Dholuo language is one of the major native languages in Kenya, with those who speak it living majorly in the Nyanza region of the country. The language is also spoken in the Mara region of Tanzania.
Luo language, like any other language, has its grammatical guidelines. In this article, you will learn about Luo phrases and how to use them in everyday life.
The main parts of speech are nouns, pronouns, adjectives, verbs and adverbs.
Check out a few examples of pronoun usage in the table below.
| FIRST-PERSON | SECOND PERSON | THIRD PERSON | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| SINGULAR | PLURAL | SINGULAR | PLURAL | SINGULAR | PLURAL |
| An | Wan | In | Un | En | Gin |
An a chiemo |
Wan wa chiemo | In ichiemo | Un uchiemo | En ochiemo | Gin gichiemo |
| I am eating | We are eating | You are eating | You are eating | He/she is eating | They are eating |
GREETINGS IN DHOLUO- MOS GI DUOKO MARGI
| ENGLISH | LUO |
|---|---|
| Good morning | Oyawre |
| Reply to good morning: Good morning too | Oyawre ainya |
| Good afternoon | Irio nade |
| Good afternoon too | Ario maber |
| Good evening | Oimore |
| Good evening too | Oimore ainya |
| Good night | Otieno maber |
| Response to Goodnight: Good night too | Ne in bende |
| Hi, Hello | Nang’o |
| Reply to Hi, Hello | Ber |
| How are you doing? | Idhi nade? |
| I’m doing good | Adhi maber |
| How are you today? | In nade kawuono? |
| I am good | An maber |
| Nice to meet you | Amor kuom rado kodi |
| Nice to meet you too | An be amor |
| See you soon | Wanenre machiegni |
| Have a good day | Bed gi odiochieng’ maber |
| You too | In be |
LUO LOVE WORDS – DHO HERA
| ENGLISH | LUO |
|---|---|
| I love you | Aheri |
| I miss you | Agombi |
| Response to I love you: Love you so much | Aheri ainya |
| I want to see you | Adwa neni |
| I love you with all my heart | Aheri gi chunya te |
| I love you too | An bende aheri |
| I like you | Aheri |
| You are beautiful | Ijaber |
| My love | Jaherana |
| My beautiful wife | Chiega ma jaber |
| I miss you so much darling | Agombi ainya osiepa |
| I need you | Adwari |
| You will miss me | Ibiroi gomba |
| Goodbye, my love | Oriti, jaherana |
| See you tomorrow | Wanere kiny |
| I will marry you | Abiro kendi |
| I want some space | Adwaro thuolo matin |
| I need your love | Adwaro hera ni |
| You are mine | In mara |
COMMON QUESTIONS IN DHOLUO/LUO – PENJO MAPILE
| ENGLISH | LUO |
|---|---|
| How much? | Marom nade? |
| Just a little | Mana matin |
| How are you feeling? | Iwinjo nade? |
| A bit better | Maber matin |
| How have you been? | Isebedo nade? |
| I’ve been good | Asebedo maber |
| What is your name? | Nyingi ng’a? |
| I am Daniel | Nyinga Daniel |
| What are you doing? | Itimo ang’o? |
| Nothing much, just cooking. | Onge kata, mana tedo |
| What are you cooking, eating? | Itedo, ichamo ang’o? |
| I’m cooking succotash | Atedo nyoyo |
| Are you okay, dear? | Be in maber osiepa? |
| I am good thanks | An maber, ero kamano |
| When are you coming? | Idhi biro saa adi? |
| Later today | E kor kawuono |
| How was your night/day? | Odiechiengi/ otieno ne ni nade? |
| Was really good | Ne ber |
| How are you doing? | Idhi nade? |
| I’m not okay | Ok adhi maber |
| How is your family? | Jogi dhi nade? |
| They are good | Gin maber? |
| How is your day? | Odiechiengi ne ni nade? |
| Very tiring | Oola mang’eny |
