Table of contentsLEARN ACHOLI04 / 20

Beginner · 55 minutes

Family and home

Talk about family relationships, home life, people, and belonging.

By the end of this chapter

  1. Name close relationships
  2. Describe your household
  3. Ask about people at home
SPEAK

Acholi language in this chapter

Study the Acholi first, then read across for the meaning. Say every line aloud and use it in a complete exchange.

Family words

Acholi kinship terms can distinguish maternal and paternal relatives.

ganghome / household
lamera maditmy elder sibling
lamera matidimy younger sibling
omera ma ditmy older brother
omera ma tidimy younger brother
neramy maternal uncle
woramy paternal uncle
wayamy paternal aunt
adaamy grandmother
kwaramy grandfather

Source: Peace Corps Acholi Language Manual. Short selections are organized here for study; use the full manual for audio-linked drills, grammar notes, and extended dialogues.

04.1

Family vocabulary

Create a family vocabulary set that reflects your own household and relationships. Ask elders about respectful kinship terms and when each is used.

Practice

Draw a family tree and label 10 relationships in Acholi.

04.2

Speaking about home

The word gang relates to home. Practice asking how people at home are and describing where people live.

Dano gang gi tye nining?How are the people at home?
GangHome
Practice

Write four questions you could ask a relative about home and family.

04.3

Culture through family stories

Family conversation is an ideal place to connect language with memory. Names, places, songs, and stories give vocabulary a meaningful context.

Practice

Interview an elder for five minutes and write down five new words or expressions.

Learn with care

These spellings follow the Peace Corps Acholi Language Manual. Pronunciation, spelling, and usage can vary by speaker and region, so confirm public-facing language with fluent Acholi speakers.

Open the full language manual