Sesotho Place Name Word List
Continents - Dikontinente
| English | Sesotho |
| Africa | Afrika |
| Asia | Asia |
| Europe | Yuropo (Yoropo / Jiropo) |
| North America | Amerika Leboya |
| South America | Amerika Borwa |
Oceans - Mawatle
| English | Sesotho |
| Atlantic Ocean | Lewatle la Atlelantiki |
| Indian Ocean | Lewatle la India |
| Pacific Ocean | Lewatle la Phasifiki |
Geographical regions - Ditereke tsa thutafatshe
| English | Sesotho |
| Middle East | Botjhabela Bohare |
| Kalahari | Kgalahadi |
| North Pole | Palo e ka leboya |
| South Pole | Palo e ka borwa |
Countries - Dinaha
| English | Sesotho |
| Angola | Angola |
| Belgium | Belgiamo |
| Botswana | Botswana |
| Burundi | Burundi |
| China | Tjhaena |
| Congo | Kongo |
| Democratic Republic of Congo | Rephabliki ya Demokrasi ya Kongo |
| Egypt | Egepeta |
| England | Engelane |
| France | Fora |
| Germany | Jeremane |
| Greece | Gerikelane |
| India | India |
| Italy | Itali |
| Japan | Japane |
| Kenya | Kenya |
| Lesotho | Lesotho |
| Mali | Mali |
| Malawi | Malawi |
| Mozambique | Mozambiki (Potoketsi) |
| Namibia | Namibia |
| (The) Netherlands | Netherlane |
| Russia | Rashea |
| Rwanda | Rwanda |
| South Africa | Afrika Borwa |
| Swaziland | Swatsing |
| Tanzania | Tanzania |
| Uganda | Uganda |
| USA | Amerika |
| Zambia | Zambia |
| Zimbabwe | Zimbabwe |
South African place names in Sesotho
Republic of South Africa
- Rephabliki ya Afrika Borwa
South Africa - Afrika Borwa
Provinces - Diporovinse
| English | Sesotho |
| Eastern Cape | Kapa Botjhabela |
| Free State | Foreistata (Foreisetata / Freistata) |
| Gauteng | Gauteng |
| KwaZulu-Natal | Kwazulu-Natala |
| Limpopo | Limpopo |
| Mpumalanga | Mpumalanga |
| Northern Cape | Kapa Leboya |
| North West | Leboya Bophirimela |
| Western Cape | Kapa Bophirimela |
Towns and cities - Ditoropo le Metse
| English | Sesotho | Literal meaning |
| Bethlehem | Bohlokong | Place of pain / Type of shrub found in the area |
| Bloemfontein | Mangaung | Place of the cheetahs |
| Bothaville | Mophate | Place where people wander / Clay pot |
| Brandfort | Majwemasweu | White stones |
| Cape Town | Motse Kapa (Kapa) | City Cape |
| Clarens | Botjheletsane | Slippery place |
| Clocolan | Hlohlowane | Stamp and fight |
| Dewetsdorp | Morojaneng | Place of young cattle |
| Durban | Thekong | |
| East London | Monti | |
| Edenville | Ngwathe | To create / To dish up food |
| Ellisras | Lephalale | To flow |
| Fauresmith | Forismethe | Phonological adaptation of original name |
| Ficksburg | Marallaneng | At the ridges |
| Fouriesburg | Mashaeng | At Mashae's place |
| Frankfort | Namahadi | Willow river |
| Harrismith | Thaba Ntsho | |
| Heilbron | Phiritona | Male hyena |
| Hennenman | Dikgutsaneng | Place of orphans |
| Hoopstad | Maabala | They who walk with difficulty |
| Hoopstad | Maokaneng | At the small thorn trees |
| Johannesburg | Gauteng / Kgauteng | Place of gold |
| Kestell | Tlholong | Place of victory |
| Kimberley | Daemaneng | Place of diamonds |
| Koffiefontein | Ditlhake | Place of reeds |
| Kroonstad | Maokeng | At the thorn trees |
| Marquard | Moemaneng | Place of Moemane |
| Parys | Pareisi | Phonological adaptation of original name |
| Parys | Tumahole | Well-known place |
| Philippolis | Poding-tse-Rolo / Podingtserolo | Place of the bontebok |
| Pietermaritzburg | Mokokotlofo | |
| Pietersburg | Polokwane | Place of safety |
| Port Elizabeth | Baye | Bay |
| Pretoria | Tshwane | Named after a local chief called Tshwane |
| Pretoria | Pritoriya | Phonological adaptation of original name |
