Chapter 6: Must, If and More Plurals

If and Then: Ka and To

Build conditional sentences in Dholuo with ka (if) and to (then): ka ibiro to wabiro dhi.

📚 If…then

Dholuo represents if/then conditions using ka(if) and to(then).

Dholuo	English	Notes
Ka ibiro to wabiro dhi.	If you come, then we will go.
Ka ichiemo to ibiro yieng’.	If you eat, then you will be full	The word ‘yieng” means ‘to get full’.
Kowinja to opam luete	If he/she hears me, then let he/she clap their hands

Yambo

Ka awuok sani, to abiro chopo chon.

If + I leave + now + then + I will + arrive + early

If I leave now, then I will arrive early

Akinyi

Ka ichopo, to igochona

If + you arrive + then + call me

If you arrive, then call me

Yambo

Ka okagochoni, to ing’eyo ni gimoro timore marach

If + I don’t call you + then + you know + that + something + did itself + badly

If I don’t call you, then you know that something bad has happened.

Dholuo	English	Type	Notes
Awuok	I leave	Verb
Sani	Now (literally ‘this moment’)	Adverb
Chon	Early	Adverb
Igochona	You call me	Verb
Timore	Happened	Verb	Literally means ‘did itself’. Formed by adding the reflexive ‘-re’ to the verb ‘timo’ which means ‘to do’.

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