Name of things
Name of things
English | Acholi |
| Apada | flat |
| Atir | straight |
| cura | arithmetic/figure |
| dit | much |
| ducu | whole |
| dyere | mean |
| gam/lagam | answer |
| gwic | interior or angle, corner |
| i | inside |
| adundo | circle |
| kubo | join |
| lanen | sign, example |
| liweng | wholly |
| peny | question |
| idyere | half |
| langet | side |
| ngiyo | to inspect, examine |
| Rom | equal |
| tir | straight |
| ton | dot/full stop |
| twog | edge |
| wel | number/sum/amount |
| yo | method |
| Nier | Middle |
| English | Acholi |
| The weather is darkening | piny ne tye rik in anga |
| Christmas is in December | nino ni nyuale i dwe mi apar wi ariyo |
| I will come tomorrow | Abino diki |
| He/she return yesterday | Odwoko laworo |
Science
| Acholi | English |
| Gwinyo/Anyo | measles |
| Two Jonyo | AIDS |
| Two Cado | Diarrhea |
| Abarawich | Malaria |
| Aonda | cough |
| Aur | Running nose |
| cado | cholera |
| nyac | Syphilis |
| Dobo | Leprosy |
| Ogik | hiccup |
| gemo | outbreak |
| jiro tam | sneeze |
| junya | jugger |
| alili | epilepsy |
| lagwong | stutter, stammer |
| Jero | Burping |
| Yilo kom | itches |
| Tworo | alga |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| one Of his leg is week because of polio | tiende Acel pe ber Pi en two kweyo tien |
| she sleeps too much because she has sleeping sickness | en nindo tutwal Pi en tie ki two Anindo |
Healing
English | Acholi |
| Clearing nose | cwako um |
| clearing throat | Ondo |
| sneezing | giro tam |
| scratching body | gwado kom |
| Blowing nose | Tunyo um |
| burping | jero |
| tooth picking | kolo lak |
Part of body
| Acholi | English |
| Wang | Eye |
| It | Ear |
| Wich | Head |
| Dok | Mouth |
| Um | Nose |
| Del dok | Lips |
| Lak | Teeth |
| bat | arm |
| tien | leg |
| Kogi lwet | Nail |
| Cun | penis |
| Nyar | Vagina |
| Tik | shin |
| Te bat | arm pit |
| ngut cing | wrist |
| otab | palm |
| ich | belly |
| cwiny/Adunu/aduno | liver |
| ngit | brain |
| leb | tongue |
| latong | tonsil |
| Nguny | Rectum |
| cwak | jaw |
| em | thigh |
| cin | intestine |
| keda | gall bladder, bile |
| kele | cataract of eye |
| kor | chest |
| cak | breast |
| lem | cheek |
| Abor | lung |
| ologo | bladder |
| Opuny | heel |
| otweng | elbow |
| tako | spleen |
| Kwon ter | buttock |
| Angur ngur | Bone marrow |
Part of body of animals and birds
Acholi | English |
| Obong | hoof |
| dhok winyo | beak |
| bwombe | wing |
| Yib/yibe | Tail |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| I breath with my nose | aywe ki Uma |
| I talk with my mouth | alok ki doka |
| Ears are for listening | it mi Winyo piny |
Business
| Acholi | English |
| Lim | money |
| laro wel | bargaining |
| wel/bei | price |
| cat | business |
| cati | sell |
| cato | selling |
| ot cat | shop |
| gang cat | mall, shopping center |
| Rwate | meet |
| Odoco | again |
| malo | high |
| Mucoro | tax |
| banya | debt |
| can | poverty |
| cat/cato | trade/trading |
| lonyo | wealth |
| magoba | profit |
| mucara | wages/salary |
| wel | price/amount |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| I made a lost. | pe anongo lim I wi cat. |
| What are you selling? | I Cato ngo? |
| where do you buy your goods from? | I wilo cat ni ki kany? |
Kitchen
