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''[[Africa]] [[Image:Gotoarrow.png]]''''' [[Lesotho Genealogy|Lesotho]]''{{Lesotho-sidebar}}
{{CountrySidebar
|Country=Lesotho
|Name=Lesotho
|Type=Topic
|Topic Type=Background
|Background=Languages
|Content=Standardized
}}{{breadcrumb
| link1=[[Lesotho Genealogy|Lesotho]]
| link2=
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| link5=[[Lesotho Languages|Languages]]
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==Description==
The official languages of the Kingdom of Lesotho are '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotho_language Sesotho]''' and '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English]'''. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Lesotho," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', The official languages are Sesotho and English., accessed 23 Feb 2022.</ref><br>
Sotho or Sesotho is spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Sotho language," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.</ref><br>
Lesotho, a country in Southern Africa, is home to several languages, including
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuthi_language Phuthi]'''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotho_language Sesotho]''' - Official language - Sesotho is the first language of more than 90 percent of the population and is "used widely as a medium of communication" in day-to-day speech. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=Sesotho%20is%20the%20first%20language%20of%20more,a%20medium%20of%20communication%22%20in%20day-to-day%20speech, accessed 23 Feb 2022.</ref>
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Xhosa_language Xhosa]'''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_language Zulu]'''
* '''[https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/English_language English]''' - Official language - English is reserved for official interactions, such as "government and administration". <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=English%20is%20reserved%20for%20official%20interactions%2C%5B8%5D%20such%20as%20%22government%20and%20administration%22, accessed 23 Feb 2022.</ref>
All, except for English, belong to the Niger–Congo language family. <ref>Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in ''Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia'', https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.</ref>


*[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/sesotho.htm Writing Lesotho]
==Word List(s)==
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuthi_language#:~:text=Phrases Phuthi Phrases] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/sesotho.php#:~:text=Useful%20Sesotho%20phrases Useful Sesotho phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/northernsotho.htm#:~:text=Useful%20phrases%20in%20Northern%20Sotho Useful phrases in Northern Sotho] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/xhosa.php#:~:text=Useful%20Xhosa%20phrases Useful Xhosa phrases] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/language/phrases/zulu.php#:~:text=Useful%20Zulu%20phrases Useful Zulu phrases] - Omniglot
* Motinyane-Masoko, Mantoa and Aquilina Mawadza. ''Xhosa dictionary & phrasebook.'' New York: Hippocrene Books, Inc, 2017. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/991795167 WorldCat].


[[Category:Africa]]
==Alphabet and Pronunciation==
'''Alphabet'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuthi_language#:~:text=Alphabet Phuthi Alphabet] - Wikipedia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sotho_phonology Sotho Vowels & Consonants] - Wikipedia
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/nsotho.htm Sotho Alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/xhosa.htm#:~:text=Xhosa%20alphabet Xhosa alphabet] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/zulu.htm#:~:text=Zulu%20alphabet Zulu alphabet] - Omniglot
 
'''Pronunciation'''
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/sesotho.htm#:~:text=Sotho%20pronunciation Sotho pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/xhosa.htm#:~:text=Xhosa%20pronunciation Xhosa pronunciation] - Omniglot
* [https://omniglot.com/writing/zulu.htm#:~:text=pronunciation Zulu pronunciation] - Omniglot
 
==Language Aids and Dictionaries==
'''Dictionaries'''
* Kriel, Theunis Johannes. ''The new English-Sesotho dictionary.'' Johannesburg: A.P.B, 1958. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/560821105 WorldCat].
* Hamel, L. ''English-Southern Sesotho dictionary.'' Mazenod, Basutoland (Lesotho): Catholic Centre, 1965. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/2225214 WorldCat].
* Fischer, A. ''English-Xhosa dictionary.'' Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 2012. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/828856535 WorldCat].
* Dent, G. R and C. L. Sibusiso Nyembezi. ''Scholar's Zulu dictionary : English-Zulu, Zulu-English.'' Pietermaritzburg: Shuter and Shooter, 2009. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/1017359389 WorldCat].
 
