Words

I started to compile a list of interesting and amusing expressions, words, and terms I have come across here. Some are in Setswana. Some follow the British tradition. Some are just fun to say. 
Go on - Give it a try !

• Chakalaka -  Is this a dance move ?  No - it's a spice or a vegetable chutney served as a side dish.
• Combi -  Is this a meal order ?  No - it's the local minibus that serves as the transit system.
• Full stop - Period. 
• Howzit ? - Just like it sounds.
• Isn't it ? - Question asked to confirm that the listener agrees with what you just said, regardless of accordance with the verb, tense, gender, or number.  "That makes sense, isn't it ?"
• Knock off -  Not a poor copy of a brand name product, but the action of finishing the work day. i.e., "What time do you knock off ?"
• Koko ! (or Kho-kho !) - Imitation of a knocking sound to let someone know you are entering the room.  It also means chicken.
• Late - Trust me, you don't want to be late !  It doesn't mean you are tardy, but that you have passed away.
• Pula - A multi-purpose word to denote rain, money, and blessings.  "Pula !" is also shouted at sporting events as a cheer.
• Thebe - The currency pula is comprised of 100 thebes, or raindrops. I think that is rather charming !
• Robots - Traffic lights. "Turn right at the next robots."
• Shake Shake - The term for Chibuku - a fermented sorghum beer sold in cardboard cartons.
• Sharp ! - Okay - bye, now !
• Soon soon (or now, now now, and just now) - Sooner than soon.  Different degrees of soon. I ordered lunch, and asked that my drink come first.  The waitress asked, "Do you want it now, or now now ?"
• Tswee-tswee - Please.
• ...and what what - and so on, etc.
• Yebo -  Slang (Zulu) for yes.

Sharp !

Everyday Setswana

I picked up a Setswana phrase book yesterday to help boost my vocabulary.  While glancing through it, I came across some useful - and not so useful - phrases.

Let's start with the not so useful ones:

• Go semanthane.  There is snow.  I doubt I will use this phrase during my time here.

• Saka.  Shark.  I won't likely need to shout this out as a warning, on the fringes of the Kalahari desert.

Some phrases that may come in handy, but I hope I will never have to use:

• Phepheng.  Scorpion.  We saw a cousin to the phepheng poking around our gear as we were packing up camp.  Next time, I think I will wear closed-toe shoes when I go camping.

• Noga.  Snake.

• Mokwepa.   Mamba.  I hope I don't have any close encounters with a noga, and especially not a mokwepa.

• Seteisene sa mapodisa.  Police station.

• Motseneledi.  Intruder.  Let's hope I never have to go to the seteisene sa mapodisa to report a motseneledi.  

• The dithibelbogodu (burglar bars) on my windows should deter a potential motseneledi.  I have to admit, it has taken some adjusting to get used to living behind walls, wires, and bars.  I haven't felt threatened in any way, but I guess these precautions are here for a reason.

• I also hope I will never have to go to the seteisene sa mapodisa to report a kotsi ya tsela  (road accident).  Although many expats buy used cars for the excellent resale value, I am not yet ready to venture out on city streets, especially during pharakano e e pitaganeng  (rush hour).  I think I would get frustrated with the kgotlhagano ya pharakano (traffic jams). 

• So far, I have been pretty healthy.  If that changes, then I may need to consult a ngaka (doctor) or, perhaps, even a ngaka ya Setswana (traditional healer).  Fortunately, I was introduced to a very nice ngaka as part of my orientation.

 Some phrases I hope to use very soon:

• Ke rata mnino.  I like music.  I am planning to go to a pontsho e e tselang  (live show) this weekend.

• I would also like to try go thala metsing  (sailing).  Believe it or not, there is a yacht club at the Gaborone Dam. 

Some phrases you may not need to learn in other places:

• Khutsana.  An orphan.

• Dikhutsaneng.  Orphanage.   An 'orphan' is defined by the United Nations as a child who has lost one or both parents. Worldwide, it is estimated that more than 16 million children under 18 have been orphaned by AIDS. Around 14.8 million of these children live in sub-Saharan Africa. In some countries, which are badly affected by the epidemic, a large percentage of all children (for example 16% of children in Zimbabwe and 12% in Botswana and Swaziland), are orphaned due to AIDS.  --  You didn't think I would post another item without including something about my work or Etsi (AIDS), did you ?  BOCAIP offers programs to provide care and support for Orphans and Vulnerable Children, and I will post more about what they do through these programs at another time.

Go sieme ! (Good-bye !)