Looking for practical Tswana to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Tswana phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: when a Krio phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Tswana wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Tswana to Krio 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.
Dumela
Hello
Ke a leboga
Tenki
Dumelang
Gud mɔnin
Dumela mo afternoon
Gud aftanun
Dumela mo evening
Gud ivnin
Borai
Gud nait
Tsamaya sentle
Si yu leta
Tsamaya sentle
Bai
O na le leina mang?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Leina la me ke John
Ma neym na John
O kae?
Ow yu de?
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
A o bua Seisemane?
Yu sabi English?
Ke sitwa go bua Hindi sentle
A no sabi Hindi well.
Ke sitwa go tlhaloganya
A no sabi.
Tsweetswee bua ka bonako
Plis, tok slow.
A o ka bo o bua seo gape?
Yu fit tok dat again?
Borai bo kae?
Weh na di toilet?
Ke tshela jang go ya borai jwa motse?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le letona
Turn left.
Fetola go ya ka letlhako le lebaganeng
Turn right.
Tswelela ka fao
Go straight.
Gaeletsi e bokae?
Ow much na di fare?
Tikit e le nngwe, tsweetswee
One ticket, plis.
A ke kgole go tswa fano?
E far from ya?
Ke a latlhela
A don lost.
Borai ke ka fao ke ka rekang SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Ee
Yes
Nnyaa
No
Mafoko
Maybe
Ke a dumela
A mi agree
Ke sitwa go dumela
A no agree
Seo se utlwisa molemo
Dat na fine
O akanya eng?
Wet in you tink?
O ka nthusa?
You fit help me?
Ke tlhoka thuso
A need help
Emisa motsotso
Wait small
Ke maswabi
A sorry
Ga go na bothata
No problem
A re amogele
Congratulations
Tlhogomelo e e monate
Happy birthday
O seka wa tsamaea ka bolokegong
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Ke kae borai jwa terene?
Weh na di train station?(ke kae borai jwa terene)
Ke kae borai jwa boso?
Weh na di bus stop?(ke kae borai jwa boso)
Ke phetogo efe?
Which platform na im?(ke phetogo efe)
Nako efe e tlogang?
Wetin time e go lef?(nako efe e tlogang)
A ke tsela e e siameng?
Dis na di right way?(a ke tsela e e siameng)
E kgaogang fa
E dey near here(e kgaogang fa)
E le kgakala le fa
E far from here(e le kgakala le fa)
O ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape?
Yu fit show me pan di map?(o ka nthusa go bontsha mo mape)
Emisa fa, tsweetswee
Stop here, pliz(emisa fa, tsweetswee)
E tsaya nako e kae?
How long e go tek?(e tsaya nako e kae)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Ke bokae?
How much dis cost?(ke bo kae?)
Seo ke se expensive
Dat too expensive.(se ke se expensive)
A o na le sengwe se se cheap?
You get anytin wey cheaper?(a o na le sengwe se se cheap?)
Na nka lefa ka khadi?
I fit pay by card?(na nka lefa ka khadi?)
Ke kopa tafole ya babedi
I wan table for two.(ke kopa tafole ya babedi)
Bille, tsweetswee
Di bill, please.(bille, tsweetswee)
Na tshebeletso e akaretswe?
Service dey include?(na tshebeletso e akaretswe?)
Ke movegetarian
I na vegetarian.(ke mo vegetarian)
A re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee
No spicy food, please.(a re na le dijo tse di spicy, tsweetswee)
Se ke se monate
Dis dey sweet.(se ke se monate)
Na nka nna le menu?
I fit get di menu?(na nka nna le menu?)
Glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee
A glass of water, please.(glasi ya metsi, tsweetswee)
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Bua le mapolesa
Call di police
Bua le ambulance
Call ambulance
Ke tlhoka ngaka
A need doctor
Ke ikutlwa ke sitwa
A dey feel sick
Ke na le allergy go peanuts
A get allergy for peanuts
Hospitale e kgethegileng e kae?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Go botlhoko fa
E dey pain here
Ke sitwa passport ya me
A don lose mi passport
O ka bua le hotele ya me?
You fit call mi hotel?
Thusa!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Ke itumetse go kopana le wena
Na nice for meet you
A re beye ngwaga ya kopano
Make we plan wan meeting
Nako efe e go thusang?
Wetin time go work for you?
Ke tla romela reporteng gompieno
A go send di report tiday
A re ka bua ka borai?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
Tsweetswee, etse fa faele e amanang
Abeg find di file wey attach
Ke a leboga ka nako ya gago
Tenki for your time
Ke itumelela go dira le wena
A dey look forward for work with you
A o ka tlhalosa ntlha eo?
You fit clarify dat point?
A ke boele go wena
Make I get back to you
Nako ya go fela ke Labohlano
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.