List of Setswana medical terms

This is a list of Setswana medical terms that correspond to the English words.

English

Setswana

(To) conceive

Ithwala(go ithwala)

(To) deliver, give birth

Go tshola, go belega

(To) suck

Go anywa

Abdominal pain

Botlhoko mo maleng

Abnormal breathing

Go hema mo go sa siamang/tlwaelesegang

Abortion

Tshenyegelo;phetelelo

Abscess

Tlhagala,phologolo,sebola

Absent periods

Go tlolwa ke dikgwedi

Abuse

Kgokgontsho

Alcohol

Bojalwa

Anemia

Go tlhofofala ga madi, go fela madi

Anesthesia

Molemo wa kidibatso/o o robatsang

Ankle

Legwejane(lenyenyana-side of malleoli)

Anorexia nervosa

Bolwetsi jwa go itima dijo le go bopama mo go feteletseng

Anus

Phatlha ya marago

APGAR test

Tlhatlhobe ya APGAR

Appendicitis

Tutuma ya lelana(tutuma-inflammation)

Appendix

Lelana:lelanyana

Arm

Lebogo:letsogo

Armpit

Legwafa

Arthritis

Bolwetsi jwa ditokololo (tutuma ya ditokololo)

Asphyxia, suffocation

Go hupela(go hupetsa mowa)

Asthma

Bolwetsi jwa khupelo

Aunt

Rakagadi

Baby

Losea

Back

Mokwatla

Back of knee

Kgorikgotshane

Back pains

Ditlhabi tsa mokwatla

Bag of water

Kgetsi ya metsi

Birth defect

Bogole

Bladder

Setlha

Bladder

Setlha

Bleeding

Go tswa madi

Bleeding

Go tswa madi

Bleeding between periods

Go tswa madi ka fa bosading ka nako e e seng ya setswalo

Blindness

Bofofu

Blister

Lerophi

Blood clot

Lethole la madi/leswele la madi/go rema ga madi

Blood in sputum

Segotlhola se se nang le madi

Blood in the stool

Madi mo mantleng

Blood in the urine

Madi mo motlhapong

Blood pressure High

Kwa godimo

Blood pressure Low

Kwa tlase

Blood pressure:

Kgatelelo ya madi

Blurred vision

Pono e e sa tlhapang

Bone

Lerapo

Bone fracture

Go robega ga lerapo

Bottle feed

Go anyisa ka lebotlele

Bowel movement

Go tsamaya ga mala

Boyfriend

Tsala ya mosimane

Brain

Boboko

Brain stroke

Go swa mhama

Breast

Lebele

Breast engorgement

Go ruruga ga lebele

Breast milk

Mashi a lebele

Breast pump

Pompo ya lebele

Breastfeed, nurse

Go anyisa ka lebele

Breech presentation

Go tla ka maoto ga ngwana

Bronchitis

Tutuma ya kgokgotso

Brother

Morwarre

Bruise

V-teteelo/topela/teketa n-dingalo

Bump

Thurugo/boruruso(go ruruga)

Burn

Go sha/fisa

Burning feeling

Go ikutlwa o sha(phisego)

Burp

Go kgobola

Buttocks

Marago

Calf

Ngwari:potongwane

Cardiac arrest

Go ema ga pelo

Cardiac arrhythmia

Go itaya ga pelo mo gom sa siamang

CD4 count

Palo ya masole a mmele

Cervix

Molomo wa popelo

Cesarean section, C section

Go belega ka loaro

Cheek

Lerama

Chest

Sehuba:lefatlha

Childbearing

Pelegi

Childbirth

Go belega

Chills

Mofikela,serame

Chills

Mhikela, go roroma

Chin

Seledu

Choke

Beta,go hupetsa

Circumcision

Go kagola letlalo la bonna

Clavicle

Kgetlana

Clotting of blood

Go rema ga madi

Coccyx

Lerapo la mogatla

Cold skin

Letlalo le le tsididi

Coldness in extremities

Botsididi mo dikarolong tse di kgakala

Colon

Lela le letona:telele

Colostrum

Kgatsele

Coma

Kidibalo e e tseneletseng

Conception

Boithwalo(go ithwala)

