Our Many Names

Back home we have very few names. We have our given names, Bridgette and Matthew, and our nicknames, Bridge and Matt. Not too complicated. Here, we have lots of names. Below we have listed our many names in Botswana. We’ll start with Matt’s names since my names are often based on his.

Matt’s Names

Mpho (Setswana for gift)

Posta (nickname for Mpho)

Rra (like Sir)

Lekgoa (this means white person and is mostly used by kids)

Papa

Ntate (father in Setswana)

Mateo (Setswana for Matthew)

Sir

Matthews

Matthew

Matt

Boss (not sure where this comes from, but it makes us uncomfortable) 

Bridgette’s Names

Mma (like Ma’am)

Mama

Mmame (I think this is how you would spell it, sounds like mommy)

Mme

MmaMpho (wife of Mpho aka Matt)

MmaPosta

MmaMatthews

MmaKogle

Dimpho

Lekgoa

Madame

Bridgette