| Acholi | English |
| pii | water |
| kendo | stove/oven |
| pala | knife |
| kijiko | spoon |
| atabu | plate |
| agulu | pot |
| pany | motor |
| lok pany | piston |
| laywe | broom |
| kamalara/pilipili | peper/chilli |
| kado | salt |
| kitungulu | onion |
| nyanya | tomato |
| liyata | sweet potato |
| Okeyo | Bitter vegetable |
| bwo | edible beans leaf |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| warm water | mur pii/pii maliet |
| wash your dishes | lwoki jami tedo ni |
| iriyo pii | thirsty |
Grooming(lile)
| English | Acholi |
| comb | laket |
| Lotion | Moo |
| Wash | Lwoki |
| brush | jwa |
| ngol | cut |
| lwet | nail |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| brush your teeth | jwa laki |
| wash your face | lwoki wangi |
| cut your nail | ngol lweti |
| save your hair | lyel yer |
| ear piercing | tuco it |
| ngol lweti | cut your nail |
Religion
| English | Acholi |
| jiri | bible |
| telo jiri | preaching |
| wer | song |
| lo nebi | angles |
| lo kwena | messengers |
| lo kristayo | congregations |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| lead prayer | tel Lega |
| start song | caki wer |
| playing harp | goyo adungu |
| clapping hands | dongo cing |
| singing song | wero wer |
House
| English | Acholi |
| bed | gwele |
| Shower/bathroom | ot lwok |
| Towel | kigingi |
| Axe | Lee/Lokila |
| Hoe | kweri |
| inn | ot gony |
| pol/foundation | guti |
| salt | kado |
| toothbrush | lajwa lak |
| comb | laket wic |
| matangula | tile |
| wall | apama |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| put on the light | meny mac |
| Give me towel | Miya kigingi |
Dressing
English | Acholi |
| shoe | war |
| belt | gac |
| short pant | peli |
| long pant/trouser | long |
| skirt | tanura |
| coloured cloth | nyekese/lakido |
| bird feather | Kono |
| hat | otok |
| tie | tai |
| Eye glass/guggle | keyo wang |
| coat | koti |
| bag | kubeko |
| umbrella | ambrella |
| watch | cawa |
| ring | ongit |
Dressing plural
Plural use the word gini and ego ni in verb to make it plural. Gini and ego ni means those ones. Most names of dressing clothes does not come from Luo hence, we have no plural.
English(pl) | Acholi(pl) |
| shoes | wari |
| belts | gac(Not an Acholi word i.e. doesn't have plural) |
| clothes | bongi |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| iron your cloth with iron box | goo bongo ni ki pac |
| Birds' feather on head | Ruko kono |
Love
| English | Acholi |
| Love | Mar |
| like | mito |
| hate | kwero |
| Flower | Ature |
| Dating | Cuna |
| Culture | Tekwaro |
| Sex | Winje |
| Dowry | Luk |
| Marriage | Nyom |
| sperm | Nyodo |
| kiss | doto |
| lips | del dok |
| telo/ndelo | Erection |
| men | coo |
| man | laco |
| woman | dako |
| women | mon |
| girl | anyaka |
| boy | awobi |
| sweetie(girl) | Atuku/ituk |
| sweetie(boy) | Abui |
| shortie | idul/adul |
| suck | noto |
| tease | ngalo |
| Abomination | Cot |
| I don't like/love | Akwero |
| Other co-wife | Diera |
Love expressions
| English | Acholi |
| I love you | An amari |
| You are beautiful | In I leng |
| I am pregnant | An ayac |
| The girl put on a makeup | Anyaka olile |
| My sweetie | Abui na / Atuku na |
Technology
Some names of these technologies are description of what they seem to be rather than names.
