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First words in Sesotho

Khotso (KHOT-so), Peace / Hi

loo-MEH-la / KHOT-so

Lumela ntate (loo-MEH-la n-TA-teh), Hello Sir

Formal greeting

Did you know? Lesotho is one of the three remaining African kingdoms (alongside Morocco and Eswatini), a mountainous country entirely landlocked within South Africa. The Basotho blanket, the 'Seana Marena', has become a national symbol: it is worn daily as a coat in the highlands and during ceremonies. The greeting 'Khotso' (peace) sits at the heart of Basotho culture. The mokorotlo, the conical straw hat, even appears on the national flag. Musically, today's South African scene (amapiano, kwaito) regularly weaves Sesotho alongside Zulu , Cassper Nyovest and Kabza De Small both sing and rap in Sesotho.

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Live classes

Learn Sesotho live with a native teacher

2 live classes per week in small groups. Ask questions, practice conversation, progress fast.

Native teacher in class - Sesotho | Targumi

Conversation with a teacher - Sesotho | Targumi

classes per week

Small

groups

100%

certified native teachers

Live classes

Your typical Sesotho week

2 live video classes per week, Mondays and Thursdays at 8pm (Paris time). Small groups.

Week of

4 – May 10, 2026

Mon4

Tue5

Wed6

Thu7

20:00

Role-playBeginner

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Fri8

Sat9

Sun10

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Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The platform

Progress in Sesotho between classes, at your own pace

Interactive lessons with native audio, vocabulary, dialogues and quizzes. Everything you need to reinforce your skills between live sessions.

Ready to improve?

Access all interactive exercises and online courses.

Risk-free trial · 30-day refund · Small groups of 2-5

The community

Join Targumi's Sesotho community

Dedicated WhatsApp group, exchanges between learners, resource sharing. You're never alone in your learning journey.

🔤L'alphabet et les sons sesotho

Free · Lifetime access · Native speakers present

🇲🇦

Sesotho School - Community

Anissa

Hi everyone 🙌

4:22 PM

Fatiha

Hey, welcome back!

4:23 PM

I’m not on desktop, is it mobile-friendly too?

4:23 PM

Mrhd

Yes, it works on phone and computer together 📱💻

4:24 PM

Message

Full program

Your Sesotho curriculum

Exactly what you'll find inside the platform: 12 modules, 0+ structured lessons, quizzes and exercises.

🇱🇸

Sesotho Débutant

👋Les salutations — Ditumediso

👨‍👩‍👧‍👦La famille — Lelapa

🌤️La meteo et les saisons — Maemo a leholimo

🛒Le marché — Mabenkeleng

🏥Le corps et la sante — Bophelo

The method

Our method for learning Sesotho

Step 01

Quick level test

Assess your current knowledge in 5 minutes

Step 02

Structured modules

Progressive learning path with native audio and exercises

Step 03

Interactive live classes

2 sessions per week with your native teacher

Step 04

Level certification

Validate your progress with an official certificate

Why Targumi

What makes us different for Sesotho

100+

Available languages

Including rare languages you won't find anywhere else.

Free trial days

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Complete platform

Video classes + interactive exercises + WhatsApp community. All included.

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Learn whenever you want. Exercises and content are available 24/7.

The curriculum

What you'll learn in Sesotho

A curriculum designed to get you speaking Sesotho in the situations that actually matter to you.

01
Conversational Sesotho from Maseru and Bloemfontein
02
Bantu noun-class system (15+ classes)
03
Sesotho vs Sepedi vs Tswana: three closely related Sotho-Tswana languages
04
Basotho culture: mokorotlo blankets, mountain ponies, Lesotho horsemanship
05
Sesotho for the South African and Lesotho diaspora in Europe
06
Basotho greetings and codes of respect (Ntate, 'M'è)

Start Sesotho now

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FAQ

Frequently asked questions about learning Sesotho

Is Sesotho difficult for English speakers?

