Acholi

Conjugate Verbs

Facts

  • Language: Acholi
  • Alternate names: Acoli, Atscholi, Shuli, Gang, Lwo, Lwoo, Akoli, Acooli, Log Acoli, Dok Acoli
  • Language code: ach
  • Language family: Nilotic, Western Nilotic, Luo-Burun, Southern Lwoo
  • Number of speakers: 791796
  • Script: Latin script

More information:

    Introduction

    Acholi is a language primarily spoken by the Acholi people in the districts of Gulu, Kitgum and Pader, a region known as Acholiland in northern Uganda. Acholi is also spoken in the southern part of the Magwi county of Sudan. Song of Lawino & Song of Ocol, well known among African literature, were written in Acholi by Okot p'Bitek.

    By Richard Buchta (1845-1894) - Southern Sudan
    Acholi village, XIX century

    Acholi is one of the Luo languages, of the Western Nilotic branch of Nilo-Saharan. Acholi, Alur and Lango have between 84 and 90 per cent of their vocabulary in common and thus are mutually intelligible.

    The verb

    Sample verb: mako

    Present Past Future Subjunctive Imperative
    Sg.1 amako amako abimako amaki maki!
    Sg.2 imako imako ibimako imaki
    Sg.3 mako omako bimako omaki
    Pl.1 wamako wamako wabimako wamaki / wamaku maku!
    Pl.2 wumako wumako wubimako wumaki
    Pl.3 gimako gimako / gumako gibimako gimaki / gumaku

    Verblist