| English | Acholli |
| phone | cim |
| internet | otol |
| wireless internet | Otol yamo |
| Electricity | mac |
| camera | wang |
| Microphone | La med down |
| weighing machine | til |
| speaker | spika |
Constructing sentences
| English | Acholi |
| Ring him/her | go cim bote |
| switch on the fire | lwel mac |
| light the fire | many mac |
| electricity wire | tol mac |
Engineering(tet)
| English | Acholi |
| Metal | Nyonyo |
| Engineer | la tet |
| Engineering | tet |
| Acceleration | dut |
| accelerate | duti |
| speeding | ded |
| deceleration | nur |
| Decelerate | nuur |
| slow | ndol/mot |
| slowly | ndol ndol/mot mot |
| wire | cili |
| weighing | nuro |
| rust | nyal |
| chain | nyor |
| bell | olang |
| measure | pimo |
| straighten | twenyo |
| fish basket | Ogong |
| hook | Goli |
| Atero | arrow |
| tong | spear |
| bow | atum |
| machete | panga |
| axe | lee/lokila |
| hoe | kweri |
| scissor | mangac |
| line, row | tyeng |
Relationship(Wadi)
English | Acholi |
| Uncle | Nera |
| Aunt | waya |
| Father | wora |
| Mother | megona |
| Brother | omera |
| sister | lamera |
| Son | woda |
| Girl friend | Meya |
| Boy friend | Meya |
| nephew | Okeya |
| niece | Lakeya |
| Daughter | nyara |
| Grandmother | dana |
| Grandfather | kwara |
| Mother-in-law | mara |
| Father-in-law | ora |
| Brother-in-law | Omin cwara/dako na |
| Sister-in-law | lamin cwara/dako na |
| son-in-law | cwar nyara/dako pa woda |
| Friend | Nyiri/Jal/Larema/Liwota |
| grandchild | lakwara |
| clan | Kaka |
| tribe | rok |
| foreign | laloka |
External
Relating the relationship
English | Acholi | My | Your(singular) |
| Uncle | Nero | nera | Neru |
| Aunt | Wayo | waya | wayu |
| Father | kwaro | kwara | kwaru |
| Mother | mego | megona | meru |
| Brother | omego | omera | omeru |
| sister | lamego | lamera | lameru |
| Son | omego | woda | wodi |
| Daughter | nyaro | nyara | nyari |
| Grandmother | dayo | dana | dani |
| Grandfather | kwaro | kwara | kwaru |
| nephew | okeyo | Okeya | Okeyu |
| niece | lakeyo | lakeya | lakeyu |
| boy friend | meyo | meya | meyi |
| girl friend | meyo | meya | meyo |
Singular and plural
English | Acholi | singular | plural |
| Uncle/uncles | Nero | Nera | nere |
| Aunt/aunties | Wayo | Waya | waye |
| Father/fathers | kwaro | kwara | kware |
| Mother/mothers | mego | mego | mege |
| Brother/brothers | omego | omego | omege |
| sister/sisters | lamego | lamego | limege |
| Son/sons | omego | woda | wode |
| Daughter/daughters | nyaro | nyara | anyira |
| Grandmother/grandmothers | dayo | dana | dane |
| Grandfather/grandfathers | kwaro | kwara | kware |
| nephew/nephews | okeyo | okeya | Okeye |
| niece/nieces | lakeyo | lakeya | likeye |
Education
Names
Acholi | English |
| lakedi | pencil |
| gincoc | pen |
| Niyabo | book |
| lapwony | teacher |
| kacoc | board |
| laduny | duster |
| lotino kwan | students/pupils |
| latin kwan | a student/pupil |
| kwan | learning |
| Gan kwan | school |
| ot kwan | classroom |
Some physical features and space.
English | Acholi |
| cloud | pol |
| heaven | polo |
| Sun | ceng |
| snow | lopu |
| star | latyer |
| Rainbow | danyo |
| sky | Malo |
| mountain | got |
| river | Kulo |
| Creeks | laora |
| lakes/oceans/seas | nam(plural Nami) |
| Rock | kidi |
| lightning | lokot |
| moon | dwe |
| moonlight | lak dwe |
| hill | cere |
| ant hill | bye |
| island | cula |
| swampy | dabadaba |
| swamp | dago |
| meteorite | der |
| mist/fog | lwoch |
| pebble | gwang |
| gold | jabu |
| sun rise | kwar piny |
| slope | lung |
| valley | ora |
Compass Direction
English | Acholi |
| North | Ku/tung malo |
| South | Ku/tung piny/acam |
| East | ku/tung nyango/acwic/wok ceng |
