2543:
Another problem is the complete lack of tone marking even though
Sesotho is a grammatical tone language. Not only does this also result in numerous homographs, it may also cause problems in situations where the only difference between grammatical constructions is the tones of a few key syllables in
2439:
Modern
Sesotho punctuation essentially mimics popular English usage. Full stops separate sentences, with the first letter of each sentence capitalized; commas indicate slight pauses; direct quotes are indicated with double quotation marks; proper nouns have their first letter capitalized (this was
2457:
Proper nouns are indicated by capitalizing the first letter (usually the first letter of the noun prefix). Since prefixes are written separately from the main noun in the disjunctive orthography, they are not written differently. Contrast this with the situation in the disjunctively-written Nguni
1608:
One issue which complicates the written language is the two divergent orthographies used by the two countries with the largest number of first language speakers. The
Lesotho orthography is older than the South African one and differs from it not only in the choice of letters and the marking of
2443:
Direct quotations are introduced with a comma followed by the utterance in double quotes. The comma is used to indicate the pause which is mandatory in speech when introducing quotes, and indeed, in older orthographies the quotes were not used at all since the pause by itself is sufficient to
2379:
spoken conjunctively; however, like many Bantu languages it is written disjunctively. The difference lies in the characteristically
European word division used for writing the language, in contrast with some Bantu languages such as the South African
2310:
is inserted between the subject concord and the verb stem in different ways in the two orthographies. This is probably the most commonly encountered difference between the word divisions of the two orthographies
2119:
When consonants or vowels are omitted due to (diachronic or synchronic) contractions, Lesotho orthography uses apostrophes to indicate the missing sounds while the South
African orthography generally does not.
2401:
Prefixes (except noun class prefixes) and infixes are written separately on their own, and the root and all following suffixes are written together. This is most obvious in the writing of
219:
Note that often when a section discusses formatives, affixes, or vowels it may be necessary to view the IPA to see the proper conjunctive word division and vowel qualities.
2544:
two otherwise similar sounding phrases. That this would be a rather difficult issue to tackle is revealed by the fact that very few of the large number of written
1609:
initial syllabic nasals, but also (to a much lesser extent) in written word division and the use of diacritics on vowels to distinguish some ambiguous spellings.
2664:
2586:
final vowel. The second meaning is rendered by basically using two normal verbs in the subjunctive mood (with high toned subjectival concords and
2484:
Although it is a sufficient medium which has been used for almost 200 years to pen some of the most celebrated
African literature (such as
2356:
Very often South
Africans with recent ancestors from Lesotho have surnames written in Lesotho orthography, preserving the old spellings.
2578:, indicating habitual actions) followed by a verb in the perfect subjunctive mood. The second verb's mood is indicated by the low toned
2548:
have any consistently used tone marking schemes, even though some of their tonal systems are much more complex than that of
Sesotho.
2416:, noun class prefixes are directly attached to the noun stem. These are an essential part of the lexicon, and not merely functional
2272:
More often than not compounds that are written as one word in South
African Sesotho will be written with dashes in Lesotho Sesotho
107:
2423:
Words which have been fossilised/lexicalised with historical prefixes are written as one word. This most frequently occurs with
2212:(for the near-close front vowel) are sometimes used to avoid spelling ambiguities. This is never done in South African writing.
233:
to aid in translating the Bible. The earliest orthographies were more like French spelling, still seen in the writing of the
3750:
2657:
2504:, these are only written using the five vowel letters of the standard Latin alphabet. The letter "e" represents the vowels
1441:
561:
230:
3840:
1555:
1415:
782:
1363:
2599:
1389:
1279:
2141:
In order to distinguish between the concords of class 1(a) and the 2nd. person singular, Lesotho orthography uses
2933:
2650:
1978:
In word-initial positions, a syllabic nasal followed by a syllable starting with the same nasal is written as an
473:
415:
2718:
442:
173:, but, like most languages written using the Latin alphabet, it does not use all the letters; as well, several
2708:
2688:
645:
622:
387:
3734:
2703:
1497:
1251:
995:
100:
2587:
2583:
2525:
2521:
2517:
2513:
2509:
2505:
2268:
Although the two orthographies tend to use similar written word divisions, they do differ on some points:
1137:
1114:
798:
794:
790:
653:
497:
364:
360:
335:
241:
237:
3543:
2882:
1467:
1022:
967:
591:
526:
2723:
2698:
1581:
1338:
1086:
2448:
3673:
3565:
3208:
3076:
3011:
2569:
2545:
2424:
1579:
1553:
1522:
1495:
1465:
1439:
1413:
1387:
1361:
1336:
1309:
1277:
1249:
1218:
1191:
1160:
1084:
1054:
1020:
993:
965:
931:
904:
877:
848:
818:
780:
756:
754:
733:
731:
700:
673:
643:
620:
589:
559:
532:
524:
471:
440:
413:
385:
308:
277:
275:
3118:
1524:
534:
2642:
3835:
3791:
3634:
3081:
2920:
2740:
2728:
2713:
1961:
When the symbol "š" is unavailable electronically, people who write in
Lesotho Sesotho often use
1220:
702:
310:
93:
709:
fully aspirated: kill; occurring mostly in old loanwords from Nguni languages and in ideophones
3796:
3739:
3698:
3373:
3196:
2983:
2945:
2840:
2579:
2376:
1311:
1056:
178:
2619:
2406:
2388:
3814:
3505:
3296:
3108:
2850:
2835:
2812:
2792:
2787:
1193:
1162:
906:
850:
820:
234:
210:
For an overview of the symbols used and the sounds they represent, see the phoneme tables at
174:
70:
48:
2409:, and another is in the writing of the concords used with the qualificative parts of speech.
2402:
3806:
3706:
3363:
3278:
3168:
3086:
3068:
2955:
933:
136:. For a discussion of the differences between the two see the notes on Sesotho orthography.