'''Online Dictionaries'''
* [https://glosbe.com/en/st Dictionary English - Southern Sotho] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/xh Dictionary English - Xhosa] - Glosbe
* [https://glosbe.com/en/zu Dictionary English - Zulu] - Glosbe
 
'''Language Aids'''
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Phuthi_language#:~:text=Grammar Phuthi Grammar] - Wikipeadia
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sesotho_grammar Sesotho grammar] - Wikipedia
* [http://learn101.org/xhosa_grammar.php Xhosa Grammar] - Learn101
* [https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zulu_grammar Zulu grammar] - Wikipedia
* [http://learn101.org/zulu_grammar.php Zulu Grammar] - Learn101
 
==Additional Resources==
* Doke, Clement M. ''The phonetics of the Zulu language.'' Muenchen: LINCOM Europa, 2012. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/819379452 WorldCat].
* Ambrose, David. ''Sesotho language.'' National University of Lesotho, Lesotho: House 9 Publications, 2006. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/162508628 WorldCat].
* Donnelly, Simon Scurr. ''Aspects of Tone and Voice in Phuthi.'' Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. '''''Available at:''''' [https://www.worldcat.org/title/931575253 WorldCat].
 
== References  ==
{{reflist}}
 
[[Category:Lesotho]] [[Category:Language and Handwriting]]

Latest revision as of 20:19, 11 August 2025

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Geographylogo.png In other languages: English | Sesotho

Description

The official languages of the Kingdom of Lesotho are Sesotho and English. [1]
Sotho or Sesotho is spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, where it is the national and official language. [2]
Lesotho, a country in Southern Africa, is home to several languages, including

  • Phuthi
  • Sesotho - Official language - Sesotho is the first language of more than 90 percent of the population and is "used widely as a medium of communication" in day-to-day speech. [3]
  • Xhosa
  • Zulu
  • English - Official language - English is reserved for official interactions, such as "government and administration". [4]

All, except for English, belong to the Niger–Congo language family. [5]

Word List(s)

Alphabet and Pronunciation

Alphabet

Pronunciation

Language Aids and Dictionaries

Dictionaries

  • Kriel, Theunis Johannes. The new English-Sesotho dictionary. Johannesburg: A.P.B, 1958. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Hamel, L. English-Southern Sesotho dictionary. Mazenod, Basutoland (Lesotho): Catholic Centre, 1965. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Fischer, A. English-Xhosa dictionary. Cape Town: Oxford University Press, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Dent, G. R and C. L. Sibusiso Nyembezi. Scholar's Zulu dictionary : English-Zulu, Zulu-English. Pietermaritzburg: Shuter and Shooter, 2009. Available at: WorldCat.

Online Dictionaries

Language Aids

Additional Resources

  • Doke, Clement M. The phonetics of the Zulu language. Muenchen: LINCOM Europa, 2012. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Ambrose, David. Sesotho language. National University of Lesotho, Lesotho: House 9 Publications, 2006. Available at: WorldCat.
  • Donnelly, Simon Scurr. Aspects of Tone and Voice in Phuthi. Urbana, Ill: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, 2007. Available at: WorldCat.

References

  1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, The official languages are Sesotho and English., accessed 23 Feb 2022.
  2. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Sotho language," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, spoken primarily by the Basotho in Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
  3. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=Sesotho%20is%20the%20first%20language%20of%20more,a%20medium%20of%20communication%22%20in%20day-to-day%20speech, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
  4. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho#:~:text=English%20is%20reserved%20for%20official%20interactions%2C%5B8%5D%20such%20as%20%22government%20and%20administration%22, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
  5. ↑ Wikipedia contributors, "Languages of Lesotho," in Wikipedia: the Free Encyclopedia, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Languages_of_Lesotho, accessed 23 Feb 2022.
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