| West | Ku/tung poto ceng |
| Central | diere/cwinye |
Name of animals
Wild Animals
Cats(ogwang)
| English | Acholi |
| Lion | Atunya/labwor |
| Leopard | Kwac |
| Hayeana | Lalur/Ondyek |
| Wild Dog | orudi |
| Fox | Too/ogwang |
| Cat | bura |
| Dog | Gwok |
EPEs
| English | Acholi |
| Monkey | Ongero/Ayom |
| Gorila | Luma |
| chimpanzee, baboon | Abim/gunya |
| orangutan | |
| Gibbons/Colobus monkey | Dolo |
Rats
| English | Acholi |
| Micky mouse | Adeng |
| Zebra mike | Opilu |
| greater stick-nest rat | Ture |
| brown rat | Otole |
| House rat | oculube |
| elephant shrew | Ondoro |
Anonymous
| English | Acholi |
| Giraffe | Rii |
| Zebra | Lagwar |
| Elephant | Lyec |
| Hippopotamus | Raa |
| Rhino | Amuka |
| Kudu | Apoli |
| Impala | Lajwar |
| Antelope | Pura |
| Deer | Ruda |
| Gazelle | Til |
| Warthog | Kul |
| Squirrel | Aita |
| Meerkat | Ogor |
| Mole | Buyu |
| Porcupine | Coo |
| Buffalo | Jibi |
| waterbuck | apoli |
| duiker | Lajwar |
| bushbuck | Ruda |
| hartebeest | Pura |
| reedbuck. | abur |
| horse | aguragura |
| rhinoceros | amuka |
| duiker | amur |
| wart-hog | kul |
| beast | ngu |
| kob | til |
| aardvark | mwok |
| edible marsupial | Obaku |
| hedgehog | Okodo |
Domestic
| English | Acholi |
| cattle | dyang |
| Goat | Dyel |
| Pig | opego |
| Sheep | Rombo |
| Rabbit | Apwoyo |
| Porcupine | Coo |
Names of reptiles
| English | Acholi |
| Crocodile | Niang |
| Lizard | Lagwe |
| Snake | Twol |
| Chameleon | Ongoko |
| Frog | Ongwal |
| Tortoise | Opuk |
| Monitor lizard | Balaturu |
Marsupial
Acholi | English |
| Ongir | badger |
Animals types based on their gender, size, where they lives and category.
Acholi | English |
| Olet | pasture |
| nyok | bull |
| bong | female |
| byelu | puppy |
Trees
Acholi | English |
| Olam | fig tree |
| cwa | tamarind |
| tido | mahogany tree |
| Tugo | Borassus palm |
| Ogali | Pilistigma |
Colours
| English | Acholi |
| Yellow | Adwoga Opok |
| Green | Alum Alum |
| Red | Kwar |
| black | col |
| Brown | Apura |
| Grey | Aburu/anyimanyim, |
| Blue | latitii |
| Dark brown | lano lano |
| ash-grey | amur, amur-amur |
| pitch black | li cuc |
| transparent | kereng |
| white | tar |
Name of insects
| English | Acholi |
| Grasshopper | Odara |
| Spider | Abucieng |
| Scorpion | It/oton |
| Mantis | Otongile |
| Fly | Lwuongo |
| Mosquito | Angiu/obe |
| Fire fly | Lodwele |
| locust | Bonyo |
| cricket | ondir |
| centipede | okolong |
| cartilage/snail | Okoro |
| hornet | opipino |
| Dragon fly | Lawitwit |
| black ants | Okalang |
| Cricket | Ondir |
| Millipede | Okolok |
| stink ant | Nginigini |
| soldier termite | Okok |
| Earthworm | Lanyata |
Name of bugs(kwidi)
| English | Acholi |
| Cockroaches | Pelepele |
| witchetty grub | Lokuk |
| tick | Okwodo |
| Junk bug | Akanyango |
Honey makers
English | Acholi |
| Bee | kic |
| stingless bee | Lamili |
| stingless bee(Live in a hole) | Ojang |
| stingless bee(live in a hole) | Alur |
| Bee comb | Pedi Kic |
| Beehive | Bong Kic |
| worker bee | Lotic kic |
| drone | coo |
| queen | min |
Part of body
English | Acholi |
| Head | wiye |
| Thorax | kor |
| abdomen | ich |
| eye | wang |
| wings | bwombe |
| legs | tielo |
Names of people for both males and females.
Acholi | English |
| Lokang/Lakang(Adie, Idie) | first child |
| Ogeno/Ageno | Hope |
| Ochira/Achiro | Perseverance |
| Okeny/Aya | Born In the middle of boys or girls |
| Opio/Apio | First child of twins |
| Ochen/Achen | Born after first twins |
| Langoya/Angoyo | Lie |
| Lakwo | survivor |
Names of places
A place is called Lobo and for(de) the people is pa, hence land of means Lobo pa e.g. England will be lobo pa munu. All other places remain same but with few changes.
