☜ ☞

Special words in Dholuo

Weye

"Weye" can be used at the beginning, middle, or end of a sentence, functioning as a translation for 'let' or 'leave,' and is treated as a past tense marker.

using "weye" at the beginning of a sentence

Dholuo	English
Weye	leave it/him/her
Weye aweya	Just leave it/him/him
wegi	Leave them.
weye odhi	Let him/her go
weye onyier	let him laugh
Weye uru kende	Leave him/her/it alone
Weye uru gik ma owacho go	Just leave what you are talking about.

"Weye" in the middle of a sentence

Dholuo	English
Awacho ni weye otime.	I said let it be done.
Dak i weye odhi	Why don't you let him/her go?
Idhi weyo fwere kara ang'o?	When are going leave ranting?
Ne aweye kanyo	I left it/him/her there

"Weye" at the end of a sentence. Weye at the end of a sentence becomes past tense and leave is used..

Dholuo	English
Awacho ni we.	I've said leave
Kik Iweye odhi sani	Don't let him/her leave now .
Gi dhi weye	They are going to leave it/him/her.
Bende gi se weye?	Have they left him/her/it ?

"Ok" is translated as not in English. It can be used with cannot, should not, have not, has not etc.

When ok is used at the start of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
Ok idhi	You are not going.
Ok wadhi	We are not going.
Ok gidhi	They are not going.
Okelo ok nitie kanyo	Okelo is not there
Rech ok nitie kanyo	Fish is not there.
Kado ok nitie kanyo	Salt is not there

“Ok” at the beginning of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
Ok onyal time.	He/she cannot do it.
Ok iwachi	You are not saying .
Ok iwuogi.	You are not leaving.
Ok gidhi.	They are not going
Ok wan jok ma richo.	We are not bad people.

"OK" in the middle of a sentence

Dholuo	English
Wan ok wadhi.	We are not going
Maka ok gin joma beyo.	Those are not good people
Un ne ok un kanyo	You guys were not there
Okello ok nikanyo.	Okello is not there.
Ji ok ni kanyo	People are not there.

"Ma" is translated as the in English.

Dholuo	English
Ma chon.	The Old.
Ma nyien.	The new.
Ma oroch.	The renewed.
Ma riek	The Clever.
Ma okwok.	The rotten.
Ma welo.	The visitor.
Ma orumo.	The finished.
Ma ogik.	The end.
Ma ber.	The good.
Ma rach.	The bad.

Ja is translated to a or an in English

Dholuo	English
Ja kwo.	A thief.
Ja rieko.	A smart/clever person.
Ja chode.	A harlot.
Ja chan.	A deprive person.
Ja wuoro	A glutton.
Ja mrima.	An impulsive person.
Ja athuwe.	An instigator.
Ja telo.	A leader.
Ja rieko	An intelligent person.
Ja puonj	A teacher
Ja lweny	A soldier

Mar is translated to for in English.

Dholuo	English
Mar rweko.	for coronation
Mar kadho.	for passing
Mar kelo.	for bringing
Mar somo	for studying
Mar otieno.	for evening
Mar okinyi.	for morning
mar otieno	for night
Mar odiochieng'	for afternoon
Mar odiwuor	for midnight

Di is however translated to quantifiers or predeterminers if used with numbers

Dholuo	English
Di chiel	once
Di riyo	twice
Di dek	thrice
Di ng'wen	four times
Di bich	five times
Di uchiel	six times
Di biriyo	seven times
Di boro	eigh times
Di ochiko	nine times
Di par	ten times

“Kende” is translated in English as only

English	Dholuo
Only you	In kende
Only us	Wan kende
only them	Gin kende

Kende use for counting

English	Dholuo
Only one tribe.	Jo dhoot achiel kende
Only one cup of water	Okombe mar pi achiel kende.

"Kata" is translated as or in Luo.

