Functional Phrasebook

Quote of the week: Yoo ariyo oroco wii lalur. — Acholi proverb.

What is the Functional Phrasebook

The purpose of this list of phrases is to give you a set of appropriate idioms to be used in different situations. It is important to remember that many of these phrases cannot be translated literally, and cannot be easily changed to accommodate other meanings and situations. The list is not exhaustive.

Asking for Suggestions and Offering Suggestions

English	Acholi
Do you (pl.) have any suggestions?	Utye ki tam mo?
Let's go.	Waceti
We can ..... (We could....)	Watwero ....
Maybe .... (Perhaps....)	Ca gwoki .......
I am of the view that....	An atamo ni......
Is that okay?	Tye kakare?

Agreement and Disagreement

English	Acholi
I agree with you.	Aye tami.
You are right.	Iloko lok ma kakare.
I do not agree with you.	Pe aye tami ni.
I disagree with ......	Pe aye tami ni matwal.....

Apologizing

English	Acholi
I'm sorry (forgive me).	Tima kica.
I ask to be forgiven.	Alegi ni itima kica.
I didn't mean to....	Onongo pe amito ni .......

Appreciation

English	Acholi
I appreciate your help.	Apwoyo kony ma meri.
Thank you very much.	Apwoyo matek.
Thank you for helping me.	Apwoyo konya.
You've done very well.	Itimo maber tutwal.

Asking For and Reporting Information

English	Acholi
Where are you from?	In ia ki kwene?
What do you do?	In itimo ngo?
I am....	An .....
How long have you been here?	Iri kany dong pi kare ma rom mene?
Have you heard about........?	Iwinyo lok kom......?
Can you talk about yourself?	Itwero loko lok i komi?
Do you happen to know.....?	Onyo ingeyo..?
How do you know that?	Icako ngeyo lok man nining?

Asking for and Reporting Additional Information

English	Acholi
What else have you heard?	Ngo mukene ma dok iwinyo pire?
What else would you like to know?	Ngo mukene me dok imitto ngeyo e?
In fact; as a matter of fact; in reality	Ii ada.

Attracting Attention

The following are all used to attract attention. Their literal translations are given but they can all be used as in "excuse me."

English	Acholi
What's-your-name (very informal)	Nyingi nga
You, you (very informal)	In
Help me a bit.	Konya kong manok.
Let me bother you (i.e. excuse me).	Wek kong ayeli.
Look here for a while.	Nen kong kany manok.

Certainty and Uncertainty

English	Acholi
Are you sure about that?	Itye ka waco lok ada?
There is no doubt.	Kala kala peke iye.
I don't know.	Pe angeyo.
I (have) doubt.	Atye ki kala kala.
I don't think so.	Pe atamo kit meno.

Complaining (bako dog)

English	Acholi
It is too much.	Dok itimo tutwal.
You've gone beyond the limit.	Ikato kakare woko.
You too can see that.	In bene iromo neno ne.
You've annoyed me.	In iwango iya.
I'm tired of you.	Aol woko kedi.

Compliments (medo kero)

English	Acholi
That is very good.	Man ber matek.
Thank you for saying it.	Apwoyo waco ne.

Congratulations (miyo pwoc)

English	Acholi
Congratulations for.....	Opwoyo matek pi......

Deduction (moko tam ki ikom lok moni)

English	Acholi
You must be ...	In nen calo....

Accusing (doto)

English	Acholi
Do you deny that.....?	Ipyem.....?
You see.....	Inenno ku.....
But it is you!	Ento in aye do!

Denying and Admitting (kwero ki yee gin moni)

English	Acholi
I admit that...	Aye gita ni...
I deny that....	Akwero woko ni......
It is not me (today).	Meno pe obedo an.
It wasn't me (yesterday).	Eno ni onongo pe an.
It wasn't me (before yesterday).	Onwongo gite pe an.

Describing (Tito gin moni)

English	Acholi
She's about......	En dong cok.....
She's one of.......	En tye ngat acel ikin.......

Directions and Location (kabedo ki kama odok iye)

English	Acholi
How do I go to........?	Atwero ceto nining ......?
Where is ......'s home?	Gang pa ..... tye kwene?
On the (right/left) side.	Tye tung (lacuc / lacam).

Gratitude (pwoyo jami)

English	Acholi
Thank you.	Apwoyo.
You're welcome.	Apwoyo bino.
I want to thank.....	Amitto pwoyi.........
Let me take this opportunity......	Wek akwany kare man........

