
- 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 |