O amogetswe
The English phrase "welcome" is translated into Tswana as O amogetswe.
In Tswana, O amogetswe is used as a greeting to welcome someone upon their arrival. You may also encounter the general greeting Dumela!, which is used to say "hello."
Meaning: greeting given upon someone's arrival (intj)
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase O amogetswe is a passive construction. The part amogetswe means "to be received" or "to be accepted," resulting in the literal meaning "You are received."
How does it change in a sentence?
The phrase changes depending on how many people you are addressing or the voice you wish to use. To welcome more than one person, change the subject concord from O to Lo to say Lo amogetswe (You [plural] are welcomed). If you prefer to use the active voice to say "We welcome you," use Re a lo amogela.
Did you know?
- The concept of welcoming in Tswana is deeply tied to the word Botho, a philosophy similar to 'Ubuntu' that emphasizes human kindness and the interconnectedness of all people.
- The root of amogetswe is shared with the word for 'receiving' a gift or a message, meaning that to welcome a guest is linguistically the same as 'accepting' a delivery.
- In many Tswana-speaking social contexts, the verbal greeting is often accompanied by a specific physical gesture of respect, such as a slight bow or a handshake, to reinforce the warmth of the phrase.
Examples in context
- O amogetswe mo motse wa rona.You are welcome in our village.
Example conversation
Phenyo is greeting Lesedi as she arrives at his house.
- PhenyoDumela, Lesedi.Hello, Lesedi.
- LesediDumela, Phenyo.Hello, Phenyo.
- PhenyoO amogetswe mo ntlong ya rona.You are welcome in our home.
- LesediKe a leboga.Thank you.