2618:"Word" meaning the separately written elements in the disjunctive orthography — not
2397:
the following principles may be used to explain the current orthographical word division:
229:
The original orthography was developed in the early 19th century by missionaries from the
8:
3768:
3763:
3683:
3593:
3472:
3323:
3283:
3061:
3033:
3006:
3001:
2978:
2960:
2925:
2910:
2877:
2817:
2805:
2777:
2772:
675:
3340:
2497:
3758:
3451:
3438:
3291:
3113:
3093:
3046:
3023:
2915:
2905:
2782:
2762:
2757:
2749:
2677:
879:
3716:
3711:
3626:
3313:
3303:
3256:
3251:
3246:
3143:
3130:
3028:
2950:
2897:
2887:
2872:
2855:
2767:
2493:), the current Sesotho orthography does exhibit certain (phonological) deficiencies.
81:
3639:
3616:
3555:
3550:
3521:
3495:
3418:
3413:
3408:
3393:
3388:
3383:
3368:
3355:
3345:
3270:
3230:
3176:
3153:
3138:
3103:
3098:
3056:
2993:
2970:
2827:
2800:
2291:
that is sometimes affixed to monosyllabic verbs is written with a dash in Lesotho
1613:
Differences between South African and Lesotho written consonants and approximants
3783:
3726:
3688:
3662:
3658:
3538:
3526:
3513:
3485:
3480:
3461:
3456:
3398:
3378:
3328:
3318:
3186:
3148:
3041:
2865:
2845:
2381:
211:
200:
31:
3533:
3016:
3611:
3573:
3490:
3446:
3423:
3403:
3333:
3308:
3158:
2938:
2860:
2413:
2333:
204:
166:
58:
36:
22:
2637:
Strategies for representing tone in African writing systems: A critical review
3829:
3606:
3583:
3428:
3201:
3181:
2551:
The following not too unlikely example is illustrative of both these issues:
2537:
2488:
2485:
2363:
2248:
43:
2179:
3773:
3601:
1299:
189:
170:
129:
3678:
3225:
2673:
162:
65:
53:
2187:
3650:
2533:
2529:
2440:
often not done in the old French-based orthographies); and so forth.
193:
3191:
2672:
2501:
2417:
149:
3220:
1448:
occurs only as a nasalized form of hl or as an alternative to it
185:
133:
2314:
2157:
for the 2nd. person, even when there is no chance of ambiguity.
723:
the part of the pap that remains baked to the pot after cooking
3668:
3213:
2466:
2108:
Note that, when not word-initial, Lesotho orthography uses an
2568:
The first meaning is rendered if the phrase is composed of a
1928:
Additionally, in older texts the nasalized click was written
128:
The orthography used in this and related articles is that of
359:
an allophone of /l/ only occurring before the close vowels (
913:
nasal; this is often simply pronounced as a radical click
2360:
Gloria Moshoeshoe, South African actor and talk show host
1603:
2496:
One problem is that, although the spoken language has
2431:
Of course, there are exceptions to these rough rules.
2332:
The class 2a prefix is usually simply attached to the
2590:
final vowels) with the actions following each other.
2124:
1934:
in Lesotho (as a relic of a much older click series:
1845:
252:
Sesotho in South Africa uses the following alphabet:
2336:
in South Africa but Lesotho orthography uses a dash
2532:, there is also some overlap between many distinct
1749:
2275:
2265:These examples also have differing tone patterns.
502:only found in short passives of verbs ending with
1986:in South Africa but as an apostrophe in Lesotho.
3827:
1142:aspirated version of the above; alternative tjh
2536:and formatives, as well as the final vowels of
2458:languages where it is the first letter of the
2375:Like all other Bantu languages, Sesotho is an
1969:to represent the aspirated alveolar affricate
2658:
2387:This issue is investigated in more detail in
101:
2345:
2516:, and the letter "o" represents the vowels
2226:
2216:
2092:
2080:
1655:
2665:
2651:
2444:introduce the next phrase as a quotation.
2366:, South African and European soccer player
2339:
2169:
2161:
2132:
1877:
108:
94:
16:Latin-based alphabet of the Sotho language
2252:
2238:
2126:Ha ke eso mmone — Ha ke e-s'o 'mone
2016:
2005:
1781:
1687:
247:
143:
2528:. Not only does this result in numerous
1909:
652:this is an alternative to the fricative
1718:
192:differ, with the Lesotho variant using
3828:
2066:
2055:
2041:
2030:
1952:), but now the more universal digraph
1813:
181:are used to represent single sounds.
2646:
2405:. One exception is the 1st. pers. sg
2294:
2116:just like South African orthography.
169:is fairly recent and is based on the
2573:
2453:He said, "I wish to speak with you."
2208:(for the two mid front vowels), and
1648:
1642:
1635:
1629:
1604:Lesotho versus South African writing
231:Paris Evangelical Missionary Society
142:Hovering the mouse cursor over most
2612:
2305:
2286:
763:alternative to the velar fricative
13:
2450:A re, "Ke lakatsa ho bua le wena."
789:never occurs before close vowels (
14:
3852:
2471:The Voice of the People (isiZulu
2204:(for the near-close back vowel),
2370:
541:these two sounds are allophones
2200:(for the two mid back vowels),
349:to break apart like a clay pot
317:this consonant is fully voiced
244:in the modern Lesotho variant.
2479:
2434:
1970:
1774:
1767:
1742:
1735:
148:Sesotho text should reveal an
1:
2629:
2540:in various tenses and moods.
1902:
1895:
203:, although the language is a
2277:moetapele — moeta-pele
2134:Ngwana ka — Ngoan'a ka
1988:
1958:is used in both countries.
1953:
1947:
1941:
1929:
1870:
1863:
1711:
1704:
7:
3534:Ethiopian Semitic languages
2593:
2152:
2146:
1935:
1838:
1831:
1806:
1799:
1680:
1673:
207:, tone is never indicated.
10:
3857:
3841:Latin-script orthographies
2934:Phonology & ortography
224:
184:The orthographies used in
3805:
3782:
3748:
3725:
3697:
3648:
3625:
3592:
3564:
3504:
3470:
3437:
3354:
3269:
3239:
3167:
3129:
2992:
2969:
2896:
2826:
2748:
2739:
2684:
2285:The prosodic penultimate
961:
727:
616:
381:
331:
199:As with almost all other
2605:
2570:Group III deficient verb
2564:so I may go and buy food
2347:bontate — bo-ntate
2192:I did advise him/her too
2350:fathers/father-and-them
2320:fula — Likhomo li
2561:I often buy food, or
2412:With the exception of
2377:agglutinative language
2189:Le eena ke mo elelitse
2145:to represent phonetic
248:South African alphabet
3017:Classical orthography
2851:Standard Written Form
2546:Niger–Congo languages
2462:that is capitalized.