Dholuo	English
Otieno kata Anyango	Otieno or Anyango
Gin kata wan	Them or us
Weye gwuok kata tweyo	Leaving dog or tying
Okello wacho Dholuo kata Acholi maliw	Okello can speak Dholuo or Acholi fluently

Gi is translated as and in English

Dholuo	English
Gin gi wan	them and us
un gi gin	you and them
Min yawuoyi gi nyiri	mother of boys and girls

Gi is translated in English as with

Dholuo	English
Apiyo gi Ochieng'	Apiyo with Ochieng'
Riyo gi Pi	Thirst with water
Atum gi asero	Bow with arrow
Polo gi piny	heaven with earth
Apuoyo gi oyieyo	A hare and a rat
Otieno gi Lokang gin jondik Dholuo	Otieno and Lokang are Dholuo writers

Kaka is translated as like in English.

English	Dholuo
Like that	Kaka macha
Like this	Kaka mani
Like these	Kaka magi
Like those	Kaka maka

Kido is character

Dholuo	English
Kite ber	His/her character is good
Kite rach	He/she character is bad
Nyithi cha ni gi kido maber	That kid has good character

Plural

kit has a word "gi" which is a pronoun.

Dholuo	English
Kit gi ber	Their character is good
Kit gi richo	Their character is bad

Ok is translated as cannot in English.

Dholuo	English
Ok ginyal bibiro	they cannot come.
Ok gi ginyal timo.	They cannot do it.
Ok ginyal tieko nikech Nyasaye nitiere kodgi.	They cannot finish because God is with them.
Ok wanyal dhi.	We cannot go.

Wacho means tell.
Wach at the beginning of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
Wach na	Tell me.
Wach ne gin.	Tell them.
Wach nwa .	Tell us.
Wach ne	Tell him, her or it.
Wachne Okello.	Tell Okello.

Wach is used with gi. If gi is used, it means them.

Dholuo	English
Wach ne gi ni wasechako wuoth	Tell them that we have started the journey.
Wach ne gi ni ok ginyal timo.	Tell them that they cannot do it.
Wach ne gi ni wan jopur.	Tell them that we are farmers.
Wach ne gi ni gitem.	Tell them to try.
Wach ne gi ni onge tugo	Tell them that there is no joke.

Wach can also be used with na/ne which means to.

Dholuo	English
Wach na	Tell me.
Wach ne gin	Tell them.
Wach ne Olum.	Tell Olum.
Wach ne mariek cha	Tell the smart ones.
Wach ne jorieko ni piny okbi rumo.	Tell the scientist that the world will never finish.

Wach can also be used with ne which means she, him, it.

Dholuo	English
Wach ne.	Tell him.
Wach ne ni orumo	Tell him or her that it is finished.
Wach ne ni wa biro.	Tell him/her that we are coming.
Wach ne ni yiero chiegni .	Tell him or her that election is near.
Wach ne ni ondik oboke.	Tell him or her to write a letter.

Kata is translated as even if in English.

English	Dholuo
I will go even if it is late.	Abiro dhi kata ka oselewo.
I will remove his coat even if it is wet.	Abiro golo kode kata ka ongi'ch
I will go to the garden to dig even if there is no rain.	Obiro dhi e puodho puro kata ka koth onge.
I will hire employees even if there is no money.	Abiro ndiko jotich kata ka aonge pesa
Language school is a good school even if there is no audiences yet.	Skul mar pwuonjo dhok ber kata ka onge ji

Use of kata with and(if).

English	Dholuo
We need seven teachers even if we will get them from South Sudan and Ethiopia.	Wadwaro jopuonj abiriyo kata ka wabiro yudogi Sudan ma Milambo gi Ethiopia
We are going to play soccer even with Ochieng and Opiyo.	Wabiro tugo adhula kata gi Ochieng gi Opiyo
Our sweet potatoes is ripe even if there is no rain and water.	Rabuond wa ochiek kata ka koth gi pii onge
We were hunters even if we didn't learn from our father and uncles.	Wan jodwar kata ne ok wapwonjore koa kwom wuonewa gi nerewa.
We are weak even if we have soul and spirit.	Ne wajony kata ka wan gi chuny gi roho .

Use of kata (even) and ki(if).

