PSLE Setswana flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Dumela le Dumelang

Dumela is the Setswana greeting used for one person of equal or younger age. Dumelang is used for two or more people, or for one elder to show respect.

O kae? / Le kae?

These questions ask how someone is. O kae is used with one person, and Le kae for several people or respectfully to an elder. The usual reply is Ke teng.

Tsamaya sentle

Said to a person who is leaving, meaning go well. The person leaving says Sala sentle to those staying behind, meaning stay well. Together they form a complete farewell exchange.

Ke a go leboga

Means thank you to one person. Ke a lo leboga is used for several people or for one elder. The customary reply is Ga go na bothata, meaning there is no problem.

Tshwarelo

Means forgiveness, or excuse me. Ke kopa tshwarelo means I ask for forgiveness. It is used to apologise for a mistake or to interrupt a conversation politely.

Motswedi wa kgang

The main idea of a reading passage. It is the central point the writer makes, and it is often found in the first or last sentence of a paragraph.

Dintlha tsa botlhokwa

Key details in a passage that support the main idea. In comprehension answers each detail must be traceable to a specific word, phrase or sentence in the text.

Go bapisa le go farologanya

Two reading skills used together. Go bapisa looks for similarities between two things in a text, while go farologanya looks for the differences between them.

Maitlhomo a mokwadi

The writer's purpose in a text. Common purposes are go ruta, to teach or inform, go kgotlha, to persuade, and go gakologelwa, to entertain the reader.

Go ntsha dikakanyo

Drawing a conclusion from a passage when the idea is not stated directly. The conclusion must still be supported by evidence found inside the text.

Noun class 1 and 2

Class 1 nouns take mo- in the singular and class 2 take ba- in the plural. The subject concord is o for class 1 and ba for class 2: mosimane o tsamaya, basimane ba tsamaya.

Noun class 7 and 8

Class 7 nouns begin with se- and class 8 with di-. Their subject concords are se and di: sekolo se butsega, dikolo di butsega. Adjectives follow the same concord pattern.

Noun class 9 and 10

Class 9 nouns take n- or m- and class 10 take di-. The subject concord is e for class 9 and di for class 10: kgomo e fula, dikgomo di fula.

Infinitive with go-

The infinitive form of a Setswana verb is built with the prefix go plus the verb stem, as in go bona, to see, go kwala, to write, and go tsamaya, to walk.

Past tense with ne

The past tense is formed with ne plus the subject concord plus the verb: ke ne ke bona, I saw. The same ne also marks continuous past action, as in ke ne ke bala.

Negative ga ... -e

Present negation places ga before the subject concord and adds the ending -e to the verb: ga ke bone, I do not see, and ga a tsamaye, he does not walk.

Maele

Proverbs in Setswana. They express community wisdom in fixed sentences and are used in speech, in kgotla disputes and in written composition to support a point.

Dikapuo

Idioms in Setswana. Their meaning cannot be worked out from the literal words, so each one is learnt as a whole expression together with its figurative sense.

Motho ke motho ka batho

A proverb meaning a person becomes fully human through other people. It teaches community, cooperation and shared responsibility, and is often quoted in essays about unity.

Ngwana yo o sa lleng

The opening of a proverb completed by o tla swela mo masapelong. It warns that a child who never complains or asks for help will be overlooked and will suffer.

Mma o tshwara thipa

Short form of the proverb Mma o tshwara thipa ka fa bogaleng. A mother will hold even the sharp blade, meaning she endures any hardship for the sake of her children.

Pelo e ntle

Means a good heart. It describes a kind, generous and forgiving person and is used as praise. Its opposite, pelo e bosula, describes a cruel or hard heart.

Matshwao a puo

Punctuation marks in Setswana writing: khutlo is a full stop, phegelwana a comma, botsheka a question mark, and kgakalo an exclamation mark. Correct marks carry meaning.

Lokwalo lo lo yang metsweding

A friendly letter. It has the writer's address at the top right, the date below it, a greeting such as Dumela Neo, body paragraphs, a closing such as Wa gago, and a signature.

Lokwalo wa semmuso

A formal letter. It opens with the receiver's address and the date, then a salutation such as Morena or Mma, a subject line, the body, and a closing such as Wa lona.

Tshimologo, mmele le bokhutlo

The three parts of a narrative composition: tshimologo introduces the setting and characters, mmele develops the events and conflict, and bokhutlo brings the story to a close.

Serapa

A paragraph in Setswana writing. Each serapa carries one main idea, begins with a topic sentence, and is separated from the next paragraph by an indent or a line break.

Mainane

Setswana folktales told to entertain and to teach morals. The teller calls Mainane! and the audience answers Ka re mainane! to show attention before the story begins.

Bogwera le Bojale

Traditional initiation schools. Bogwera is for boys and Bojale is for girls. Both teach the history, values and adult responsibilities expected in Setswana society.

Bogadi

Bride-wealth in Setswana marriage. The two families negotiate cattle or other goods given by the groom's family to the bride's family, sealing the relationship between the families.

Kgotla

The traditional assembly place and court of a Setswana community. The kgosi presides over discussions and settles disputes, and community members may speak during the proceedings.

Moropa le segaba

Traditional Setswana musical instruments. The moropa is a drum played at dances and ceremonies, while the segaba is a one-stringed bowed instrument used to accompany singing or storytelling.