Definition

Noun: 1. A member of the Sotho ethnic group inhabiting Lesotho: A Basotho is a person belonging to the Bantu-speaking Sotho people who are the principal inhabitants of the Kingdom of Lesotho.

Usage Examples

• Noun:
  • The Basotho are known for their distinctive traditional blanket.
  • A Basotho guide led us through the Maloti Mountains.

Advanced Usage

• As a collective plural noun (The Basotho): Refers to the Sotho people of Lesotho as a nation or ethnic group.
  • The Basotho have a rich cultural heritage centered around village life and animal husbandry.

Variants and Related Words

• Mosotho (noun): The singular form for a person; one Basotho individual.
  • He is a Mosotho from Maseru.
• Sesotho (noun): The language spoken by the Basotho people.
  • She is learning to speak Sesotho.

Synonyms

• Sotho (noun): A broader term for the ethnic group, which includes subgroups in Lesotho and South Africa.

Notes on Usage

• The term "Basotho" is both the plural demonym (the people) and an adjective relating to Lesotho's culture (e.g., Basotho culture). The singular form "Mosotho" is used for an individual person.

Noun

1. a member of a subgroup of people who inhabit Lesotho