English	Dholuo
Even if I don't have my eyes, I will go.	Kata ka go aonge wengena, abiro dhi.
Even if the sun will not be there, moon will help us light.	Kata ka chieng' biro bedo maongo, dwe biro konyowa e ler
Even if its cold, its midday.	Kata ka piny ngich, en odiochieng'

Use of the word “bende”

"Bende" is a Luo term that translates to "also." Typically employed within the middle of a sentence, it occasionally finds its place at the end of a statement

Using the word “bende” in the middle of a sentence

English	Dholuo
I am also going	An bende adhi
We are also going	Wan bende wadhi
You are also goi	In bende idhi
Are you also a Luo	In bende ijaluo
He is also one of us	En bebde en achiel kodwa

Using the word “bende” at the end of a sentence

Dholuo	English
In bende	you also
wan bende	we also
gin bende	them also
Akawe bende?	should I take also?
Awiro mo e wang'a bende	I put lotion on my face also
Ket kado bende	put in salt also
Weye okwa ng'wono bende	Let him/her apologise also

Bathe is translated to English as side.
Yo at the beginning of sentence.

Dholuo	English
Bathe nyime	forward side
Bathe chien	Backward side
Bathe acham	Left side
Bathe achwich	Right side
Bath aora	River side
Bathe okinyi	Morning side
Bathe odhiambo	evening side
Bathe odiwor	Night side
Bathe odiochieng'	Midday side

Ewi also means on in English.

Dholuo	English
Ewi dhogi	on your mouth
Ewi tiendi	On your leg
Ewi onding'i	On your back
Ewi koki	on your nail
E wiyi	on your head
Ewi lweti	on your hand

Yo in the middle of sentence

Dholuo	English
Adok yo ka pur	Let me return to the digging side
Wa dogi yo ka lwok	let us turn to the bathing side
Gi biro yo ka kwang'	They are coming to the swimming side
Un umako rech yo aora	You(pl) catch fish on the river side

Chendo is translated to English as disturbance or Nuisance.
a sentence.

Dholuo	English
I chendo	your nuisance
Gi chendo	They are nuisance
Wa chendo	We are nuisance
Ji chendo	people are nuisance

Chendo at the end of a sentence

Dholuo	English
We chendo	leave nuisance
Itiyo tij chendo	Doing nuisance
wacho nono	talking nonsense/nuisance
kelo chendo	Bringing nuisance

Fuwo is translated to english as stupid/ nonsense.
Fuwo at the beginning of a sentence

Dholuo	English
fupi	your nonsense/stupidity
Fupgi	their nonsense/stupidity
Fupwa	our nonsense/stupidity
Fuwo mar adier.	truly nonsense

Fuwo at the end of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
We fuwo	leave nonsense
wachi fuwo	talking nonsense
Timo fuwo	Doing nonsense
Otimo fuwo	he/she is doing nonsense

Kanyakla is translated to english as accumulative.
Kanyakla at the beginning of a sentence

Dholuo	English
Kanyakla mar	your accumulative
Kanyakla margi	their accumulative
kanyakla marwa	our accumulative
Kanyakla mare	His/her accumulative

Cumulatively at the end of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
We kanyakla	leave cumulative
Wuoyo kanyakla	talking cumulatively
timo kanyakla	Doing cumulatively
Otimo kanyakla	he/she is doing cumulatively

Apoya is translated in English as suddenly.
Apoya at the end of sentence.

English	Dholuo
he/she comes suddenly	Obiro apoya nono
he/she arrives suddenly	Ochopo apoya
he/she walks suddenly	Owoto atura
he/she loves suddenly	Onyero atura

Apoya with Ang'o

Dholuo	English
Ang'o ma okeli apoya?	what brings you suddenly?
Ang'o momiyo ibiro apoya?	Why makes you come suddenly?
Ang'o momiyo idhi apoya?	whay have you gone suddenly?
Ang'o ma ibiro godo apoya?	what did you come with suddenly

Apoya with Ng'a

Dholuo	English
Ng'a ma omiyo ibiro apoya?	who makes you comes suddenly?
Ng'a ma owacho ni ibi apoya?	Who told you to come suddenly?
Nga ma o oro in atura?	Who told you to come suddenly?
Ng'a mane ibiro go apoya?	Who did you come with suddenly?

Apoya with ang'o

Dholuo	English
Ang'o momiyo ibiro apoya	why did you come suddenly?
Ang'o momiyo iwuok oko apoya	Why did you get out suddenly?
Dak ne iwinje apoya?	Why didn't you listen to him/her suddenly?