English | Acholi |
| England | Munu |
| German | Ocwiny |
| America | Amerika |
| Asia | Acia |
| China | Caina |
| Russia | Racia |
| Africa | lobo ochol |
| Egypt | Egitu |
African grasses(Lum)
Acholi | English |
| Abi | Jacaranda |
| Obuya | Spear grass |
| Lagada | Elephant grass |
| Ateka/walagira | couch grass |
| Modo | Turf |
| Alene | Garden bristle grass |
| Otok | Guinea grass |
| Cong woru | African grass |
| ocel | African grass |
| lobuku | African grass |
| odunyo | African grass |
| lagalawaka | African grass |
| omidi | African grass |
| Amee, | African grass |
| Acwicwi | African grass |
| Loliro | African grass |
| Akondo | African grass |
| omidi | African grass |
Constructing sentences
Acholi | English |
| Nyaro lum | cutting grass |
| tweyo lum | tying grass |
| Tingo lum | carrying grass |
| Woto lum | plugging grass |
Electricity in the old days were fire. This book changes fire into electricity.
Acholi | English |
| Many mac | Light the light |
| Neki mac | turn of light |
| Tar mac | shine light |
| car mac | flash light |
| Liel mac | ignite |
| Buki mac | start |
| lieti mac | speed |
Vegetable
Acholi | English |
| Ating ating | blackjack |
| bwo | beans leaf |
| it gwanda | cassava leaf |
| Lwoka | okra |
| otiko | leaves that makes cooking other leaves good |
| kabic | cabbage |
| otondoli | pumpkin flower |
| nyanya | tomatoes |
| bacala/kitungulu | onion |
Animals that live in water.
Acholi | English |
| Lut | eels |
| Omel | mud fish |
| ogwal | frog |
| niang | crocodile |
| Kaladini | leeches |
| logore | crap |
Describing people
English | Acholi |
| Tall | bor |
| short | cek |
| ugly | rac |
| beautiful | leng |
| old | oti |
| young | tidi |
| fat | ocwe |
| thin | lanede |
| educated | okwano |
| uneducated | bong okwan |
comparative
English | Acholi |
| Taller | ma bor |
| shorter | ma cek |
| uglier | ma rac |
| older | ma oti |
| younger | ma tidi |
| fatter | ma ocwe |
| thinner | ma lanede |
Superlative
English | Acholi |
| Tallest | bor wiki wiki |
| shortest | cek dur dur |
| ugliest | rac ada ada |
| most beautiful | leng pili pili |
| oldest | oti kojo kojo |
| youngest | tidi diu diu |
| fattest | ocwe bim bim |
| thinnest | lanede diu diu |
Health
English | Acholi |
| Hospital | ot yat |
| headaches/malaria | abarawic |
| sick | two |
| health | kwo |
| injected | otuco |
| swallowed | omwuonyo |
| operated | oyango |
| discharge | okwanyo |
| charge | oketo |
Feelings
English | Acholi |
| happy | Yom cwiny |
| sad | cwinye pe yom |
| angry | Okeco |
| upset | cwinye cwer |
| cold | ngico |
| hot | liet |
| thirsty | orio |
| hungry | kec neko |
| well | ber |
| ill | two |
| tired | oder |
| surprised | ok pe ngeyo |
Food and drinks
Acholi | English |
| Lagemet | mandasi |
| kwon | food |
| dek | sauce |
| pik dek | soup |
| layata | potatoes |
| gwanda | cassava |
| gwen | white ant |
| odi | paste |
| moo | oil |
| kado | salt |
| sukari | sugar |
| labolo | banana |
| lemon | lemun |
sport
English | Acholi |
| running | ngwec |
| football | odilo |
| basketball/volleyball | odilo cing |
| jumping | pye |
| hunting | dwar |
| showing | kwoc |
| digging | pur |
| riding | kwec ki lela |
Crime
English | Acholi |
| Killing | nek |
| stealing | kwo |
| fighting | lweny |
| law | cik |