conjunctions

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Possessives and Demonstratives

• Possessive Pronouns and Adjectives
• Demonstrative Pronouns and Adjectives

  ---

Tswana Traditions and Customs

• Traditional Clothing
• Tswana Cuisine

  ---

Tswana Holidays and Celebrations

• National Holidays
• Traditional Celebrations

Sources

• An Introduction to Spoken Setswana.
• Teach & Learn Basic Tswana ( Setswana ) Words for: My First ...
• Tswana Vocabulary → Basic Greetings → Polite Expressions

Other Lessons

• Colors
• Polite Expressions
• Describing Relationships
• Education
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Food
• Fruits
• Useful phrases
• Health
• Animals

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