South Africa & Lesotho
Sesotho culture stories
The food, names, greetings, sayings and everyday life behind Sesotho, a national language of both South Africa and Lesotho. Each story links to words you can hear and practise in a free five-minute lesson.
Culture stories
Culture stories
Culture stories for Sesotho will appear here
We will email you when a new one is published, or you can read the culture guide now.
Words to know
- Lumeladoo-MEH-lah / loo-MEH-lah · Hello (to one person)
- Lumelangdoo-meh-LAHNG · Hello (to many people)
- KhotsoKHOH-tsoh · Peace (a traditional greeting)
Culture guide
Sesotho sayings and traditions
Compiled from the public sources listed under each section. Pronunciations are simple sound-it-out guides. Not yet reviewed by a native speaker: if something looks wrong, tell us.
Sesotho proverbs (maele)
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Motho ke motho ka batho
Say it: MOH-toh keh MOH-toh kah BAH-toh
"A person is a person through other people"
Our humanity is realised through one another, the idea of botho.
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Phiri e ja ka maoto a eona
Say it: PEE-ree eh jah kah mah-OH-toh ah YOH-nah
"A jackal feeds with its own feet"
Self-reliance: you work for what sustains you.
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Tau e nyenyane ke tau
Say it: TAH-oo eh nyeh-NYAH-neh keh TAH-oo
"A small lion is still a lion"
Youth or humble circumstances do not reduce someone's worth.
Sources: Lesotho NewsDesk: Lesotho proverbs and their meanings
Learning Sesotho on Bantu Plaza
Where is Sesotho spoken?
Sesotho is spoken in South Africa & Lesotho. It is a national language of both South Africa and Lesotho.
Can I try Sesotho for free?
Yes. The free five-minute Sesotho lesson runs in your browser with no account needed. You learn a few real greetings and phrases from the Bantu Plaza Sesotho course.
Can I learn Sesotho with a live tutor?
Yes. Bantu Plaza lists Sesotho tutors for one-to-one online lessons. You can compare tutors, prices and open times on the Find a tutor page.
What does the Sesotho Complete Language Pack cost?
The Sesotho Complete Language Pack costs $99 and covers levels A1 to C2 of Sesotho, with interactive lessons you use inside your Bantu Plaza account.
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