Condom

Sekausu

Constipation

Komelelo ya mala

Contraception

Thibelo ya boimana

Contractions

Ditlhabi tsa pelegi

Convulsions

Phafamogo, tsibiketso

Cough

Kgotlholo(go gotlhola)

Cough

Kgotlholo

Coughing up blood

Go gotlhola madi

Cramp

Go gonega mesifa

Cravings

Dikeletso(go eletsa)

Crust, scab

Legogo

Cut

Sega

Deafness

Bosusu

Dehydration

Go tlhoka metsi mo mmeleng

Delivery room

Ntlwana ya pelegi

Depressed

Go nyema moko

Diaper rash

Bogwata jo bo dirwang ke motseto(bogwata jwa motseto)

Diaper-urine test

Tlhatlhobo ya motlhapo mo motsetong

Diarrhea

Letshololo/go tshabisega

Dilatation of the cervix

Go bulega ga molomo wa popelo

Dilated pupil

Go golofala(namalala ga thaka ya leitlho

Dislocation

Go lokologa /phethego

Dizziness

Sedidi

Doctor

Ngaka

Double vision

Go nna pono pedi

Drowsiness

n. Go otsela, go ya dikgofeng

Dry cough

Phaphalalo ya sehuba

Dry skin

adj. Komelelo ga letlalo

Due date

Tsatsi la tshiamelo/tshwanelo

Ear (internal)

Tsebe

Ear drum

Moropa wa tsebe

Ectopic pregnancy

Boimana jo bo kwa ntle ga popelo

Elbow

Sejabana,sekgono

Embryo

Ngwana yo o mo popelong

Endometritis

Tutuma ya popelo

Episiotomy

Go oketsa bosadi ka nako ya pelegi

Esophagus

Mometso

Eye

Leitlho

Eyelid

Phupu ya leitlho

Face

Sefatlhego

Fainting

v. Go idibala, go gonoga, go tsewa ke sedidi

False labor

Pelegi e e seng yone/e e seng ya boaammaruri

Family

Lelwapa

Family planning

Go rulaganya ga go tshola mo lwapeng

Father

Ntate/ papa

Fatigue

Letsapa

Female cousin

Ntsalake

Fetal distress

Go tshwenyega ga losea

Fetal monitoring

Go tlhokomela losea

Fetus

Losea(namane)

Fever

Letshoroma, febara, sethitho, sethukhuthukhu

Finger

Monwana wa maoto

Fingernail

Lonala

Folic acid

Kotla ya folic acid

Foot

Lenao

Forearm

Mosetlatshe, momo wa lebogo

Forehead

Phatla

Frequent urination

Go ntsha motlhapo kgapetse

Gall bladder

Santlhokwe

Gallstones

Matlapana a santlhokwe

Genitals

Mapele

Girlfriend

Tsala ya mosetsana

Grandfather

Ntatemogolo

Grandmother

Nkuku

Grandson

Ngwana wa ngwana

Gum

Lerinini

Gynecologist

Ngaka ya malwetsi a sesadi

HAART

Diritibatsi tsa mogare

Hair

Moriri

Hand

Seatla

Head

Tlhogo

Head presentation

Go tswa ga tlhogo

HeadAche

Go opiwa ke tlhogo

Hearing loss

Tatlhegelo ya kutlo

Heart

Pelo

Heartbeat Fast

Bonako

Heartbeat Irregular

Mo go sa tlwaelesegang

Heartbeat Slow

Ka bonya

Heartbeat:

