greetings
Common
Here are a few common greetings and expressions of greetings in Acholi:
Acholi | English |
I tye nining? | How are you? |
I tye maber? | Are you well? |
Apwoyo | Thank you (used as a response to a greeting) |
I tye maber? | Are you okay? |
I coo | Good morning |
I rii | Good afternoon |
I rii nining obwora ni | Good evening |
odiko ni nining? | How is your morning? |
Otyeno ni nining? | How is your afternoon? |
These expressions can be used when meeting someone or inquiring about their well-being during different times of the day. Remember that Acholi is a tonal language, so paying attention to tone and pronunciation is important for conveying the intended meaning accurately.
Farewell
Here are some farewell phrases and expressions commonly used in Acholi:
Acholi | English |
Wa nen | Goodbye |
bet maber | Stay well |
Kom gum obet kwedi | Elephant be with you (a wish for strength and protection) |
tim bota kica(Wu(many) tim bot kica) | Excuse me (used when leaving a gathering or group) |
Wa nen koni | See you later |
Farewell | |
woti maber | Go well |
gwoke | Take care |
Kuc obedi kwedi | Be at peace |
These expressions can be used when saying goodbye to someone or leaving a gathering. As with greetings, tone and pronunciation are important for conveying the proper sentiment.
It's worth noting that Acholi is a diverse language with different dialects and regional variations. Therefore, some expressions may differ depending on the specific community or context. Learning from native Acholi speakers or consulting reliable Acholi language resources will provide a more accurate understanding of farewell phrases in Acholi.
Polite requests
Here are some examples of polite request expressions in Acholi:
Acholi | English |
I romo konyo an? | Can you please help me? |
I romo miyo bota? | Could you please give me? |
I tyero gamo ne? | Can I have it, please? |
I romo nwoyo ne to? | Could you please repeat that? |
I romo kuro? | Can you please wait? |
I romo yabo ne? | Could you please open it? |
I romo nyito ka kello pe? | Can you please fetch water? |
I romo bino chock kweda? | Could you please come closer? |
I romo miyo ne bota? | Can you please lend me? |
I romo nyuto ne bota? | Could you please show me? |
These expressions can be used to make polite requests or ask for assistance in a courteous manner. Politeness and respect are important in Acholi culture, so using these expressions helps to convey that respect.
Remember to adjust the tone and pronunciation to match the context and convey your request politely.
Gratitude
Here are some expressions of gratitude in Acholi:
Acholi | English |
Apwoyo | Thank you |
Apwoyo matek | Thank you very much |
Apwoyo bene | Thank you too |
Apwoyo ma ber | Many thanks |
pwoch | Thanks |
An calo man | I appreciate it |
apwoyo ma tek | Thanks a lot |
Apwoyo matek ki cwinya ma ber | Thank you for your kindness |
Apwoyo ma tek | Thank you kindly |
Apwoyo ma tek | Thank you so much |
These expressions can be used to express gratitude and appreciation in different situations. Whether it's for a kind gesture, assistance, or a gift, using these expressions will convey your thanks in Acholi.
Remember that tone and context are important for conveying the appropriate level of gratitude. Acholi culture places value on expressing appreciation, so using these expressions shows respect and gratitude towards others.
