spelling
In Dholuo, words are spelled exactly as they are pronounced.
Plural are denoted by the word Jo, Ya or , mo, dho etc at the start of a word. There are common misconceptions by ending words in English like style.
| Verb(english) | Singular(Dholuo) | plural (Dholuo) |
| Cattle | Chiayo | Jamni |
| Cattle | dhiang' | dhok |
| Boy | wuoyi | Yawuoyi |
| Girl | Nyako | Nyiri |
| A South Sudanese | Ja sudan ma milambo | Jo Sudan ma milambo |
| child | Nyathi | Nyithindo |
| I am a Luo | An jaluo | Wan joluo |
| woman | Dhako | Mon. |
| Man | Dichuo | Chuo |
A at the beginning of words
| English | Dholuo |
| I am here | An ka |
| young female hartebeest | acungget |
| beat | adwongo |
| recces for door | agola |
I at the beginning
| English | Dholuo |
| stomach | ich |
| ear | it |
| climbing | idho |
| you | in |
e at the beginning of the word
| Dholuo | English |
| Eeeh | yes |
| ero | those |
| eki | this |
| ere | here |
Ero, eke ere are used to when someone is aking or looking for something or when someone is pointing to something.
example :
| Dholuo | English |
| Ero gik mane iwaro | There are the things you needed |
| Ere gika ? | Where are those things? |
| Eki giki | Here are those thing |
words beginning with ja.
| Dholuo | English |
| Ja sudan | a Sudan |
| Ja lemo | a prayer |
| Ja pwuonj | a teacher |
| Ja wer | a singer |
Jo at the beginning of the word.
| Dholuo | English |
| Jo Sudan | Sudanese |
| Jo wer | Singers |
| Jo lemo | Prayers |
| Jo pwuonj | Teachers |
O at the beginning.
In Dholuo, the letter "o" at the beginning of a word, predominantly finds application in greetings and temporal references, such as indicating the time of day, including evening, day, and night. Additionally, it is employed when inquiring or referring to the third person singular within a sentence.
| Dholuo | English |
| Oyawre | Goodmorning |
| Oimore | Good evening |
| Odhiambo | Evening |
| Okinyi | Morning |
| Otieno | Night |
| Odiochieng' | Daytime |
In reference to the third person singular.
| Dholuo | English |
| Atieno osedhi chiro | Atieno has gone to the market |
| Atieno olal | Atieno is lost |
| Atieno otong'o yien cha | Atieno has cut that plant |
| Atieno ogore piny | Atieno has fallen down |
Difference between Acholi and Joluo in pronunciations.
Joluo change the letter N with D in kendo, Y with J in pwuonjo, end be with R and dwa with an R.
| Acholi | Dholuo | English |
|---|---|---|
| Keno | Kendo | stove. |
| puony/lapwuony | puonj/japwuonj | teach/teacher |
| be | ber | good |
| dwa | dwar | hunt. |
| Okono | Budho. | pumpkin |
| Obeno | Obendo. | Baby sling |
| Ng'at | Ng'ato. | Person |