Sesotho uses the Latin alphabet without complicated diacritics, which makes reading easy. The main challenges are Bantu grammar: 15+ noun classes (each noun belongs to a class that determines agreement, verbal prefixes and pronouns) and an agreement system very different from English. But the system is regular and logical. Count on 8 to 12 months with 2 lessons per week to reach a conversational B1 level.

What's the difference between Sesotho, Sepedi and Tswana?

They are three closely related Bantu languages of the Sotho-Tswana group, partially mutually intelligible. Sesotho (Southern Sotho) is the language of Lesotho. Sepedi (Northern Sotho) is spoken in Limpopo (South Africa). Tswana is the language of Botswana and several South African provinces. Learning one gives you a strong base to understand the other two.

Is Sesotho useful in South Africa?

Yes. Sesotho is the mother tongue of about 4 million South Africans, mainly in the Free State around Bloemfontein, and in certain Johannesburg townships (Soweto). It is one of the 11 official languages. For travel, business or culture (kwaito, amapiano), speaking Sesotho opens doors that English alone cannot, particularly in urban and rural Basotho communities.

Is there a Basotho diaspora in Europe?

The Basotho diaspora is smaller than some other African communities in Europe, but it exists, particularly in London, Paris and around university hubs. The wider South African diaspora in Europe numbers several tens of thousands, with a fraction speaking Sesotho. Sesotho is also useful for humanitarian, diplomatic and development missions linked to Lesotho.

Is Sesotho written the same way in Lesotho and South Africa?

There are two slightly different orthographies: the Lesotho one (more traditional, using 'oa' and 'ea') and the South African one (more modern, using 'wa' and 'ya'). For example, 'lumela' (hello) is spelled the same in both, but 'oa hao' (yours) in Lesotho becomes 'wa hao' in South Africa. The two variants are mutually intelligible. At Targumi, we teach the Lesotho orthography, which remains the academic reference.

Resources

All Sesotho resources

Explore our free tools to progress outside of class.

Sesotho level test

Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes. 30-day learning plan included.

Sesotho survival kit

A hundred words and thirty key phrases as a printable PDF, free.

Sesotho cultural quiz

How well do you know Sesotho culture? Films, music, traditions.

Sesotho articles

Guides and articles to learn Sesotho.

Sesotho vocabulary

Essential words and phrases organized by theme.

Cultural resources

Podcasts, movies, TV shows and music to progress through immersion.

14 min read→Beginner Guide

Guides & articles

Guides to learn Sesotho

Complete guide

Learn Sesotho: Complete Beginner's Guide

Discover how to learn Sesotho (Southern Sotho): Bantu grammar, noun classes, Basotho culture, blanket tradition, and practical resources for beginners.

Learn Sesotho: complete beginner's guide

Discover how to learn Sesotho: the Bantu language of Lesotho and South Africa, grammar basics, essential phrases and Basotho culture. Complete beginner's guide.

12 min read→

See all articles→

Reviews

They are learning Sesotho with Targumi

Verified learner testimonials.

“Been on Targumi for 3 months. The small group format is exactly what I needed. My teacher takes time to correct accent, it's precious. Made more progress in 3 months than in 2 years of regular apps.”

CamilleVerified purchase

“What sold me is you actually speak from class one. No 10 hours of theory before opening your mouth. And the platform between classes is well-built, I revise on the morning commute.”

DamienVerified purchase

“Honestly I had doubts at first because I'd tried plenty of methods without sticking. This is different, the teacher knows their stuff, adapts to your level, and we have fun on top of it. 6 months in and still motivated.”

SorayaVerified purchase

“Really good experience overall, the rhythm between live classes and independent practice is well-balanced. Small note: the mobile app lags sometimes, but the teaching content is well worth the price.”

AntoineVerified purchase

“The thing that makes a real difference compared to other platforms: teachers are native and trained. You feel it, especially on accent and everyday expressions you don't learn in textbooks.”

EmilyVerified purchase

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