2181:Le uena ke u elelitse
1997:South African example
1514:to become frightened
1227:soft Parisian-type r
150:IPA pronunciation key
3087:Montenegrin alphabet
2620:proper Sesotho words
2327:The cows are grazing
2184:I did advise you too
1851:isisa — ho utl
1730:type of bead string
886:can occur initially
797:), where it becomes
2580:subjectival concord
2304:The "focus marker"
2174:He/she is beautiful
2063:vagina (very crude)
1993:
1614:
1318:unaspirated: stalk
682:unaspirated: skill
2556:ke ye ke reke dijo
2500:contrasting vowel
2407:objectival concord
2296:eba! — e-ba!
2129:I haven't seen her
2089:to scratch my itch
1989:
1612:
1210:an elderly person
152:(excluding tones).
3823:
3822:
3265:
3264:
3114:Cyrillic alphabet
3077:Cyrillic alphabet
3007:Cyrillic alphabet
2856:Kernowek Standard
2678:world's languages
2166:You are beautiful
2106:
2105:
1926:
1925:
1755:eanong — Mo
1601:
1600:
1169:radical (tenuis)
506:; alternative sh
159:
158:
118:
117:
3848:
2746:
2745:
2667:
2660:
2653:
2644:
2643:
2623:
2616:
2589:
2585:
2577:
2527:
2523:
2519:
2515:
2511:
2507:
2470:
2468:Lentswe la Batho
2452:
2403:the verb complex
2395:Roughly speaking
2389:The Sesotho word
2349:
2343:
2326:
2309:
2298:
2290:
2279:
2260:
2246:
2234:
2225:to pour —
2224:
2191:
2183:
2173:
2165:
2156:
2150:
2136:
2128:
2102:
2098:
2088:
2075:
2071:
2062:
2050:
2046:
2037:
2025:
2021:
2012:
2000:Lesotho version
1994:
1974:
1957:
1951:
1945:
1939:
1933:
1921:
1906:
1899:
1889:
1883:wa — ho bo
1874:
1867:
1857:
1842:
1835:
1826:air/wind/spirit
1825:
1810:
1803:
1793:
1778:
1771:
1761:
1746:
1739:
1729:
1715:
1708:
1698:
1684:
1677:
1667:
1661:ma — ho ka
1652:
1646:
1639:
1633:
1615:
1611:
1585:
1559:
1528:
1501:
1471:
1445:
1419:
1393:
1367:
1342:
1315:
1283:
1255:
1224:
1197:
1166:
1139:
1116:
1090:
1060:
1026:
1002:As in French ois
999:
971:
937:
910:
883:
854:
824:
800:
796:
792:
786:
772:a long time ago
760:
737:
706:
679:
655:
649:
626:
595:
565:
538:
530:
499:
477:
446:
422:Like English caf
419:
391:
366:
362:
337:
314:
281:
255:
254:
243:
239:
147:
120:
119:
110:
103:
96:
19:
18:
3856:
3855:
3851:
3850:
3849:
3847:
3846:
3845:
3826:
3825:
3824:
3819:
3801:
3778:
3751:Native American
3744:
3721:
3693:
3644:
3621:
3588:
3560:
3500:
3466:
3433:
3350:
3261:
3235:
3163:
3125:
3073:Serbo-Croatian
2988:
2965:
2892:
2883:Scottish Gaelic
2866:Unified Cornish
2846:Kernewek Kemmyn
2822:
2735:
2680:
2671:
2635:Bird, S. 1998.
2632:
2627:
2626:
2617:
2613:
2608:
2596:
2582:as well as the
2486:Thomas Mofolo's
2482:
2437:
2382:Nguni languages
2373:
2096:
2069:
2044:
2019:
1991:Syllabic nasals
1621:Lesotho version
1606:
1531:As in English b
1119:alternative tj
692:responsibility
598:As in English b
284:Like English sp
250:
227:
212:Sotho phonology
201:Bantu languages
155:
114:
71:Deficient verbs
49:Parts of speech
17:
12:
11:
5:
3854:
3844:
3843:
3838:
3836:Sotho language
3821:
3820:
3818:
3817:
3811:
3809:
3803:
3802:
3800:
3799:
3794:
3792:Haitian Creole
3788:
3786:
3780:
3779:
3777:
3776:
3771:
3766:
3761:
3755:
3753:
3746:
3745:
3743:
3742:
3737:
3731:
3729:
3723:
3722:
3720:
3719:
3714:
3709:
3703:
3701:
3695:
3694:
3692:
3691:
3686:
3681:
3676:
3671:
3666:
3655:
3653:
3646:
3645:
3643:
3642:
3637:
3631:
3629:
3623:
3622:
3620:
3619:
3614:
3609:
3604:
3598:
3596:
3590:
3589:
3587:
3586:
3581:
3576:
3570:
3568:
3562:
3561:
3559:
3558:
3553:
3548:
3547:
3546:
3536:
3531:
3530:
3529:
3524:
3516:
3510:
3508:
3502:
3501:
3499:
3498:
3493:
3488:
3483:
3477:
3475:
3468:
3467:
3465:
3464:
3459:
3454:
3449:
3443:
3441:
3435:
3434:
3432:
3431:
3426:
3421:
3416:
3411:
3406:
3401:
3396:
3391:
3386:
3381:
3376:
3371:
3366:
3360:
3358:
3352:
3351:
3349:
3348:
3343:
3338:
3337:
3336:
3331:
3321:
3316:
3311:
3306:
3301:
3300:
3299:
3294:
3286:
3281:
3275:
3273:
3267:
3266:
3263:
3262:
3260:
3259:
3254:
3249:
3243:
3241:
3237:
3236:
3234:
3233:
3228:
3223:
3218:
3217:
3216:
3206:
3205:
3204:
3194:
3189:
3184:
3179:
3173:
3171:
3165:
3164:
3162:
3161:
3156:
3151:
3146:
3141:
3135:
3133:
3127:
3126:
3124:
3123:
3122:
3121:
3119:Latin alphabet
