LGCSE Sesotho key terms

The skill of receiving and understanding spoken Sesotho, tested through audio passages followed by questions. Candidates must catch main ideas, specific details, tone and speaker intention without replaying the recording.

Spoken language used in conversation, discussion and oral presentation. In the oral examination it covers fluency, pronunciation, appropriate register and the ability to sustain a coherent spoken turn.

A spoken utterance, statement or speech act. In oral tasks it refers to a candidate's delivered talk or response, judged on clarity, structure, vocabulary range and control of grammar.

The meaning or sense conveyed by a word, sentence or passage. Comprehension questions often ask for moelelo in context, requiring the candidate to explain rather than merely translate.

An explanation or clarification of a term, idea or passage. In reading and listening papers, candidates must give tlhaloso in their own words to show genuine understanding rather than copying the text.

A written text or passage set for reading. Candidates identify the writer's purpose, main argument, supporting details and the relationship between paragraphs in the mongolo provided.

The structure or organisation of a text, such as introduction, body and conclusion. Questions on sebopeho ask how ideas are arranged and whether the order supports the writer's purpose.

A method, manner or style used in writing or speaking. In comprehension and composition it refers to the technique chosen, for example narrative, descriptive or argumentative approach.

The purpose or aim behind a text or utterance, such as to persuade, inform, entertain or warn. Identifying sepheo is a standard comprehension question and shapes how a passage should be read.

Feelings, opinions or attitudes expressed by a speaker, writer or character. Candidates are asked to identify maikutlo from word choice and tone, and to distinguish them from stated facts.

A noun, the word class naming a person, thing, place or abstract idea. Lereho is central to Sesotho grammar because nouns fall into classes marked by prefixes that control agreement across the sentence.

A pronoun, a word replacing a noun. Sesotho pronouns and their concords must agree with the noun class of the noun they stand for, and errors of agreement are commonly tested.

Noun class structure, the system grouping Sesotho nouns by singular and plural prefixes. Knowing the class of a noun lets a candidate predict its plural form and the concords used with it.

A verb, the word class expressing action or state. Sesotho verbs carry extensive inflection for tense, aspect, mood, negation and object marking, and candidates must control these forms accurately.

Tense, the grammatical marking of when an action occurs. Sesotho distinguishes present, past and future with specific verb endings and auxiliary markers, and tense errors are heavily penalised in writing.

Spelling and the conventions of writing words correctly. Accurate mopeleto matters because Sesotho uses distinctive consonant digraphs and clicks whose miswriting changes meaning.

An explanatory account or interpretation of a rule, word or text. In grammar questions, hlaloso requires a candidate to state how a form works and illustrate it with a correct example.

Words, the basic units of vocabulary. Vocabulary questions test whether a candidate can select mantsoe that fit the context, register and grammatical slot of a sentence.

A short form or abbreviation of a word or phrase. Recognising khutsoanyane helps candidates read notices, forms and informal texts where full words are shortened.

Descriptive words, especially adjectives and adverbs that qualify nouns or verbs. Using mahlalosi well enriches composition and is rewarded in vocabulary and writing marks.

Synonyms, words with closely similar meanings. Candidates use them to avoid repetition in composition and to answer vocabulary questions requiring an equivalent word in context.

A proverb, a fixed traditional saying that carries condensed wisdom and moral teaching. Maele are used to open or close speeches and to strengthen an argument in composition.

An idiom, an expression whose overall meaning cannot be worked out from its individual words. Candidates must learn kgeleke as whole units and use them appropriately in formal and informal contexts.

The figurative meaning and lesson carried by a proverb. Explaining moelelo wa maele requires linking the image in the saying to the situation being described, not just translating the words.

A comparison or figurative image, including simile and metaphor. Recognising tšoantšiso helps candidates interpret poetic and proverbial language and comment on its effect.

A conversation, dialogue or informal discussion. In composition and oral work, moqoqo tests the ability to write or deliver natural exchanges with appropriate turn-taking and register.

An essay, composition or piece of extended writing produced under examination conditions. Marks depend on relevance, organisation, paragraphing, vocabulary range, grammar and spelling.

An argument or debate presenting reasons for and against a position. A written ngangisano must state a clear standpoint, support it with evidence and answer the opposing view.

A report or narrative account of events in sequence. Report writing requires factual tone, chronological order and clear separation of what happened from personal opinion.

A letter or formal written communication. Candidates must control the layout, salutation, register and closing appropriate to formal and informal lengolo in the writing paper.

A story or narrative, whether oral or written. In literature, pale refers to the plot and the sequence of events through which a theme is developed.

A character in a literary work. Candidates analyse mophetwa by looking at actions, speech, relationships and how the writer reveals personality and motivation.

The theme or central message of a literary work. Identifying sehloho means stating the underlying idea the text explores and supporting it with evidence from the text.

Imagery or figurative description used to create pictures in the reader's mind. Discussing sets'oants'o requires naming the technique and explaining its effect on mood and meaning.

Poetry, a literary form built on rhythm, imagery and condensed language. Candidates answer questions on thothokiso by explaining meaning, poetic devices and the poet's attitude.

Drama, a play written for performance. Questions on terama cover plot, character conflict, stage directions and how dialogue reveals relationships and themes.

Appreciation or critical evaluation of a literary text. Candidates show kananelo by judging how effectively techniques, structure and language serve the writer's purpose.