Chapter 2: People and Numbers

Introducing Yourself in Dholuo

Say your name, where you’re from and what you do in Dholuo: nyingi ng’a?, nyinga Atieno, and more.

📚 Introducing Yourself

When introducing yourself in dholuo, it is expected that you reveal your name, your occupation, and to say a little bit about where you come from.

Dholuo	Literal	English	Notes
Nyingi ng’a?	Your name + who?	What is your name?
Nyinga Atieno	My name + Atieno.	My name is Atieno.
Iluongani Atieno.	You call me + Atieno	You call me Atieno.	This is another way of saying your name. The verb ‘luongo’ is ‘to call’.
Iluongini ng’a?	You are called who?	What is your name?
Ia kanye?	You come from + where?	Where do you come from?
Aa Seme.		I come from Seme
An jaseme	I’m a man from Seme	I come from Seme.	It is common for Luos to introduce themselves based on the area that they come from.
An nyaseme	I’m a daughter of Seme	I come from Seme.	It is common for Luos to introduce themselves based on the area that they come from.
In wuod ng’a?	You + the son of + who?	Whose son are you?	It’s also common for luos to introduce themselves based on who their parents or grandparents are. Tracing one’s lineage was important to the social fabric.
An wuod Adhiambo.	I + the son of + Adhiambo	I’m the son of Adhiambo
In nyar ng’a?	You + the daughter of + who?	Whose daughter are you?
An nyar Opiyo	I + the daughter of + Opiyo	I’m the daughter of Opiyo	This greeting can be used at any time of day. The word ‘dhi’ means ‘to go’.
In nyakwar ng’a?	You + the grandchild of + who?	Whose grandchild are you?
An nyakwar Odongo	I + the grandchild of + Odongo.	I’m the grandchild of Odongo
Itiyo kanye?	You work + where?	Where do you work?
Atiyo Safaricom.	I work + Safaricom.	I work at Safaricom.
In gi higni adi?	You + with + years+ how many?	How old are you?
An gi higni apar gi ariyo.	I + with + years + ten + plus + two	I am twelve years old.

📚 New Vocabulary

Dholuo	English	Type	Notes
Nying	A name	Noun
Nyinga	My name	Noun
Nyingi	Your name.	Noun
Wuod	Son	Noun
Nyar	Daughter	Noun
Nyakwar	Grandchild	Noun
Higni	Years	Noun	It’s the plural form of the word ‘higa’ which means ‘a year’.

🎯 Practice Exercises

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