Table of contentsLEARN ACHOLI05 / 20

Elementary · 60 minutes

Numbers, time, and calendar

Count, tell time, discuss dates, and plan everyday activities.

By the end of this chapter

  1. Use cardinal and ordinal numbers
  2. Ask and tell time
  3. Discuss days and future plans
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.

Count from zero to ten

jerozero
acelone
aryotwo
adekthree
angwenfour
abicfive
abicelsix
abiroseven
aboroeight
abongwennine
aparten

Ask the time

Cawa adi?What time is it?
Cawa angwen me odiko.Ten in the morning (literally hour four of the morning, using Acholi time).
Watye lacen.We are late.
Odikomorning
Dye cengafternoon / noon
Otyenoevening

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.

05.1

Numbers in useful groups

Learn numbers through phone numbers, ages, prices, dates, and quantities. This makes recall more practical than memorizing a long sequence alone.

Practice

Say five ages, five prices, and three calendar dates with a fluent speaker.

05.2

Waco cawa—telling time

Practice asking and telling the hour, then add parts of the day such as odiko (morning), dye ceng (afternoon), and otyeno (evening).

OdikoMorning
Dye cengAfternoon
OtyenoEvening
Practice

Describe your schedule from morning through evening.

05.3

Planning ahead

Use calendar language to arrange meetings, community events, and travel. At this stage, begin noticing how Acholi expresses future time.

Practice

Create and act out a short dialogue arranging a meeting.

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