boroko
The English phrase "goodnight" is expressed in Tswana as boroko.
boroko is a greeting used when someone is going to sleep or leaving at night.
Did you know?
- The word boroko functions as a noun representing the state of sleep, rather than an adjective describing the quality of the night.
- The language of Tswana is part of the Bantu family, meaning boroko shares a distant structural relationship with words for sleep in languages like Swahili and Zulu.
- When addressing an elder, one might add respectful honorifics to the phrase to acknowledge their status before wishing them a good night.
Example conversation
Kabelo and Kabo are going to bed.
- KabeloKe kgatlhegile, boroko Kabo.I am tired, goodnight Kabo.
- KaboBoroko le wena, Kabelo.Goodnight to you too, Kabelo.
- KabeloO tla tsoga neng?When will you wake up?
- KaboKe tla tsoga ka botlhalo.I will wake up early.
