Chapter 3: Being, Having and the Present

The Present Tense in Dholuo

Conjugate Dholuo verbs in the present tense with pronoun prefixes, and add object suffixes: achiemo, akonyi, ikonya.

📚 Theory: Introduction to Tenses: The Present Tense

We’ve seen this in previous classes, but let’s formally study the present tense in dholuo. To conjugate a verb in the present tense, add the pronoun prefix to the beginning of the verb. However, if the subject of the verb is not overt, no prefix is needed.

Dholuo	English	Notes
Achiemo	I eat	The pronoun prefix ‘a’ meaning ‘I’ is added to the verb ‘chiemo’, meaning ‘to eat’.
Achieng’ chiemo	Achieng’ eats.	Since ‘Achieng’ is mentioned by name, no pronoun prefix is needed.
Gichiemo	They eat.
Ji chiemo	The people eat.	‘Ji’ means ‘people’.

Grammar note: The present tense gives the meaning ‘I eat’ as well as ‘I am eating’. There is no separate present progressive form.

📚 Theory: Introduction to Tenses: The Present Tense

In the present tense, the ‘o’ at the end of the verb can be removed and replaced with a pronoun suffix to indicate the object of the verb. This is the case for the singular pronoun suffixes (eg. -a, -i, and -e). If the object is indirect, or if the object is a plural pronoun suffix, the ‘o’ at the end of the verb remains.

Dholuo	English	Notes
Akonyi	I help you	From the verb ‘konyo’ which means ‘to help’. The ‘o’ at the end is removed and replaced with the pronoun suffix ‘i’ which means ‘you’.
Ikonya	You help me.
Gikonyi	They help you.
Okonyo John	He/She helps John	Notice how the ‘o’ at the end of the verb remains.
Okonyou	He/She helps you (plural)	Notice how the ‘o’ at the end of the verb remains because the suffix is for a plural pronoun.
Ikonyowa	You help you us	Notice how the ‘o’ at the end of the verb remains because the suffix is for a plural pronoun.

💬 Conversation Practice

Yambo

Ikelo ango?

You bring + what?

What do you bring? (or what are you bringing?)

Akinyi

Akelo rabolo.

I bring + bananas

I bring bananas (or I am bringing bananas)

Yambo

An to akelo rabuon

Me + and + I bring potatoes.

And I am bringing potatoes.

Akinyi

To Auma ting’o ring’o.

And + Auma + carries + meat

And Auma is carrying meat.

Yambo

To Otis?

And + Otis?

And Otis?

Akinyi

Otis Kelo apoth

Otis + brings + apoth

Otis brings apoth

📚 Vocabulary from the Conversation

Dholuo	English	Type
Ting’o	To carry	Verb
Kelo	To bring	Verb
Apoth	A type of slimy vegetable	Noun
Ring’o	Meat	Noun

✍️ What are you doing?

Write 3–5 short sentences about what you and others around you are doing right now.

Example: An achiemo. Akinyi kelo buk. Giting’o ring’o.

Start with pronouns like ‘A…’ (I…) or ‘Gi…’ (They…)
Use present tense verbs like chiemo, kelo, or ting’o
Describe what people around you are doing

Suggested length: up to 1000 words.

🎯 Practice Exercises

Practice is free: just sign in

Create a free account to unlock the interactive exercises for this lesson and track your progress. The lessons stay free to read, always.

Speak on Echo

Answer the daily Dholuo prompt or post your own recording on Echo. Other learners listen, and a native Luo speaker reviews how you sound.

Practice speaking on Echo

← Luo Names and Their Meanings Chapter 3 Review →