Letsatsi le monate la tswalo
To say happy birthday in Sesotho, use Letsatsi le monate la tswalo.
This phrase is used to express good wishes to someone on the anniversary of their birth.
Meaning: good wishes for a birthday (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase literally translates to 'A nice day of birth', where letsatsi means 'day', monate means 'nice/pleasant' and tswalo means 'birth'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The adjective monate (nice/pleasant) must agree with the noun letsatsi (day) by using the class 5/6 prefix le-.
Did you know?
- In some Sesotho dialects, the word for 'day' letsatsi also refers to the 'sun', meaning you are essentially wishing someone a 'pleasant sun of birth'.
- In traditional Sesotho settings, the concept of a birthday was historically less emphasized than the transition into different stages of adulthood through initiation rites.
- The word monate used in this phrase is also the root for the word monate meaning 'delicious' when describing food.
Example conversation
Thabo greets Palesa during her birthday celebration.
- ThaboPalesa, Letsatsi le monate la tswalo!Palesa, happy birthday!
- PalesaKe a leboha, Thabo.Thank you, Thabo.
- ThaboNa u na le meralo e monate?Do you have nice plans?
- PalesaEe, ke tla ja le lelapa la ka.Yes, I will eat with my family.