| Reddersburg | Matoporong | At the Doppers (member of Gereformeerde Kerk/Reformed Chuch) |
| Reitz | Petsana | Little foal |
| Rosendal | Mautse | Danger |
| Rustenburg | Tlhabane | Named after local chief / Spear |
| Sasolburg | Ditamateng | Place of tamatoes |
| Senekal | Matwabeng | Place of scabies |
| Senekal | Senekane | Phonological adaptation of original name |
| Steynsrus | Matlwangtlwang | Where small house were built haphazardly |
| Steynsrus | Mookana | Thorn bush |
| Theunissen | Masilo | Name of character from folklore |
| Theunissen | Mmasilo | Mother of Silo |
| Trompsburg | Mmadikgetla | Mother of eggshells |
| Tweeling | Mafahlaneng | At the little twins |
| Tweespruit | Matshelamabedi / Melatswanammedi | Two crossings |
| Tweespruit | Thulama | Askew |
| Van Stadensrus | Mmoko | Phonological adaptation of name Mook |
| Ventersburg | Mmamahabane | Mother of Habane |
| Verkeerdevlei | Motati | The hasty one |
| Viljoenskroon | Rammolotsi | Father of one who sends the young ones to initiation school |
| Virginia | Meloding | Place of melodies |
| Warmbaths | Bela-bela | Boil |
| Welkom | Thabong | Place of happiness |
| Welkom | Kamohelo | Welcome |
| Wepener | Qibing | Place of otters |
| Winburg | Makeleketla | Where things are obtained easily |
| Witsieshoek | Qwaqwa | |
| Zastron | Matlakeng | At the vultures |
Other place names taken from Sesotho
| Place name | Meaning |
| Dihlabeng | From 'Metsi a Dihlaba' |
| Dipalesang | Place of flowers |
| Kopanong | Meeting place |
| Lejweleputswa | Grey stones |
| Lesedi | Light |
| Letsemeng | Spirit of co-operation |
| Mafube | Dawning of the new day |
| Maletswai | Place of salt |
| Masilonyana | Named after mountain |
| Matatiele | The ducks have flown |
| Matjhabeng | Where nations meet |
| Metsimaholo |
Great water |
| Moqhaka | Crown |
| Motheo | Founding place |
| Nala | Affluence |
| Naledi | Star |
| Nokeng tsa Taemane | Rivers of diamonds |
| Sedibeng | In the fountain |
| Setsoto | Beauty |
| Tswelopele | Progress |
Rivers - Dinoka
| English | Sesotho | Literal Meaning |
| Apies | Tshwane | Monkey |
| Blood River | Nkome | |
| Buffalo River | Mosinyathi | |
| Bushmans River | Barwa | |
| Caledon | Mohokare / Mogakare | In the middle |
| Crocodile | Mokwena | Crocodile |
| Elands | Namahadi | Much meat |
| False | Ntha | False |
| Kei | Noka ya Kei | |
| Limpopo | Noka ya Limpopo | |
| Mooi | Tlokwe | |
| Olifants | Lepelle | |
| Orange | Senqu | |
| Renoster | Ngwathe | |
| Sabie | Lesaba | Sand (river) |
| Sand | Lehlabathe | |
| Sand | Moetlamogale | River that is violent when in flood |
| Sundays | Ntaka | |
| Tugela | Lethuela | |
| Vaal | Lekwa / Lekoa | |
| Wilge | Namahadi | Willow river |
Mountains - Dithaba
| English | Sesotho |
| Aasvoëlberg | Matlakeng |
| Cairntoul | Makhollo |
| Drakensberg | Maloti / Quathlamba / Qathlamba |
| Maluti | Maloti |
| Mont-aux-Sources | Phofung / Pofung |
| Soutpans | Dithaba tsa Mogale / Letswai |
Sources consulted:
1) Bukantswe -
http://bukantswe.sesotho.org
2) DU PLESSIS, J.A., GILDENHUYS, J.G. & MOILOA, J.J. 1986. Tweetalige Woordeboek
Afrikaans-Suid-Sotho / Bukantswe ya Maleme-Pedi Sesotho-Seafrikanse. Goodwood :
Via Afrika. 269p.
3) KOK, C.R. & BOTHA, L.C. 1978. Suid-Sotho Afrikaans Skoolwoordeboek. Kaapstad
: Juta. 226p.
4) RAPER, P.E. 2004. New Dictionary of South African Place Names. Jeppestown :
Jonathan Ball. 421p.
5) WILKEN, P. (Translator: KHOTSENG, B.) 1994. Understanding Everyday Sesotho.
Cape Town : Maskew Miller Longman. 94p.
Sesotho.web.za
© J. Olivier
(2009)