Go itaya ga pelo

Heartburn

Lesokolela

Heel

Serethe

Hemorrhage

Tshologo ya madi, go dutla madi

Hernia

Boruruga

Hip

Noka

HIV

Mogare wa HIV

Husband

Mokapelo wa rre yo o nyetseng

I don't know

Ga ke itse

I don't understand

Ga ke tlhaloganye

Identical twins

Mafatlha a a tshwanang

Ill, sick

Go lwala, go gatelelwa ke bolwetse

Incontinence

n. Bosenaboithibo jwa motlhapo, go sa kgone go ikisa seemelong

Induction

Go tlhoma,go tsenya

Infection

Bolwetse ja go tselanwa

Inflammation

Tutuma, kgotelo

Insomnia

Go tlhorega boroko

Intestines

Mala a mannye

Intravenous, IV

Go tsenya molemo mo mading

Inverted nipple

Thoba e e tlhanogileng

Irregular periods

Seome/ go bona setswalo nako nngwe le nngwe

Itch

Pabego, adj., go baba

Jaw

Lotlhaa

Kidney

Philo

Kidney stones

Matlapana a philo

Knee

Lengole

Labia

Phese

Labor

Pelegi

Labor pains

Ditlhabi tsa pelegi

Labor positions

Boemo jwa pelegi

Lactation

Go sisa ga mabele

Laryngitis

Go swa lentswe, go swaetsega lentswe

Leg

Leoto

Lip

Pounama:molomo

Liver

Sebete

Liver function tests

Tlhatlhobo ya ka fa sebete se berekang ka teng

Locked jaw

Go kitlana meno

Loose teeth

Go khinoga, go latlhegelwa ke meno

Loss of Appetite

Keletso ya dijo

Loss of Libido

Maikutlo a thobalano

Loss of Memory

Kgakologelo

Loss of Voice

Lentswe

Loss of:

Tatlhegelo ya

Lungs

Makgwafo

Malaria

Letshoroma/moteteselo

Male cousin

Ntsalake

[...]

Motokwane

Mastitis, breast infection

Tutma ya mabele

Maternity

Go bewa botsetsi

Meconium

Tilane/thola

Medical student

Moithuti wa bongaka

Menstrual flow

Setswalo

Menstrual pains

Ditlhabi tsa setswalo

Midwife

Mmelegisi

Milk

Mashi a lebele

Milk glands

Kgekgele/kgeleswa ya mashi

Miscarriage

Go senyegelwa

Moist skin

Letlalo le le metsi

Mother

Mme/mama

Mouth

Molomo

Natural childbirth

Pelegi ya tlholego

Nausea

Pherogo ya sebete

Nausea

Pherego ya sebete, khidikego, mosetlego

Neck

Molala

Nephew

Setlogolo sa mosimane

New mother

Mme yo mosha

Newborn

Losea

Niece

Setlogolo sa mosetsana

Nightsweats

Go huhula bosigo

Nipple

Thoba

No

Nnyaa (nnyaa, mma; female/ nnyaa, rra; male)

Nose

Nko

Nostril

Leroba la nko

Numbness

n. Bosisi, bogatsu

Nurse

Mooki

Obese

O ya go nna moimana

Obese

Go nona, go nna mokima

Obstetrician (OB)

Ngaka ya tsa pelegi

Obstetrics

Tsa pelegi

Ovaries

Lee: boe

Pancreas

Ngati:marakana mantsi

Paralysis

Go swa mhama, go swa karolo

Parasite

Senwamadi/setshedinyana se se nnang mo mmeleng wa motho

Partner

Mokapelo

Paternity

Lesika la borra/borra

Peeling of the skin

Go oboga letlalo

Pelvis

Selalo(lerapo la selalo)

Penis

Lepele, bonna

Perineum

Kwa tlase

Period

Motlha(wa setswalo)

Placenta

Kgolu, samorago (anaimal-mothana)

Placenta

Kgolu, samorago (anaimal-mothana)

