Looking for practical Krio to Tswana phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Krio phrase first, then the Tswana translation (Tswana) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Tswana.
Tip: read the Tswana line out loud three times, then cover the Krio side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Krio to Tswana translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Hello
Dumela
Tenki
Ke a leboga
Gud mɔnin
Dumelang
Gud aftanun
Dumela mo afternoon
Gud ivnin
Dumela mo evening
Gud nait
Borai
Si yu leta
Tsamaya sentle
Bai
Tsamaya sentle
Wetɛn na yu neym?
O na le leina mang?
Ma neym na John
Leina la me ke John
Ow yu de?
O kae?
Naes fo mit yu
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Yu sabi English?
A o bua Seisemane?
A no sabi Hindi well.
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle
A no sabi.
Ke sitwa go tlhaloganya
Plis, tok slow.
Tsweetswee bua ka bonako
Yu fit tok dat again?
A o ka bo o bua seo gape?
Weh na di toilet?
Borai bo kae?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Ke tshela jang go ya borai jwa motse?
Turn left.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le letona
Turn right.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le lebaganeng
Go straight.
Tswelela ka fao
Ow much na di fare?
Gaeletsi e bokae?
One ticket, plis.
Tikit e le nngwe, tsweetswee
E far from ya?
A ke kgole go tswa fano?
A don lost.
Ke a latlhela
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Borai ke ka fao ke ka rekang SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Yes
Ee
No
Nnyaa
Maybe
Mafoko
A mi agree
Ke a dumela
A no agree
Ke sitwa go dumela
Dat na fine
Seo se utlwisa molemo
Wet in you tink?
O akanya eng?
You fit help me?
O ka nthusa?
A need help
Ke tlhoka thuso
Wait small
Emisa motsotso
A sorry
Ke maswabi
No problem
Ga go na bothata
Congratulations
A re amogele
Happy birthday
Tlhogomelo e e monate
Get safe trip
O seka wa tsamaea ka bolokegong
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Weh na di train station?
Ke kae borai jwa terene?(ke kae borai jwa terene)
Weh na di bus stop?
Ke kae borai jwa boso?(ke kae borai jwa boso)
Which platform na im?
Ke phetogo efe?(ke phetogo efe)
Wetin time e go lef?
Nako efe e tlogang?(nako efe e tlogang)
Dis na di right way?
A ke tsela e e siameng?(a ke tsela e e siameng)
E dey near here
E kgaogang fa(e kgaogang fa)
E far from here
E le kgakala le fa(e le kgakala le fa)
Yu fit show me pan di map?
O ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape?(o ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape)
Stop here, pliz
Emisa fa, tsweetswee(emisa fa, tsweetswee)
How long e go tek?
E tsaya nako e kae?(e tsaya nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
How much dis cost?
Ke bokae?(ke bo kae?)
Dat too expensive.
Seo ke se expensive(se ke se expensive)
You get anytin wey cheaper?
A o na le sengwe se se cheap?(a o na le sengwe se se cheap?)
I fit pay by card?
Na nka lefa ka khadi?(na nka lefa ka khadi?)
I wan table for two.
Ke kopa tafole ya babedi(ke kopa tafole ya babedi)
Di bill, please.
Bille, tsweetswee(bille, tsweetswee)
Service dey include?
Na tshebeletso e akaretswe?(na tshebeletso e akaretswe?)
I na vegetarian.
Ke movegetarian(ke mo vegetarian)
No spicy food, please.
A re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee(a re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee)
Dis dey sweet.
Se ke se monate(se ke se monate)
I fit get di menu?
Na nka nna le menu?(na nka nna le menu?)
A glass of water, please.
Glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee(glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Call di police
Bua le mapolesa
Call ambulance
Bua le ambulance
A need doctor
Ke tlhoka ngaka
A dey feel sick
Ke ikutlwa ke sitwa
A get allergy for peanuts
Ke na le allergy go peanuts
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Hospitale e kgethegileng e kae?
E dey pain here
Go botlhoko fa
A don lose mi passport
Ke sitwa passport ya me
You fit call mi hotel?
O ka bua le hotele ya me?
Help!
Thusa!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Na nice for meet you
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Make we plan wan meeting
A re beye ngwaga ya kopano
Wetin time go work for you?
Nako efe e go thusang?
A go send di report tiday
Ke tla romela reporteng gompieno
We go fit talk tomorrow?
A re ka bua ka borai?
Abeg find di file wey attach
Tsweetswee, etse fa faele e amanang
Tenki for your time
Ke a leboga ka nako ya gago
A dey look forward for work with you
Ke itumelela go dira le wena
You fit clarify dat point?
A o ka tlhalosa ntlha eo?
Make I get back to you
A ke boele go wena
Di deadline na Friday
Nako ya go fela ke Labohlano
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.