3116:
3106:
3101:
3096:
3091:
3090:
3089:
3084:
3082:Latin alphabet
3079:
3071:
3066:
3065:
3064:
3059:
3051:
3050:
3049:
3044:
3036:
3031:
3026:
3021:
3020:
3019:
3014:
3012:Latin alphabet
3009:
2998:
2996:
2990:
2989:
2987:
2986:
2981:
2975:
2973:
2967:
2966:
2964:
2963:
2958:
2953:
2948:
2943:
2942:
2941:
2936:
2928:
2923:
2921:Istro-Romanian
2918:
2913:
2908:
2902:
2900:
2894:
2893:
2891:
2890:
2885:
2880:
2875:
2870:
2869:
2868:
2863:
2861:Modern Cornish
2858:
2853:
2848:
2838:
2832:
2830:
2824:
2823:
2821:
2820:
2815:
2810:
2809:
2808:
2803:
2795:
2790:
2785:
2780:
2775:
2770:
2765:
2760:
2754:
2752:
2743:
2737:
2736:
2734:
2733:
2732:
2731:
2726:
2721:
2716:
2711:
2706:
2696:
2691:
2685:
2682:
2681:
2670:
2669:
2662:
2655:
2647:
2641:
2640:
2631:
2628:
2625:
2624:
2610:
2609:
2607:
2604:
2603:
2602:
2595:
2592:
2566:
2565:
2498:at least seven
2481:
2478:
2477:
2476:
2455:
2454:
2436:
2433:
2429:
2428:
2421:
2410:
2372:
2369:
2368:
2367:
2361:
2354:
2353:
2352:
2351:
2330:
2329:
2328:
2302:
2301:
2300:
2283:
2282:
2281:
2263:
2262:
2236:
2194:
2193:
2185:
2176:
2175:
2167:
2139:
2138:
2130:
2104:
2103:
2090:
2077:
2076:
2064:
2052:
2051:
2039:
2027:
2026:
2014:
2002:
2001:
1998:
1924:
1923:
1907:
1900:
1892:
1891:
1875:
1868:
1860:
1859:
1858:to comprehend
1843:
1836:
1828:
1827:
1811:
1804:
1796:
1795:
1779:
1772:
1764:
1763:
1747:
1740:
1732:
1731:
1716:
1709:
1701:
1700:
1685:
1678:
1670:
1669:
1653:
1640:
1626:
1625:
1622:
1619:
1605:
1602:
1599:
1598:
1588:
1586:
1577:
1573:
1572:
1562:
1560:
1551:
1547:
1546:
1536:
1529:
1520:
1516:
1515:
1505:
1502:
1493:
1489:
1488:
1474:
1472:
1463:
1459:
1458:
1449:
1446:
1437:
1433:
1432:
1422:
1420:
1411:
1407:
1406:
1396:
1394:
1385:
1381:
1380:
1370:
1368:
1359:
1355:
1354:
1345:
1343:
1334:
1330:
1329:
1319:
1316:
1307:
1303:
1302:
1286:
1284:
1275:
1271:
1270:
1258:
1256:
1247:
1243:
1242:
1228:
1225:
1216:
1212:
1211:
1201:
1198:
1189:
1185:
1184:
1170:
1167:
1158:
1154:
1153:
1143:
1140:
1135:
1131:
1130:
1120:
1117:
1112:
1108:
1107:
1106:investigation
1098:
1091:
1082:
1078:
1077:
1068:
1063:unaspirated: s
1061:
1052:
1048:
1047:
1034:
1027:
1017:
1016:
1006:
1000:
990:
989:
979:
974:like English p
972:
963:
959:
958:
948:
940:as in Spanish
938:
929:
925:
924:
914:
911:
902:
898:
897:
887:
884:
875:
871:
870:
857:
855:
846:
842:
841:
827:
825:
816:
812:
811:
801:
787:
778:
774:
773:
764:
761:
751:
750:
740:
738:
729:
725:
724:
710:
707:
698:
694:
693:
683:
680:
671:
667:
666:
656:
650:
640:
639:
629:
627:
618:
614:
613:
603:
596:
587:
583:
582:
568:
566:
557:
553:
552:
542:
539:
522:
518:
517:
507:
500:
495:
491:
490:
480:
478:
469:
465:
464:
454:
449:Like English b
447:
437:
436:
426:
420:
410:
409:
399:
394:Like English p
392:
383:
379:
378:
368:
357:
355:
351:
350:
340:
338:
333:
329:
328:
318:
315:
306:
302:
301:
300:to distribute
288:
282:
273:
269:
268:
265:
262:
259:
249:
246:
226:
223:
222:
221:
205:tonal language
167:Sotho language
157:
156:
154:
153:
139:
138:
137:
116:
115:
113:
112:
105:
98:
90:
87:
86:
85:
84:
79:
78:
77:
76:
75:
74:
73:
63:
62:
61:
41:
40:
39:
26:
25:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
3853:
3842:
3839:
3837:
3834:
3833:
3831:
3816:
3813:
3812:
3810:
3808:
3804:
3798:
3795:
3793:
3790:
3789:
3787:
3785:
3781:
3775:
3772:
3770:
3767:
3765:
3762:
3760:
3757:
3756:
3754:
3752:
3747:
3741:
3738:
3736:
3733:
3732:
3730:
3728:
3724:
3718:
3715:
3713:
3710:
3708:
3705:
3704:
3702:
3700:
3696:
3690:
3687:
3685:
3682:
3680:
3677:
3675:
3672:
3670:
3667:
3664:
3660:
3657:
3656:
3654:
3652:
3647:
3641:
3638:
3636:
3633:
3632:
3630:
3628:
3624:
3618:
3615:
3613:
3610:
3608:
3605:
3603:
3600:
3599:
3597:
3595:
3591:
3585:
3582:
3580:
3577:
3575:
3572:
3571:
3569:
3567:
3563:
3557:
3554:
3552:
3549:
3545:
3542:
3541:
3540:
3537:
3535:
3532:
3528:
3525:
3523:
3520:
3519:
3517:
3515:
3512:
3511:
3509:
3507:
3503:
3497:
3494:
3492:
3489:
3487:
3484:
3482:
3479:
3478:
3476:
3474:
3469:
3463:
3460:
3458:
3455:
3453:
3450:
3448:
3445:
3444:
3442:
3440:
3439:Tungus—Manchu
3436:
3430:
3427:
3425:
3422:
3420:
3417:
3415:
3412:
3410:
3407:
3405:
3402:
3400:
3397:
3395:
3392:
3390:
3387:
3385:
3382:
3380:
3377:
3375:
3372:
3370:
3367:
3365:
3362:
3361:
3359:
3357:
3353:
3347:
3344:
3342:
3339:
3335:
3332:
3330:
3327:
3326:
3325:
3322:
3320:
3317:
3315:
3312:
3310:
3307:
3305:
3302:
3298:
3295:
3293:
3290:
3289:
3287:
3285:
3282:
3280:
3277:
3276:
3274:
3272:
3268:
3258:
3255:
3253:
3250:
3248:
3245:
3244:
3242:
3238:
3232:
3229:
3227:
3224:
3222:
3219:
3215:
3212:
3211:
3210:
3207:
3203:
3200:
3199:
3198:
3195:
3193:
3190:
3188:
3185:
3183:
3180:
3178:
3175:
3174:
3172:
3170:
3166:
3160:
3157:
3155:
3152:
3150:
3147:
3145:
3142:
3140:
3137:
3136:
3134:
3132:
3128:
3120:
3117:
3115:
3112:
3111:
3110:
3107:
3105:
3102:
3100:
3097:
3095:
3092:
3088:
3085:
3083:
3080:
3078:
3075:
3074:
3072:
3070:
3067:
3063:
3060:
3058:
3055:
3054:
3052:
3048:
3045:
3043:
3040:
3039:
3037:
3035:
3032:
3030:
3027:
3025:
3022:
3018:
3015:
3013:
3010:
3008:
3005:
3004:
3003:
3000:
2999:
2997:
2995:
2991:
2985:
2982:
2980:
2977:
2976:
2974:
2972:
2968:
2962:
2959:
2957:
2954:
2952:
2949:
2947:
2944:
2940:
2937:
2935:
2932:
2931:
2929:
2927:
2924:
2922:
2919:
2917:
2914:
2912:
2909:
2907:
2904:
2903:
2901:
2899:
2895:
2889:
2886:
2884:
2881:
2879:
2876:
2874:
2871:
2867:
2864:
2862:
2859:
2857:
2854:
2852:
2849:
2847:
2844:
2843:
2842:
2839:
2837:
2834:
2833:
2831:
2829:
2825:
2819:
2816:
2814:
2811:
2807:
2804:
2802:
2799:
2798:
2796:
2794:
2791:
2789:
2786:
2784:
2781:
2779:
2776:
2774:
2771:
2769:
2766:
2764:
2761:
2759:
2756:
2755:
2753:
2751:
2747:
2744:
2742:
2741:Indo-European
2738:
2730:
2727:
2725:
2722:
2720:
2717:
2715:
2712:
2710:
2707:
2705:
2702:
2701:
2700:
2697:
2695:
2694:Orthographies
2692:
2690:
2687:
2686:
2683:
2679:
2675:
2674:Orthographies
2668:
2663:
2661:
2656:
2654:
2649:
2648:
2645:
2638:
2634:
2633:
2621:
2615:
2611:
2601:
2600:Sotho braille
2598:
2597:
2591:
2581:
2576:
2571:
2563:
2560:
2557:
2554:
2553:
2552:
2549:
2547:
2541:
2539:
2538:Sesotho verbs
2535:
2531:
2503:
2499:
2494:
2492:
2491:
2487:
2474:
2469:
2465:
2464:
2463:
2461:
2451:
2447:
2446:
2445:
2441:
2432:
2426:
2422:
2419:
2415:
2411:
2408:
2404:
2400:
2399:
2398:
2396:
2392:
2390:
2385:
2383:
2378:
2371:Word division
2365:
2364:Aaron Mokoena
2362:
2359:
2358:
2357:
2348:
2342:
2338:
2337:
2335:
2334:class 1a noun
2331:
2325:
2323:
2319:
2313:
2312:
2308:
2303:
2297:
2293:
2292:
2289:
2284:
2278:
2274:
2273:
2271:
2270:
2269:
2266:
2259:
2257:
2250:
2245:
2243:
2237:
2233:
2231:
2223:
2221:
2215:
2214:
2213:
2211:
2207:
2203:
2199:
2190:
2186:
2182:
2178:
2177:
2172:
2168:
2164:
2160:
2159:
2158:
2155:
2149:
2144:
2135:
2131:
2127:
2123:
2122:
2121:
2117:
2115:
2111:
2101:
2099:
2091:
2087:
2085:
2079:
2078:
2074:
2072:
2065:
2061:
2059:
2054:
2053:
2049:
2047:
2040:
2036:
2034:
2029:
2028:
2024:
2022:
2015:
2011:
2009:
2004:
2003:
1999:
1996:
1995:
1992:
1987:
1985:
1981:
1976:
1973:
1968:
1964:
1959:
1956:
1950:
1944:
1938:
1932:
1920:
1918:
1914:
1908:
1905:
1901:
1898:
1894:
1893:
1888:
1886:
1882:
1876:
1873:
1869:
1866:
1862:
1861:
1856:
1854:
1850:
1844:
1841:
1837:
1834:
1830:
1829:
1824:
1822:
1818:
1812:
1809:
1805:
1802:
1798:
1797:
1792:
1790:
1787:a — ho
1786:
1780:
1777:
1773:
1770:
1766:
1765:
1760:
1758:
1754:
1748:
1745:
1741:
1738:
1734:
1733:
1728:
1726:
1722:
1717:
1714:
1710:
1707:
1703:
1702:
1697:
1695:
1692:otso —
1691:
1686:
1683:
1679:
1676:
1672:
1671:
1666:
1664:
1660:
1654:
1651:
1645:
1641:
1638:
1632:
1628:
1627:
1623:
1620:
1618:South African
1617:
1616:
1610:
1596:
1594:
1589:
1587:
1583:
1578:
1575:
1574:
1570:
1568:
1563:
1561:
1557:
1552:
1549:
1548:
1544:
1542:
1537:
1534:
1530:
1526:
1521:
1518:
1517:
1513:
1511:
1506:
1503:
1499:
1494:
1491:
1490:
1486:
1484:
1480:
1475:
1473:
1469:
1464:
1461:
1460:
1456:
1454:
1450:
1447:
1443:
1438:
1435:
1434:
1430:
1428:
1423:
1421:
1417:
1412:
1409:
1408:
1404:
1402:
1397:
1395:
1391:
1386:
1383:
1382:
1378:
1376:
1371:
1369:
1365:
1360:
1357:
1356:
1352:
1350:
1346:
1344:
1340:
1335:
1332:
1331:
1327:
1325:
1320:
1317:
1313:
