Lwuor 

Greetings and Introduction

Communication
Communication is essential part of any language. Whether formal or informal, argument about something or just a disagreement about something. We communicate verbally through a language such as Dholuo to bring forth meanings to our daily lives. Words are formulated to form sentence and sentence to make full meaning of what we intent to make, receive or send out.

Across all languages, words serve as the fundamental components of communication, forming the basis for constructing sentences and shaping coherent, meaningful expressions. These expressions possess the ability to convey a diverse array of messages, spanning from straightforward statements to intricate ideas. The arrangement of words within a sentence plays a pivotal role in altering both the meaning and tone of our messages significantly.

Furthermore, language transcends mere word usage, encompassing non-verbal elements such as tone, body language, and facial expressions. In oral communication, the manner in which something is articulated often holds as much significance as the content itself. The tone becomes a vehicle for expressing emotions and attitudes that might not be explicitly articulated in the chosen words.

In cultures employing languages like Dholuo, there may also exist distinctive idiomatic expressions, proverbs, and sayings that bear specific cultural meanings and connotations. Grasping these subtleties is imperative for effective communication within and beyond cultural boundaries.

In Dholuo, effective communication hinges on a thorough understanding and mastery of the diverse pronouns and their possessive forms. It is crucial for individuals to familiarize themselves with these linguistic elements to ensure clear and accurate expression in conversations.

Personal pronoun

English Dholuo
IAn
YouIn
You (plural)un
HeEn
She En
It En
TheyGin

 

Indefinite pronoun.

EnglishDholuo
WhoseMar ng’a
whomMar
WhichMane
ThatMane

 

Possessive form

English Dholuo
MineMara
Yours (singular)Mari
Yours (plural)Maru
HisMare
HersMare
ItsMare
TheirsMargi



Greeting
In Luo culture, greetings hold significant importance, serving as a profound expression of respect. When boys encounter elders, they convey their reverence by extending a warm handshake while doubling their hands and placing the left hand on the right wrist. Girls, on the other hand, show respect by gracefully kneeling down during greetings. Failing to acknowledge others with a greeting is viewed negatively, leading to unfavorable discussions about the individual. Conversely, those who consistently greet others are esteemed as virtuous individuals, earning respect from their community. In essence, greetings in Dholuo culture are not just social niceties; they are a fundamental aspect of demonstrating one's character and receiving recognition from others.

EnglishDholuo
How are you?In nadi?
Good morning?Oyawre
Good Afternoon?Iriyo(Osawore)?
Good evening?Oimore?
Good nightOtieno maber
How did you sleep?Ne inindo nadi?
How was it?Ne obedo nadi?
How was the journey?Wuoth ne chalo nadi?



Greeting many people
Here, many people or group of people are greeted by one person. When greeting many people, the word uru is used, meaning you (plural).

EnglishDholuo
Good morning?Oyawre uru?
Good Afternoon?Uriyo?
Good evening?Oimore uru?
How did you sleep?Ne unindo nadi?
How are you/How are you going?Un nade(Udhi nadi)?


Greeting in second person
 Second person in Dholuo is in. so, we use the word in at the beginning of the sentence to greet a person as a second person.

EnglishDholuo
Good morning to youoyawre
Good Afternoon to you? iriyo nadi?
How are you?In nadi?
How did you sleep?in ne inindo nadi? 

 

Greeting in third person 
 Third person is referred to as en in singular and gin in plural, but there is no way to greet a third person unless it is in reference hence, we use the word gi  

EnglishDholuo
How is he/sheEn nadi?
How are they?Gin nadi?
How did they sleep?Ne gi nindo nadi?

 

Beginning an Introduction
An introduction is important when you meet somebody new. It is the first chance to get to know somebody and for them to get to know you. Luckily, introductions are usually made up of a few fixed phrases that you will find in the tables below! 

EnglishDholuo
Hello! Nadi !(friend)
How's it?En nang'o?
What's your name?Nyingi ng'a?
My name is Lokang.Nyinga en Lokang.
How are you?In nade?

 

Furthering a Conversation 
After you learn somebody's name, it's a good idea to get to know them more. We've gathered some useful questions below that you can use to help start a conversation after first introductions.

EnglishDholuo
What do you do? Itimo ang'o?
Where do you work?Itiyo kanye?
What brings you here?Ang'o ma okeli ka?
Where are you from? Iya kanye?
How old are you? In jahiga adi?
What do you do for fun?Itimo ang'o mar mor?


Ending an Introduction 
When your first conversation with somebody comes to an end, there are many different ways you can say goodbye to them. We've gathered some examples for you in the table below! 

EnglishDholuo
It was nice meeting you. Ne amor mar romo kodi
Let's keep in touch.Watudore
Let's get together again some time. Warom kendo seche moko.
Here is my number 012345678Ma e nambana 012345678.
Let's go for a coffeeWadhi e kahawa.
Do you want to us meet up again sometime next week?Idwaro ni warom kendo juma mabiro?
Take care!Bed maber.
I hope to see you again soon. Ageno mar neni kendo machiegni
It has been a pleasure, we'll speak again soon. Amor, wabiro wuoyo kendo machiegni.

 

Introduction
You can tell about somebody to people or a friend in a nice way so they get to know your friend. 

EnglishDholuo
This is Lokang.Ma en Lokang.
May I introduce to you Lokang.We ayangi ne Lokang.
Lokang is my friend.Lokang en osiepna
We work with Lokang.watiyo gi lokang
Lokang' is my best friend Lokang' en osiepna mangita gi del

Addressing one another

How to show respect when addressing a person in Dholuo: Joluo community places a high value on mutual respect, especially in their mode of address. Elders, in particular, are accorded significant respect, and it is customary not to address them by their given names. Instead, elders are typically addressed using the name of their firstborn child or through reference to their place of birth for ladies. For instance, a lady might be respectfully referred to as Nyar Seme, indicating that she is a daughter from Seme. In formal gatherings, honorific terms like Jaduong (old man) and mikayi (gracious lady) are commonly used.

EnglishDholuo
Mr.Jaduong'
MrsMikayi
MissNyadendi
BrotherOmera
Wuon OtienoOtieno's father
Min OtienoOtieno's mother
Nyar AlegoDaughter from Alego