| What is wrong? | Ang’o marach? |
| Nothing, i am okay | Onge, an maber |
| What do you mean? | Iwacho nade? |
| The boy is dead!! | Wuoyi cha othoo!! |
| What is this? | Magi ang’o? |
| My new shoes | Wuoche ga manyien |
| How is the weather there? | Kor yamo chal nade kuno? |
| It is really cold | Koyo ng’ich ma |
| Have you gone to church? | Be ne idhi kanisa? |
| Yes, i am just from church | Eeh, koro e ka aa kanisa |
| What is going on? | Ang’o ma dhi mbele? |
| We are watching soccer | Waneno adhula |
| Are you listening? | Be iwinja? |
| Yes, i have heard | Eeh, awinji |
| Have you heard? | Be isewinjo? |
| Not really, what is up? | Podi, ang‘o? |
| Can I go home? | Anyalo dhi dala? |
| Yea, goodbye | Eeh, oriti |
| Can I ask something? | Anyalo penjo gimoro? |
| Sure, ask | Eeh, penji |
| How is everything? | Gik moko dhi nade? |
| We are managing well | Wan maber, watemo tu |
| What is your phone number? | Namba ni cha mar ong’ue yamo en? |
| I gave it to you already | Dong ne ase miyi |
EVERYDAY CONVERSATION – WUOYO MA PILE
| ENGLISH | LUO |
|---|---|
| Happy birthday. | Mor kuom odichieng’ nyuol mari |
| thank you | Ero kamano |
| I am sorry | Ago mos |
| You are welcome | Aruaki ainya |
| Me too! | Anbe! |
| God bless you | Nyasaye oguedhi |
| May God protect you | Nyasaye oriti |
| She is happy | Nyako no omor |
| Please help me | Akwayi, konya |
| I don’t know | An akia |
| I will come tomorrow | Adhi biro kiny |
| Come here! | Bi kae! |
| Feel at home | Winj ka in dala |
| Be blessed | Bed gi gueth |
| I am coming soon | Abiro machiegni |
| Excuse me | Ng’uon na |
| Leave me alone! | Weri koda! |
| It is okay | Ber a bera |
| I am going home | Adhi dala |
| I don’t want | Ok adwa |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Hera en gima ber |
| Let me try | We atem |
| Welcome home | Aruaki dala |
| I reached home safely | Ne achopo maber |
| God is good | Nyasaye ber |
| I don’t understand | Ok ayua |
| We are happy to see you | Wamor neni |
| I have it | An kode |
| Rest in peace | Nind gi kue |
| I don’t have money | Aonge pesa |
| I am done | Asetieko |
| I am going to the shop | An adhi e duka |
| Happy new year | Mor e iga manyien |
| Bad manners! | Tim marach! |
| Stop using your phone | We tiyo gi sime |
| I need a favor please | Adwa ni ikonya |
| I haven’t seen you in ages | Pok aneni ndalo mathoth |
| Great to see you again | Amor neni kendo |
| You made my day | Iloso odiechienga |
| No problem | Onge nuksi |
| I really appreciate | Ago erokamano sana |
| Let’s go!! | Wadhi!! |
DIRECTIONS IN DHOLUO - SIEMO
| ENGLISH | LUO |
|---|---|
| Where are you? | In kure? |
| Response to where are you? - I am at Dan's | An ka dan |
| Where were you? | Ne in kure? |
| I was at home | Ne an dala |
| Where did you go? | Ne idhi kure? |
| I went shopping | Ne adhi nyiepo |
| Where do you live? | Idak kure? |
| I live in a school | Adak e sikul |
What Next?
Don't stop here. Learning a language requires constant practice, but it doesn't have to be complicated. The best trick is to master at least five Dholuo words daily from the Dholuo dictionary.
You can also improve your vocabulary by reading Dholuo stories. Read the story of a Luo legend, Luanda Magere, written in Dholuo and an English equivalent for reference.
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