ke a go rata
/kɪ a χʊ ˈrata/
To say "I love you" in Tswana, use ke a go rata.
The phrase is an affirmation of romantic feeling. Note that the verb rata can mean both "to love" and "to like," so the specific intensity of your sentiment is often understood through context and tone.
Meaning: affirmation of romantic feeling (phrase)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase ke a go rata is composed of ke (I), a (an aspect marker), go (you) and rata (love/like).
How does it change in a sentence?
To change the subject from "I" to "we," replace the subject concord ke with re (e.g., re a go rata for "we love you").
How do you pronounce it?
/kɪ a χʊ ˈrata/
Did you know?
- Because rata means both 'love' and 'like', the phrase ke a go rata can be used to tell someone you like their outfit or a meal they cooked, not just a romantic partner.
- The word rata is related to words in other Bantu languages that describe the act of wanting or desiring, showing a linguistic link across Central and Southern Africa.
- In many Tswana-speaking contexts, declaring 'love' through words is often seen as secondary to 'showing' love through actions and the provision of support within a community.
Examples in context
- Ke a go rata ka pelo ya me.I love you with my whole heart.
- Ke a go rata ka botshelo jwa me.I love you with all my life.
- O itse gore ke a go rata?Do you know that I love you?
- Ke a go rata go feta sengwe le sengwe.I love you more than anything.
Example conversation
A couple is sitting together in a park during sunset.
- TshepiKabelo, ke a go rata.Kabelo, I love you.
- KabeloKe a go rata le nna, Tshepi.I love you too, Tshepi.
- TshepiKe nako e e monate.This is a beautiful time.
- KabeloEe, ke nako ya rona.Yes, it is our time.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “I love you” translations and entries ke a go rata, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
