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Batswana

Batswana

1 8.1
People from Botswana who are part of the Tswana group
  • noun
: Batswana
  • Many Batswana are proud of their rich cultural heritage and traditions.

Examples

  • Post-independence saw a dearth of well-educated and skilled Batswana; thus, the demand for qualified locals was very high.

    Academic text (2000)
  • The Batswana celebrate various festivals that showcase their music and dance.

  • In Botswana, the London Missionary Society (LMS) established contact with the Batswana within several years of LMS's arrival in the northern Cape in 1821.

    Academic text (2000)
  • As a member of the Batswana, she feels a strong connection to her community.

Synonyms

Tswana
vsBatswana
1 8.9

A person from an ethnic group mostly living in Botswana and western South Africa

is the same meaning expressed with a different name form
Bechuana
vsBatswana
  • Archaic
1 9.9

A person from a group of people who live mainly in Botswana and western South Africa

is the same meaning expressed with a different name form

Surface Forms

Batswana singular
Batswanas plural

Etymology

The word Batswana comes from the Tswana language: the start Ba- means 'people' and Motswana means 'a Tswana person'. So Batswana means 'the Tswana people', and it links to the country name Botswana, which means 'land of the Tswana'.