Nonro is translated as research in English.
Nonro at the end of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
Tich mar nonro	Research work
Bech nonro	research price
Nonro mar somo	Educational research
Twak mar nonro	research talk
Nonro mar goyo thum	Music playing research
Nonro mar lamo	Preaching research
Ng'erruok mar nonro	research popularity

Nonro and Interrogatives

Dholuo	English
Nonro en ang'o?	what is a research?
Ja nonro en ng'a?	who is a researcher?
Nonro mane?	which research?
Ang'o momiyo en ja nonro?	Why is he/she a researcher?
Watimo norno mar Dholuo	We are doing research on Dholuo language
Nornro ma osetim nyiso ni Joluo ne odak Sudan ma milambo eka bang'e gi ke e pinje moko	Research which has been done states that Luo once settled in South Sudan before spreading to other regions later.

Ng'erre is translated as popularity in English.
Ng'erruok at the beginning of sentence.

Dholuo	English
Ng'erruok mar oganda cha	The popularity of that tribe
Ng'erruok marwa	our popularity
Ng'erruok mara	my popularity
Ngerruok mar jatich	employee's popularity

Ngerre with interrogatives

Dholuo	English
ang'o ma ong'ere?	What is popular?
Ng'ano maong'ere?	Who is popular?
Ang'o momiyo gi ng'ere?	why are they popular?
Mane ma ong'ere?	which one is popular?

Wichkuot mean shame in English.
Wichkuot (shame)

Dholuo	English
Wiya okuot	I am ashamed
Chandore gi wichkuot	struggling with shame
Mano ne tim mar wichkuot	That was a shameful act
Ng'at cha ne wiye okuot	That person was ashamed
Otieno onge wichkuot	Otieno has no shame

Jatelo (A leader)

Dholuo	English
Jatelo mar ji	leader of people
Jatelo mar tedo	leader of cook
Jatendwa	our leader
Jatelo mar chwo	leader of men

Jatelo and interrogatives

Dholuo	English
Jatelo mar?	What leader?
Jatend ng'a?	whose leader?
Ang'o ma omiyo jatelo	why a leader?
Jatelo mar ji	The people's leader

Apoya is translated as abruptly in English.
Apoya at the beginning of a sentence.

Dholuo	English
Ochopo apoya	He/she came abruptly
Ne owacho wachno apoya	he/she said that word accidently
Nene apo kanene	I saw him abruptly

Pore with interrogatives

Dholuo	English
Gino ne opore	That thing was abruptly
Ne en apoya?	Was it abruptly?
Mane ma opore?	Which one was abrupt?
Ang'o momiyo opore?	why it is is abruptly?

Yudo is translated as found in English.

Dholuo	English
Oyuda	he/she has found me
Oyudowa	he/she has found us
Oyudo gi	he/she has found them
oyudo u	he/she has found you(pl)

Yudo past tense.

Dholuo	English
Uyudo wa	You have found us
Inyalo yudgi	they can be found
Inyalo yudwa	we can be found
Inyalo yuda	I can be found

Yudo and interrogatives.

Dholuo	English
nga ma oyudi?	who found you?
Ang'o ma oyudi?	What has been found?
Dak iyudo	why couldn't find?
Mane ma inyalo yudi?	which one can be found?

Sigana(story)

Dholuo	English
Goyo sigana	Telling story
Wacho sigana	saying story
Somo sigana	studying a story
puonjo sigana	teaching a story

Nyamo (chewing)

Dholuo	English
nyamo kambula	Chewing cud
nyamo alot	chewing vegetable
nyamo ringo	chewing meat

Choko (gather/fetch)

Choko	English
Choko lum	fetch/ gather grass
Choko bede yien	Fetching tree branches
Choko yugi	gather litters

Mako (trapping/catching)

Dholuo	English
Mako rech	trapping fishes
Mako lee	trapping animals
Mako winyo	trapping birds

Ng'eny (many)

Dholuo	English
Weche mang'eny	many issues/ conversations
Paro mang'eny	A lot of thinking
Ngima mang'eny	many lives
Tije mang'eny	many jobs

☜ ☞