PSLE Setswana key terms

Short traditional sayings that express accepted wisdom or a moral lesson, often used to advise or warn; they are not meant to be understood literally.

Fixed expressions whose meaning cannot be worked out from the individual words alone, such as a phrase describing an emotion or action in a figurative way.

A traditional story passed down by word of mouth, often featuring animals or magical events and ending with a lesson about behaviour.

A narrative or account of events, either real or imagined, that has a beginning, middle, and end and is usually told for interest or information.

A praise poem traditionally recited to honour a person, family, or clan by listing admired qualities and memorable deeds, often during ceremonies.

The shared way of life of a community, including its language, food, celebrations, beliefs, and the practices passed from one generation to the next.

Accepted customs and traditions that guide how members of a community behave, greet, marry, mourn, and show respect to others in daily life.

A word class that expresses an action, state, or occurrence, for example 'go tsamaya' (to walk) or 'go rata' (to like); it functions as the verb.

A word class used to name a person, place, thing, quality, or idea, for example 'mosadi' (woman), 'Gaborone', or 'lorato' (love).

A word that describes or limits a noun, giving more information about its size, colour, number, or quality, as in 'ntlo e kgolo' (a big house).

A word used in place of a noun so that the noun need not be repeated, such as 'ene' (he/him) or 'bone' (they/them).

A word that gives more information about a verb, adjective, or another adverb, often saying how, when, or where something happens.

A group of words that expresses a complete thought and normally contains a subject and a predicate; it is the sentence unit used in speaking and writing.

The individual words of a language, considered as units of meaning and as the building blocks of phrases, sentences, and longer texts.

The meaning that a word, phrase, or sentence conveys in a particular context, including figurative meanings that differ from the literal ones.

An account that makes something clear by explaining its meaning, causes, or features in detail, often using examples and simpler language.

A sentence or utterance that asks for information, seeks an opinion, or sets a task to be answered, often beginning with a question word.

A reply or response given to a question, task, or request; in an examination it should address exactly what the question asks.

A person who is speaking or who addresses an audience, especially in a formal setting such as a meeting, ceremony, or classroom.

A person who listens attentively to a speaker in a conversation, lesson, or meeting, aiming to understand the message and respond appropriately.

A person who reads a text, interprets its meaning, and follows its ideas, whether reading silently or aloud for study or pleasure.

A person who produces a written text, such as a story, letter, report, or article, arranging ideas for a reader.

A person who composes and performs poems, especially praise poems or oral poetry, using rhythm, imagery, and traditional forms before an audience.

A title or heading placed above a piece of writing to announce its topic and help the reader find and understand the section.

Written work produced for a purpose, such as a composition, letter, report, or notice, organised into paragraphs and read by others.

A written message sent from one person or organisation to another, usually following a formal or friendly layout with a greeting and closing.

A written or spoken account that presents facts about an event, situation, or investigation in an orderly and objective way.

A short public notice that gives information, warns people, or invites them to an event; it is meant to be seen and understood quickly.

Something that happens or takes place, especially an event in a story or real life that moves the action forward.

Feelings or emotions experienced by a person or suggested by a text, such as joy, sadness, fear, or surprise in a character or speaker.

A figure of speech that compares two different things by using a word such as 'jaaka' (like), helping the reader picture one thing through another.

A figure of speech in which one thing is described as if it were another, without using 'like', to suggest a shared quality or image.

The main point or information that a speaker or writer wants to pass on to an audience, often stated directly or implied.