1308:
1305:
1304:
1301:
1298:
1296:
1292:
1287:
1285:
1281:
1276:
1273:
1272:
1269:
1267:
1263:
1259:
1257:
1253:
1248:
1245:
1244:
1240:
1238:
1234:
1229:
1226:
1222:
1217:
1214:
1213:
1209:
1207:
1202:
1199:
1195:
1190:
1187:
1186:
1182:
1180:
1176:
1171:
1168:
1164:
1159:
1156:
1155:
1151:
1149:
1144:
1141:
1136:
1133:
1132:
1129:to cook well
1128:
1126:
1121:
1118:
1113:
1110:
1109:
1105:
1103:
1099:
1096:
1092:
1088:
1083:
1080:
1079:
1075:
1073:
1069:
1066:
1062:
1058:
1053:
1050:
1049:
1045:
1044:
1040:
1035:
1032:
1028:
1024:
1019:
1018:
1014:
1012:
1007:
1005:
1001:
997:
992:
991:
987:
985:
980:
977:
973:
969:
964:
960:
956:
954:
949:
947:
945:
939:
935:
930:
927:
926:
922:
920:
915:
912:
908:
903:
900:
899:
895:
893:
888:
885:
881:
876:
873:
872:
869:
867:
863:
858:
856:
852:
847:
844:
843:
839:
837:
833:
828:
826:
822:
817:
814:
813:
809:
807:
802:
788:
784:
779:
776:
775:
771:
769:
765:
762:
758:
753:
752:
748:
746:
741:
739:
735:
730:
726:
722:
720:
716:
711:
708:
704:
699:
696:
695:
691:
689:
684:
681:
677:
672:
669:
668:
664:
662:
657:
651:
647:
642:
641:
637:
635:
630:
628:
624:
619:
615:
611:
609:
604:
601:
597:
593:
588:
585:
584:
580:
578:
574:
569:
567:
563:
558:
555:
554:
550:
548:
543:
540:
536:
528:
523:
520:
519:
515:
513:
508:
505:
501:
496:
493:
492:
488:
486:
481:
479:
475:
470:
467:
466:
462:
460:
455:
452:
448:
444:
439:
438:
434:
432:
427:
425:
421:
417:
412:
411:
407:
405:
400:
397:
393:
389:
384:
380:
376:
374:
369:
358:
356:
353:
352:
348:
346:
341:
339:
334:
330:
326:
324:
319:
316:
312:
307:
304:
303:
299:
298:
294:
289:
287:
283:
279:
274:
271:
270:
266:
263:
260:
257:
256:
253:
245:
236:
232:
220:
217:
216:
215:
213:
208:
206:
202:
197:
195:
191:
187:
182:
180:
176:
172:
168:
164:
151:
146:
141:
140:
135:
131:
127:
126:
125:
122:
121:
111:
106:
104:
99:
97:
92:
91:
89:
88:
83:
80:
72:
69:
68:
67:
64:
60:
57:
56:
55:
52:
51:
50:
47:
46:
45:
42:
38:
35:
34:
33:
30:
29:
28:
27:
24:
21:
20:
3735:Massachusett
3699:Austronesian
3578:
2813:West Frisian
2719:Prepositions
2693:
2636:
2614:
2574:
2567:
2562:
2559:
2555:
2550:
2542:
2495:
2489:
2483:
2473:iZwi labaNtu
2472:
2467:
2459:
2456:
2449:
2442:
2438:
2430:
2394:
2393:
2386:
2374:
2355:
2346:
2340:
2321:
2317:
2315:
2306:
2295:
2287:
2276:
2267:
2264:
2255:
2253:
2241:
2239:
2229:
2227:
2219:
2217:
2209:
2205:
2201:
2197:
2196:In Lesotho,
2195:
2188:
2180:
2170:
2162:
2153:
2147:
2142:
2140:
2133:
2125:
2118:
2113:
2109:
2107:
2095:
2093:
2083:
2081:
2068:
2067:
2057:
2056:
2043:
2042:
2032:
2031:
2018:
2017:
2007:
2006:
1990:
1983:
1979:
1977:
1971:
1966:
1962:
1960:
1954:
1948:
1942:
1936:
1930:
1927:
1916:
1912:
1910:
1903:
1896:
1884:
1880:
1878:
1871:
1864:
1852:
1848:
1846:
1839:
1832:
1820:
1819:a — mo
1816:
1814:
1807:
1800:
1788:
1784:
1782:
1775:
1768:
1756:
1752:
1750:
1743:
1736:
1724:
1723:oso —
1720:
1719:
1712:
1705:
1693:
1689:
1688:
1681:
1674:
1662:
1658:
1656:
1649:
1643:
1636:
1630:
1607:
1592:
1590:
1566:
1564:
1540:
1538:
1532:
1509:
1507:
1482:
1478:
1476:
1452:
1451:
1426:
1424:
1400:
1398:
1374:
1372:
1348:
1347:
1323:
1321:
1300:Moshoeshoe I
1294:
1290:
1288:
1265:
1261:
1260:
1236:
1232:
1230:
1205:
1203:
1178:
1174:
1172:
1147:
1145:
1124:
1122:
1101:
1100:
1094:
1076:cooking pot
1071:
1070:
1064:
1042:
1038:
1036:
1030:
1010:
1008:
1003:
983:
981:
975:
952:
950:
943:
941:
918:
916:
891:
889:
865:
861:
859:
835:
831:
829:
805:
803:
767:
766:
744:
742:
718:
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712:
687:
685:
660:
658:
633:
631:
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605:
599:
576:
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546:
544:
511:
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484:
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458:
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450:
430:
428:
423:
403:
401:
395:
372:
370:
344:
342:
322:
320:
296:
292:
290:
285:
258:Orthography
251:
235:approximants
228:
218:
209:
198:
190:South Africa
183:
171:Latin script
160:
144:
130:South Africa
123:
3807:Constructed
