Looking for practical Jawi (جاوي) to Acholi phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Jawi phrase first, then the Acholi translation (Acholi) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Acholi.
Tip: when a Acholi phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Jawi wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Jawi (جاوي) to Acholi translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
هلا
Ayo(ah-yo)
ترما كاسي
Naki(nah-kee)
سلamat pagi
Bok moti(bok mo-tee)
سلamat tengahري
Bok nongo(bok non-go)
سلamat سوري
Bok obedo(bok oh-beh-do)
سلamat مالام
Bok ngat(bok ngat)
جمبا لاغي
Tye kany(tye kan-yee)
سلامت
Itye(ee-tye)
سيا بربا ناما؟
Iti ma ineno?(ee-tee mah ee-neh-no)
ناما سياه جان
Ineno John(ee-neh-no John)
بغاي مان؟
Iti ma inyo?(ee-tee mah een-yo)
سنغار بربا سياه
Gat ma inyo(gaht mah een-yo)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.