A collection of useful phrases in Acholi (Lwo), a Nilo-Saharan language spoken in northern Uganda and southern Sudan.
See these phrases in any combination of two languages in the Phrase Finder. If you can provide recordings, corrections or additional translations, please contact me.
Key to abbreviations: frm = formal, inf = informal, sg = singular (said to one person), pl = plural (said to more than one person).
| Phrase | Lwo (Acholi) |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Apwoyo bino (sg) Wapwoyo binowu (pl) |
| Hello (General greeting) | Itye nining? (frm) Nining? (inf) |
| Hello (on phone) | Itye? |
| How are you? | Itye nining? (frm) Atye maber? (Any news?) - inf Wutye wunu maber? (How are you all?) |
| Reply to 'How are you?' | Atye maber. Kono in? (frm) Mapol pe (Nothing much) - reply to Atye maber? |
| Long time no see | Otero kare ma pe aneni |
| What's your name? | Nyingi anga? |
| My name is ... | Nyinga ... |
| Where are you from? | Iaa ki kwene? |
| I'm from ... | Aa ki i ... |
| Pleased to meet you | Iya yom me neni (I am happy to see you) |
| Good morning (Morning greeting) |
Ibutu maber? (Did you spend the night well?) Abutu maber (I spent it well - reply) Icoo maber |
| Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
Irii nining? (Did you spend the day well?) Arii maber (I spent it well - reply) |
| Good evening (Evening greeting) |
Otyeno tero wu maber |
| Good night | Obut maber |
| Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
Wot maber (sg) Wuwot maber (pl) Pwod wanen (See you) Wanen lacen (See you later) |
| Good luck! | |
| Cheers! Good Health! (Toasts used when drinking) |
Yot kom! Jojok mamalo! |
| Have a nice day | Obed maber |
| Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
|
| Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
Wot maber |
| Yes | Eyo |
| No | Pe Kuu |
| Maybe | Romo twere |
| I don't know | Pe angeyo |
| I understand | Aniang |
| I don't understand | Pe aniang |
| Please speak more slowly | Lok mot mot! |
| Please say that again | Itwero nwoyo meno? Nwo |
| Please write it down | |
| Do you speak English? | I loko leb muno? |
| Do you speak Acholi? | I lolo leb Acholi? |
| Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
Eyo, aloko leb lwo matidi (no problem) |
| Speak to me in Acholi | Lok ki an i leb Acholi |
| How do you say ... in Acholi? | I waco ni ngo ileb ...? |
| Excuse me | Tima kica Ngo? (Pardon?) I waci ngo? (Pardon?) |
| How much is this? | Man wel ne adi? Ca ni adi? Adi? |
| Sorry | Tima kica |
| Please | Yom cwinya |
| Thank you | Apwoyo |
| Reply to thank you | Ayela pee Ayela peke |
| Where's the toilet / bathroom? | Ot me yoke tye kwene? Ot me yoke tye ot lwok? |
| This gentleman will pay for everything | Laco eni colo jemi weng |
| This lady will pay for everything | Anyaka eni culu pi jemi duc |
| Would you like to dance with me? | I mito myel kweda? |
| Do you come here often? | Ibino kany kare ducu |
| I miss you | Apari |
| I love you | Amari |
| Get well soon | Cang oyot (heal fast) |
| Go away! | Cit cen! |
| Leave me alone! | Weka mot! |
| Help! | Konya! |
| Fire! | Mac! |
| Stop! | Oromo! |
| Call the police! | Lwong abilli! |
| Christmas greetings | Mot karama |
| New Year greetings | Iga Manyien Mot me tum Kato mwaka |
| Easter greetings | |
| Birthday greetings | Ni poo pi nino me nywali |
| One language is never enough | Leb acel peromo |
| My hovercraft is full of eels |
Some phrases provided by Henry Okot
If you would like to make any corrections or additions to this page, or if you can provide recordings, please contact me.
Information about Acholi | Phrases | Numbers | Tower of Babel
Other collections of Acholi phrases
https://www.livelingua.com/peace-corps/acholi/Acholi Language Manual une 2009.pdf
http://home.btconnect.com/anyadwechildrensandfamilywelfareassociation.com/luo languages and phrases at anyadwe.html
https://quizlet.com/8133495/luo-phrases-flash-cards/
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/20141124074744-30339539-luo-language-lesson-1-greetings-goodbyes
https://www.memrise.com/course/573022/acholi-language-course/
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