- Word List
This excellent word list is by coutesy and with great thanks to Jako Olivier.
For more on Sesotho and SA languages, go to : http://www.sesotho.web.za/
Sesotho
Place Name Word List
Continents - Dikontinente
| English |
Sesotho |
| Africa |
Afrika |
| Asia |
Asia |
| Europe |
Yuropo (Yoropo / Jiropo) |
| North America |
Amerika Leboya |
| South America |
Amerika Borwa |
Oceans - Mawatle
| English |
Sesotho |
| Atlantic Ocean |
Lewatle la Atlelantiki |
| Indian Ocean |
Lewatle la India |
| Pacific Ocean |
Lewatle la Phasifiki |
Geographical regions - Ditereke
tsa thutafatshe
| English |
Sesotho |
| Middle East |
Botjhabela Bohare |
| Kalahari |
Kgalahadi |
| North Pole |
Palo e ka leboya |
| South Pole |
Palo e ka borwa |
Countries - Dinaha
| English |
Sesotho |
| Angola |
Angola |
| Belgium |
Belgiamo |
| Botswana |
Botswana |
| Burundi |
Burundi |
| China |
Tjhaena |
| Congo |
Kongo |
| Democratic Republic of Congo |
Rephabliki ya Demokrasi ya Kongo |
| Egypt |
Egepeta |
| England |
Engelane |
| France |
Fora |
| Germany |
Jeremane |
| Greece |
Gerikelane |
| India |
India |
| Italy |
Itali |
| Japan |
Japane |
| Kenya |
Kenya |
| Lesotho |
Lesotho |
| Mali |
Mali |
| Malawi |
Malawi |
| Mozambique |
Mozambiki (Potoketsi) |
| Namibia |
Namibia |
| (The) Netherlands |
Netherlane |
| Russia |
Rashea |
| Rwanda |
Rwanda |
| South Africa |
Afrika Borwa |
| Swaziland |
Swatsing |
| Tanzania |
Tanzania |
| Uganda |
Uganda |
| USA |
Amerika |
| Zambia |
Zambia |
| Zimbabwe |
Zimbabwe |
South African place
names in Sesotho
Republic of South Africa
- Rephabliki ya Afrika Borwa
South Africa - Afrika Borwa
Provinces - Diporovinse
| English |
Sesotho |
| Eastern Cape |
Kapa Botjhabela |
| Free State |
Foreistata (Foreisetata /
Freistata) |
| Gauteng |
Gauteng |
| KwaZulu-Natal |
Kwazulu-Natala |
| Limpopo |
Limpopo |
| Mpumalanga |
Mpumalanga |
| Northern Cape |
Kapa Leboya |
| North West |
Leboya Bophirimela |
| Western Cape |
Kapa Bophirimela |
Towns and cities - Ditoropo le
Metse
| English |
Sesotho |
Literal meaning |
| Bethlehem |
Bohlokong |
Place of pain / Type of shrub found in
the area |
| Bloemfontein |
Mangaung |
Place of the cheetahs |
| Bothaville |
Mophate |
Place where people wander / Clay pot |
| Brandfort |
Majwemasweu |
White stones |
| Cape Town |
Motse Kapa (Kapa) |
City Cape |
| Clarens |
Botjheletsane |
Slippery place |
| Clocolan |
Hlohlowane |
Stamp and fight |
| Dewetsdorp |
Morojaneng |
Place of young cattle |
| Durban |
Thekong |
|
| East London |
Monti |
|
| Edenville |
Ngwathe |
To create / To dish up food |
| Ellisras |
Lephalale |
To flow |
| Fauresmith |
Forismethe |
Phonological adaptation of original
name |
| Ficksburg |
Marallaneng |
At the ridges |
| Fouriesburg |
Mashaeng |
At Mashae's place |
| Frankfort |
Namahadi |
Willow river |
| Harrismith |
Thaba Ntsho |
|
| Heilbron |
Phiritona |
Male hyena |
| Hennenman |
Dikgutsaneng |
Place of orphans |
| Hoopstad |
Maabala |
They who walk with difficulty |
| Hoopstad |
Maokaneng |
At the small thorn trees |
| Johannesburg |
Gauteng / Kgauteng |
Place of gold |
| Kestell |
Tlholong |
Place of victory |
| Kimberley |
Daemaneng |
Place of diamonds |
| Koffiefontein |
Ditlhake |
Place of reeds |
| Kroonstad |
Maokeng |
At the thorn trees |
| Marquard |
Moemaneng |
Place of Moemane |
| Parys |
Pareisi |
