Botswana Languages

Botswana Wiki Topics
Beginning Research
Research Strategies Record Finder Online Learning
Record Types
Cemeteries Church Records Civil Registration Colonial Records Compiled Genealogies	Emigration & Immigration Military Records Online Records Religious Records
Botswana Background
Gazetteers History Jurisdictions	Languages Maps Social Life & Customs
Local Research Resources
Archives and Libraries Societies FamilySearch Centers

Botswana

Languages

Description

The official languages of Botswana are English and Tswana.

• English - Inherited from colonial rule and is used for official business and most written communication.
• Tswana - The language of the Tswana people—Setswana—is a country's national language, and is spoken by most of the population.

Over 20 smaller languages are also spoken. Some of the country's languages are in danger of becoming extinct. Here is a list of the languages in Botswana:

Afrikaans	Haillom	Kua	Setswana
Ani	Herero	Kuhane	Shua
Birwa	Hua	Kung-Ekoka	Tshuwau
Chichewa	'hoan	Lozi	Tswapong
English	Kalanga	Mbukushu	!Xóõ
Gana	Kgalagadi	Nambya	Yeyi
Gciriku	Khoekhoe	Naro	Zezuru
Gwi	Khwedam	Ndebele	isiXhosa

Language Aids and Dictionaries

• Learn-Botswana's-Official-Language