Idiomatic
Here are a few idiomatic phrases in Acholi along with their English translations:
Acholi | English |
Goyo kwac | "to hit the leopard," used to indicate facing a difficult or dangerous situation. |
Ngok i lum | "to vomit the bush," used to describe someone who reveals secrets or confidential information. |
tingo bat dano | "to open a big mouth," used to describe someone who talks too much or gossips. |
Gweno meyelo | "the chicken is dancing," used to describe a situation that is chaotic or disorderly. |
Tell iti | "to pull the ear," used to describe someone who is in trouble or facing consequences for their actions. |
twe del pyer | "to wear a belt," used to describe someone who is self-sufficient or independent. |
Tye oyo | "to tie a rat," used to describe a situation where something is difficult or nearly impossible to achieve. |
Ito yat | "to climb on top of a tree," used to describe someone who has achieved a high level of success or accomplishment. |
Goyo gweno | "to hit the chicken," used to describe someone who is overly protective or possessive. |
Peyo leb | "to pull the tongue," used to describe someone who speaks without thinking or being mindful of their words. |
Respects
In the Acholi language, respectful greetings often involve a bit more formality than casual greetings. Here are some examples:
Acholi | English |
Wu coo maber! | Good morning! (Literally, "Cool morning!") |
Wu rii maber! | Good afternoon! (Literally, "Cool day!") |
Obwora wu orii maber! | Good evening! (Literally, "Cool evening!") |
Odiwor tu orii maber maber! | Good night! (Literally, "Cool night!”) |
To add more respect, you could use the person's title or role, or add a phrase showing respect or thankfulness, like:
Acholi | English |
Apwoyo bino | Thank you all. |
Icako cwiny bino | Bless you all. |
Gum obet kwed wu | Peace be with you |
A maro wun ducu | I love you all |
Please note that these are approximations and may not carry the same level of formality or respect as intended, depending on the cultural and regional context.
Elders
In Acholi culture, like in many others, it is important to show respect when greeting elders. However, the specific phrases or forms of address used to greet elders might vary among different communities or families, and they might also depend on the relationship between the individuals involved.
A common way of greeting an elder with respect in Acholi would be to use the same phrases for greeting anyone else, but in a respectful tone and manner. For example:
Acholi | English |
I coo maber! | Good morning! (Literally, "Cool morning!")
|
Wu rii maber! | Good afternoon! (Literally, "Cool day!") |
Obwora maber! | Good evening! (Literally, "Cool evening!") |
Irii maber! | Good night! (Literally, "Cool night!”) |
You could also add phrases showing respect or deference, like "ladit," which means "I kneel for you," as a sign of respect. This can be especially important if the elder is a highly respected community leader or a member of your family.
However, it is crucial to remember that customs can vary greatly, and not all Acholi speakers might use the same expressions or customs.
In-laws
In the Acholi culture, greeting in-laws should be respectful. The greetings you use would largely depend on the time of day and the specific relationship you have with the person. Here are some respectful greetings based on the time of day:
Acholi | English |
Wu coo maber! | Good morning! (Literally, "Cool morning!") |
Wu rii maber! | Good afternoon! (Literally, "Cool day!") |
Obwora wu maber! | Good evening! (Literally, "Cool evening!") |
Wu rii ki di wor ni maber! | Good night! (Literally, "Cool night!”) |
You could possibly also use more formal or respectful language depending on your relationship with your in-laws. Remember, forms of address can be highly cultural and can vary based on the region, the individual family, and the specific relationships involved. Always be sure to take these factors into account when choosing how to greet your in-laws.
Children
IIn the Acholi language, greeting children can be more casual than greeting adults or elders. You can use the standard greetings based on the time of day:
Acholi | English |
Wu coo maber! | Good morning! (Literally, "Cool morning!") |
Wu rii maber! | Good afternoon! (Literally, "Cool day!") |
Obwot wu maber! | Good evening! (Literally, "Cool evening!") |
Wu ki di wor ni maber! | Good night! (Literally, "Cool night!”) |
Additionally, you could use "Adaa!" which is a general, casual greeting often used with friends or younger individuals.
Parents
In the Acholi culture, greeting parents is generally done with respect. The phrases you use would typically depend on the time of day. Here are some respectful greetings based on the time of day:
Acholi | English |
Wu coo maber! | Good morning! (Literally, "Cool morning!") |
Wu rii maber! | Good afternoon! (Literally, "Cool day!") |
Obwora wu tye maber! | Good evening! (Literally, "Cool evening!") |
Wu nindi maber! | Good night! (Literally, "Cool night!”) |
You could possibly also use more formal or respectful language depending on your relationship with your parents. For instance, adding ladit, which means "I kneel for you," can express respect.
However, customs can vary greatly among different communities and families, and not all Acholi speakers might use the same expressions or customs.