3566:Niger–Congo
3506:Afroasiatic
3364:Azerbaijani
3297:orthography
3062:orthography
3047:orthography
2806:orthography
2709:Determiners
2689:Phonologies
2480:Limitations
2435:Punctuation
2316:Dikgomo di
2249:praise poem
1915:e — m
1890:to be tied
1093:aspirated:
581:to examine
516:to be tied
408:to attempt
163:orthography
82:Orthography
3830:Categories
3797:Papiamento
3684:Vietnamese
3651:East Asian
3288:Hungarian
3197:Hindustani
3169:Indo-Aryan
3034:Macedonian
3002:Belarusian
2984:Lithuanian
2946:Portuguese
2704:Adjectives
2630:References
2558:, either
2530:homographs
2247:to sing a
1762:May month
1504:aspirated
1328:greenness
1200:aspirated
1029:English: b
923:to accuse
194:diacritics
3815:Esperanto
3764:Inuktitut
3674:Mongolian
3617:Malayalam
3594:Dravidian
3324:Mordvinic
3209:Maldivian
3109:Ukrainian
3024:Bulgarian
2906:Aromanian
2793:Norwegian
2788:Icelandic
2758:Afrikaans
2534:morphemes
2418:morphemes
2344:father ⇒
1571:epidemic
1487:to rinse
1405:to renew
1353:solution
957:to marry
551:to build
179:trigraphs
32:Phonology
3759:Cherokee
3712:Hawaiian
3707:Filipino
3640:Okinawan
3635:Japanese
3544:Biblical
3518:Aramaic
3496:Georgian
3473:European
3314:Livonian
3304:Karelian
3292:alphabet
3279:Estonian
3252:Armenian
3247:Albanian
3192:Gurmukhi
3187:Gujarati
3069:Silesian
3057:alphabet
3053:Russian
3042:alphabet
2956:Sicilian
2951:Romanian
2939:alphabet
2801:alphabet
2797:Swedish
2750:Germanic
2724:Pronouns
2699:Grammars
2594:See also
2502:phonemes
2414:class 15
2251:—
2235:to cross
2137:My child
1922:ostrich
1794:to burn
1668:to lend
1624:Example
1597:to walk
1591:ho tsama
1431:to fill
1183:to chat
1152:ostrich
1046:writing
840:to glue
612:to call
489:to find
463:to look
435:to tell
267:Example
175:digraphs
59:Concords
37:Tonology
3769:Nahuatl
3659:Chinese
3627:Japonic
3612:Kannada
3551:Maltese
3522:Aramaic
3414:Turkmen
3409:Turkish
3374:Crimean
3369:Bashkir
3284:Finnish
3221:Marathi
3177:Bengali
3154:Persian
3144:Kurdish
3139:Avestan
3131:Iranian
3104:Sorbian
3099:Slovene
3038:Polish
2979:Latvian
2961:Spanish
2926:Italian
2911:Catalan
2898:Romance
2841:Cornish
2818:Yiddish
2778:Faroese
2773:English
2676:of the
2425:adverbs
2171:O motle
2163:U motle
1457:nature
896:letter
749:spider
690:arabelo
665:to eat
225:History
186:Lesotho
165:of the
134:Lesotho
44:Grammar
23:Sesotho
3784:Creole
3749:other
3740:Ojibwe
3669:Korean
3663:Dungan
3649:other
3607:Telugu
3556:Somali
3539:Hebrew
3527:Syriac
3514:Arabic
3491:Dargwa
3486:Basque
3481:Abkhaz
3471:other
3457:Manchu
3452:Evenki
3419:Uyghur
3394:Kyrgyz
3389:Khakas
3384:Kazakh
3379:Gagauz
3356:Turkic
3346:Udmurt
3334:Erzyan
3329:Moksha
3271:Uralic
3231:Romani
3214:Thaana
3182:Chakma
3149:Pashto
3094:Slovak
2994:Slavic
2971:Baltic
2930:Latin
2916:French
2836:Breton
2828:Celtic
2783:German
2763:Danish
2524:, and
2512:, and
2280:leader
2261:to sew
2100:ngoaea
2086:ngwaya
1946:, and
1847:ho utl
1759:eanong
1699:peace
1403:afatsa
1351:arollo
1104:uputso
1015:proof
988:query
838:aretsa
487:umiana
264:Notes
145:italic
132:, not
124:Notes:
3774:Osage
3727:Algic
3717:Malay
3689:Nivkh
3602:Tamil
3579:Sotho
3462:Udege
3429:Yakut
3424:Uzbek
3404:Tatar
3399:Nogai
3319:Mansi
3257:Greek
3240:other
3159:Tajik
3029:Czech
2888:Welsh
2873:Irish
2768:Dutch
2729:Verbs
2714:Nouns
2606:Notes
2490:Chaka
2341:ntate
2228:ho tš
2218:ho tš
2097:'
2070:'
2045:'
2020:'
2013:truth
1879:ho bo
1855:isisa
1657:ho ka
1545:fame
1241:hair
1138:/pʃʰ/
1115:/pʃʼ/
1013:ntsho
942:el ni
638:heir
636:alefa
510:ho bo
457:ho sh
429:ho jw
347:arana
327:milk
66:Verbs
54:Nouns
3679:Thai
3574:Fula
3447:Even
3341:Sámi
3309:Komi
3226:Odia
3202:Urdu
2878:Manx
2460:stem
2324:fula
2254:ho r
2240:ho r
2151:and
2023:nete
2010:nete
1696:otso
1492:tsh
1442:t͡ɬʰ
1436:tlh
1429:atsa
1399:ho n
1390:t͡ʃʰ
1384:tjh
1379:dog
1364:t͡ʃʼ
1268:otho
1134:pjh
1127:atla
1074:itsa
1037:mong
810:axe
757:k͡xʰ
606:ho b
545:ho a
498:/fʃ/
402:ho l
377:God
363:and
336:/bʒ/
261:IPA
240:and
188:and
177:and
161:The
3584:Vai
2588:/ɛ/
2584:/ɪ/
2575:-ye
2526:/o/
2522:/ɔ/
2518:/ʊ/
2514:/e/
2510:/ɛ/
2506:/ɪ/
2307:-a-
2299:be!