Pneumonia

Tutuma ya makgwafo, thibamo

Postpartum

Morago ga pelegi

Postpartum depression

Go nyema moko morago ga pelegi/kutlo botlhoko e e feteletseng morago ga pelegi

Pregnancy

Boimana

Pregnancy and delivery

Boimana le pelegi

Pregnancy test

Tlhatlhobo ya boimana

Prelabor

Pele ga pelegi

Premature

Ngwana yo o tsileng pele ga nako

Prenatal

Pele ga pelegi

Prenatal care

Tlhokomelo pele ga pelegi

Prenatal vitamins

Dikotla tsa pele ga pelegi

Pressure

Kgatelelo

Preterm labor

Go belega pele ga nako

Protection

Gom iphemela/tshireletso

Puffiness

Boruruga

Push downwards

Kgarameletsa kwa tlase

[...]

Go thubetsa

Recovery

Go fola

Rectum

Mongopo:kutukwe

Rheumatic fever

Sekorotane

Rib

Legopo, kgopo

Rupture of membranes/bag of waters

Go tswa ga metsi kwa tlase/go duela lfatshe

Sanitary napkins

Motseto

Scar

Lobadi

Scratch

n. Ngwaya; kgwarinya; ngapa v, go ingwaya

Seizures

Go kanakanyega, go bolawa ke dikoto

[...] intercourse

Tlhakanelo dikobo

Shin

Motwane

Shock

n. Letshogo

Shoulder

Legetla

Sister

Morwadia-rre

Skull

Legata

Sore nipples

Go tutela ga mabele

Spasm

Go thebetha, go gonega mosifa

Spine

Mokwatla

Spleen

Lebete

Sprain

Tsipoga

Stages of childbirth

Tshetsha tsa pelegi

Sterilize

Kemiso (emisa)-go phepahatsa ka botlalo

Stiff

Karalala, kwatlalala, gagamala

Stillbirth

Go senyegelwa

Stitches

Meroko(moroko)

Stomach

Mogodu

Stomach gas

Mowa mo mpeng

Stroke

Go swa mhama

Swelling

n. Borurugo, pudula

Tampons

Mosangwana wa bomme

Tapeworm

Sebokwana sa mala/seboko sa mala

Tear

Keledi or go kgagola

Testicles

Botonanyana:thala

Thigh

Serope

Throat

Mometso

Thumb

Monwana wa kgonope

Tightness in chest

Go gagamala ga mafatlha

Tingling

Bogatsu

Toe

Monwana wa maoto

Tongue

Loleme

Tonsils

Dikodu

Tooth

Leino

Torn ligament

Go kgaoga mosifa

Transmission

Tshelano(go tshelana bolwetsi)

Tremor

n. Thoromo, adj, go roroma

Tuberculosis

Thibamo, kgotlholo e tona

Tumor

Boswa

Twins

Mafatlha /mawelana

Twitch

v. Thebetha

Ulcer

n. Seromo, ntho, seso

Umbilical cord

Khujwana

Uncle

Malome

Unconsciousness

n. Kidibalo

Unexplained weight loss

Tatlhegelo ya mmele

Urethra

Tsela ya motlhapo

Urinalysis

Tlhatlhobo ya motlhapo

Urine sample

Morafolo wa motlhapo

Uterus

Popelo

Uterus

Popelo

Vaccinate

Bo kentiwa

Vaccine

Mokento

Vagina

Bosadi

Vaginal bleeding

Go tswa madi ka fa bosading

Vaginal discharge

Go tswa metsi ka fa bosading (a a masweu)

Vertebrae

Lerapo la mokwatla

Virus

Mogare

Vomit

n. Lotlhatso, v. tlhatsa/ kgwa

Waist

Letheka

Weight

Bokete

Weight at birth

Bokete ka nako ya pelegi

What is (your, the child’s) name

Leina la gago ke mang

Wife

Mokapelo wa mme yo o nyetsweng

Wound

Ntho

Wrist

Tokololo ya seatla

X-ray

Seipone

Yes

Ee (ee, mma; female/ ee, rra; male)