Phonological adaptation of original
name |
| Parys |
Tumahole |
Well-known place |
| Philippolis |
Poding-tse-Rolo / Podingtserolo |
Place of the bontebok |
| Pietermaritzburg |
Mokokotlofo |
|
| Pietersburg |
Polokwane |
Place of safety |
| Port Elizabeth |
Baye |
Bay |
| Pretoria |
Tshwane |
Named after a local chief called
Tshwane |
| Pretoria |
Pritoriya |
Phonological adaptation of original
name |
| Reddersburg |
Matoporong |
At the Doppers
(member of Gereformeerde Kerk/Reformed Chuch) |
| Reitz |
Petsana |
Little foal |
| Rosendal |
Mautse |
Danger |
| Rustenburg |
Tlhabane |
Named after local chief / Spear |
| Sasolburg |
Ditamateng |
Place of tamatoes |
| Senekal |
Matwabeng |
Place of scabies |
| Senekal |
Senekane |
Phonological adaptation of original
name |
| Steynsrus |
Matlwangtlwang |
Where small house were built
haphazardly |
| Steynsrus |
Mookana |
Thorn bush |
| Theunissen |
Masilo |
Name of character from folklore |
| Theunissen |
Mmasilo |
Mother of Silo |
| Trompsburg |
Mmadikgetla |
Mother of eggshells |
| Tweeling |
Mafahlaneng |
At the little twins |
| Tweespruit |
Matshelamabedi / Melatswanammedi |
Two crossings |
| Tweespruit |
Thulama |
Askew |
| Van Stadensrus |
Mmoko |
Phonological adaptation of name Mook |
| Ventersburg |
Mmamahabane |
Mother of Habane |
| Verkeerdevlei |
Motati |
The hasty one |
| Viljoenskroon |
Rammolotsi |
Father of one who sends the young ones
to initiation school |
| Virginia |
Meloding |
Place of melodies |
| Warmbaths |
Bela-bela |
Boil |
| Welkom |
Thabong |
Place of happiness |
| Welkom |
Kamohelo |
Welcome |
| Wepener |
Qibing |
Place of otters |
| Winburg |
Makeleketla |
Where things are obtained easily |
| Witsieshoek |
Qwaqwa |
|
| Zastron |
Matlakeng |
At the vultures |
Other place names taken from
Sesotho
| Place name |
Meaning |
| Dihlabeng |
From 'Metsi a Dihlaba' |
| Dipalesang |
Place of flowers |
| Kopanong |
Meeting place |
| Lejweleputswa |
Grey stones |
| Lesedi |
Light |
| Letsemeng |
Spirit of co-operation |
| Mafube |
Dawning of the new day |
| Maletswai |
Place of salt |
| Masilonyana |
Named after mountain |
| Matatiele |
The ducks have flown |
| Matjhabeng |
Where nations meet |
| Metsimaholo |
Great water |
| Moqhaka |
Crown |
| Motheo |
Founding place |
| Nala |
Affluence |
| Naledi |
Star |
| Nokeng tsa Taemane |
Rivers of diamonds |
| Sedibeng |
In the fountain |
| Setsoto |
Beauty |
| Tswelopele |
Progress |
Rivers - Dinoka
| English |
Sesotho |
Literal Meaning |
| Apies |
Tshwane |
Monkey |
| Blood River |
Nkome |
|
| Buffalo River |
Mosinyathi |
|
| Bushmans River |
Barwa |
|
| Caledon |
Mohokare / Mogakare |
In the middle |
| Crocodile |
Mokwena |
Crocodile |
| Elands |
Namahadi |
Much meat |
| False |
Ntha |
False |
| Kei |
Noka ya Kei |
|
| Limpopo |
Noka ya Limpopo |
|
| Mooi |
Tlokwe |
|
| Olifants |
Lepelle |
|
| Orange |
Senqu |
|
| Renoster |
Ngwathe |
|
| Sabie |
Lesaba |
Sand (river) |
| Sand |
Lehlabathe |
|
| Sand |
Moetlamogale |
River that is violent when in flood |
| Sundays |
Ntaka |
|
| Tugela |
Lethuela |
|
| Vaal |
Lekwa / Lekoa |
|
| Wilge |
Namahadi |
Willow river |
Mountains - Dithaba
| English |
Sesotho |
| Aasvoëlberg |
Matlakeng |
| Cairntoul |
Makhollo |
| Drakensberg |
Maloti / Quathlamba / Qathlamba |
| Maluti |
Maloti |
| Mont-aux-Sources |
Phofung / Pofung |
| Soutpans |
Dithaba tsa Mogale / Letswai |