2112:or
2094:ho
2082:ho
2073:nyo
2060:nyo
2038:and
1982:or
1975:.
1967:t's
1965:or
1963:ts'
1917:psh
1913:pjh
1904:psh
1897:pjh
1885:fsh
1872:fsh
1785:tjh
1783:ho
1769:tjh
1753:tsh
1737:tsh
1727:oso
1725:k'h
1713:k'h
1512:oha
1510:tsh
1508:ho
1498:tsʰ
1481:oko
1477:ho
1468:tsʼ
1462:ts
1455:aho
1453:tlh
1425:ho
1416:tɬʼ
1410:tl
1401:tjh
1358:tj
1333:th
1326:ala
1274:sh
1208:eku
1188:qh
1173:ho
1148:pjh
1123:ho
1111:pj
1097:in
1081:ph
1067:it
1033:rd
1004:eau
986:tso
955:ala
951:ho
928:ny
921:osa
917:ho
901:nq
894:olo
874:ng
830:ho
808:epe
799:/d/
795:/u/
793:or
791:/i/
770:ale
728:kg
697:kh
686:boi
659:ho
654:/ʒ/
646:d͡ʒ
610:tsa
579:oba
571:ho
556:hl
531:or
494:fj
483:ho
433:tsa
375:imo
365:/u/
361:/i/
343:ho
332:bj
325:ese
295:bel
291:ho
242:/w/
238:/j/
3832::
2520:,
2508:,
2391:.
2384:.
2288:e-
2258:ka
2244:ka
2232:la
2222:la
2048:me
2035:me
1972:tš
1955:nq
1949:nǵ
1943:ḱh
1940:,
1931:nǵ
1887:oa
1881:fj
1865:fj
1815:mo
1789:ch
1776:ch
1757:tš
1751:Mo
1744:tš
1721:kh
1706:kh
1694:kh
1690:kg
1682:kh
1675:kg
1665:ma
1663:li
1659:di
1650:lu
1647:,
1644:li
1637:du
1634:,
1631:di
1576:y
1565:se
1550:w
1543:mo
1535:t
1533:oo
1519:u
1483:ts
1479:ts
1427:tl
1375:tj
1349:th
1339:tʰ
1322:bo
1312:tʼ
1306:t
1297:we
1295:sh
1293:we
1291:sh
1289:Mo
1246:s
1231:mo
1215:r
1206:qh
1204:le
1194:ǃʰ
1157:q
1125:pj
1102:ph
1087:pʰ
1057:pʼ
1051:p
1031:oa
978:t
962:o
953:ny
919:nq
907:ᵑǃ
892:ng
890:le
868:eo
860:le
845:n
815:m
804:se
777:l
768:kg
745:kg
743:se
719:kh
715:kh
713:le
703:kʰ
676:kʼ
670:k
632:mo
617:j
602:t
600:ee
586:i
577:hl
573:hl
521:h
514:wa
512:fj
504:fa
468:f
461:ba
453:d
406:ka
398:t
382:e
371:Mo
367:)
354:d
345:bj
321:le
305:b
272:a
214:.
196:.
3665:)
3661:(
2666:e
2659:t
2652:v
2639:.
2622:.
2572:(
2475:)
2427:.
2420:.
2322:a
2318:a
2256:ō
2242:ò
2230:ē
2220:è
2210:ē
2206:è
2202:ō
2198:ò
2154:w
2148:o
2143:u
2114:m
2110:n
2084:n
2058:n
2033:m
2008:n
1984:m
1980:n
1937:ḱ
1919:e
1911:m
1853:o
1849:w
1840:o
1833:w
1823:a
1821:e
1817:y
1808:e
1801:y
1791:a
1595:a
1593:y
1584:/
1582:j
1580:/
1569:a
1567:w
1558:/
1556:w
1554:/
1541:u
1539:t
1527:/
1525:u
1523:/
1500:/
1496:/
1485:a
1470:/
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1414:/
1392:/
1388:/
1377:a
1373:n
1366:/
1362:/
1341:/
1337:/
1324:t
1314:/
1310:/
1282:/
1280:ʃ
1278:/
1266:s
1264:e
1262:S
1254:/
1252:s
1250:/
1239:i
1237:r
1235:i
1233:r
1223:/
1221:ʁ
1219:/
1196:/
1192:/
1181:a
1179:q
1177:o
1175:q
1165:/
1163:ǃ
1161:/
1150:e
1146:m
1095:p
1089:/
1085:/
1072:p
1065:p
1059:/
1055:/
1043:o
1041:l
1039:o
1025:/
1023:ɔ
1021:/
1011:o
1009:p
998:/
996:o
994:/
984:o
982:p
976:u
970:/
968:ʉ
966:/
946:o
944:ñ
936:/
934:ɲ
932:/
909:/
905:/
882:/
880:ŋ
878:/
866:n
864:a
862:n
853:/
851:n
849:/
836:m
834:a
832:m
823:/
821:m
819:/
806:l
785:/
783:l
781:/
759:/
755:/
747:o
736:/
734:x
732:/
721:o
717:o
705:/
701:/
688:k
678:/
674:/
663:a
661:j
648:/
644:/
634:j
625:/
623:ʒ
621:/
608:i
594:/
592:i
590:/
575:a
564:/
562:ɬ
560:/
549:a
547:h
537:/
535:ɦ
533:/
529:/
527:h
525:/
485:f
476:/
474:f
472:/
459:e
451:e
445:/
443:ɛ
441:/
431:e
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418:/
416:e
414:/
404:e
396:i
390:/
388:ɨ
386:/
373:d
323:b
313:/
311:b
309:/
297:a
293:a
286:a
280:/
278:ɑ
276:/
109:e
102:t
95:v
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