Greeting People (moto dano)

English	Acholi
Hi (What's the news?)	Jal lok ngo ma tye?
Hi (It's good.)	Jal (atye maber).

Indifference (bedo labongo paro gin mo)

English	Acholi
I don't mind (care).	Pe aparo.
It's up to you.	Meno tici.
It makes no difference to me.	Pe kelo kit aloka loka mo.
Whatever you decide.	Kit ma in itamo kede.

Instructing (nyutu kit me timo gin moni)

English	Acholi
First...	Me acel .....
Then....	Ka doki.....
Lastly.....	Me agikki....

Intention (tami me timo gin moni)

English	Acholi
I've decided to.....	Amoko tama me.....
What is your intention?	In tammi kong tye ni ngo?
I haven't decided yet.	Pwod pe amoko tamma.
What did you intend? (today)	Onongo itamo ni itim ngo tin?
I mean it.	Tama tye iye.

Introductions (nyutu gin atima)

English	Acholi
My name is ... (they call me).	Nyinga kilwongo ni .......
His/her name is..... (they call him/her).	Nyinge kilwongo ni........
This is.....	Eni obedo.....
That is.....	Cani obedo.......
That is..... (far)	Maca ni obedo.....

Likes and Dislikes (gin ma imaro — gin ma pe imaro)

English	Acholi
What do you like most?	Gin ango ma imaro ma kato jami duc?
What do you think of......?	Itamo ni ngo i kom......?
I don't really like......	Pe amaro.....
I don't really care for.....	Pe aparo pi......

Offering to Help (konyo dano)

English	Acholi
Can I help you? (sing.)	Atwero konyi?
I will help you if you want.	Abikonyi ka imito.
Let me help you.	Wek akonyi.
I don't want to bother you.	Pe amitto yeli.
Don't mind about it.	Pe ipar pire.

Permission (Gamo Twero)

English	Acholi
Can I ......?	Atwero ......?
Does it matter......?	Itamo ni balo ka.......?
I beg to....	Alego ni ........
Go ahead.	Medde anyim.
I guess so / I think so.	Atamo ni.
Is it allowed......?	Ki yee ......?
If you want.	Ka imitto.

Persuading and Insisting (bito dano ki rido lok)

English	Acholi
Honestly.	Ii ada.
Listen!	Winy!
Look here.	Nen kany.

Promising (cike)

English	Acholi
Should I trust that....?	Atwero geno ni....?
Let me be sure that.....	Wek abed ki gen ni....
I promise to....	Acike me.....
I won't let you down.	Abi gwoko cike na.
Truly, honestly.	Ii ada, ki lok me ada.

Remembering and Forgetting (poo wic ki wil wic)

English	Acholi
Did you remember to......? (today)	Wi opo me.......?
I forgot (today).	Wiya owil woko tin.
Do you remember when .........?	Wii poo ikare ma...........?

Satisfaction and Dissatisfaction

English	Acholi
Are you satisfied?	Iye ni loki tye kakare?
How do you see it?	Ineno nining?
Really, truly,.......	Ada, kom lok,.........

Surprise and Disbelief

English	Acholi
You are kidding!	Ituku matek!
No kidding!	Tuku pe!
I can't believe it.	Pe atwero yee ni.
That is impossible.	Pe twere / pe lare.

Sympathizing

English	Acholi
What a pity!	Rac mada!
Dear me.	Ojone.
What a difficulty.	Tek tutwal!
What a misfortune.	Man obdo gum marac!

Conversation Strategies

Asking for Repetition

English	Acholi
Repeat please, I didn't hear.	Nwo kong, pe awinyo.
I didn't understand.	Pe anyang.
What did you say?	Iwaco ni ngo?
That what?	Ni ngo?
Explain/describe.	Titi / Tit kong.

Checking and Indicating Understanding

English	Acholi
Are you with me?	Watye kacel?
Now I get it.	Dong anyang.

Introductory Statements

English	Acholi
In my opinion.......	Ki itamma .....
I don't know where to begin.	Pe angeo kama acak ki iye.
I don't know what to say.	Pe angeo gin ma awaci.
I have news for you.	Atye ki lok piri.
You won't believe this.	Pe itwero yee lok man.
In God's name.	Ada pa Rubanga / Lubanga.