Page Type: languageDholuo | Ethnologue

LUO ISO 639-3

Dholuo

Dholuo Autonym

A language of Kenya

ISO 639
luo
Alternate Names
Luo, “Kavirondo Luo” (pej.), “Nilotic Kavirondo” (pej.)
Autonym
Dholuo
Population
5,070,000 in Kenya (2019 census), increasing. , based on ethnicity. Total users in all countries: 5,255,000.
Location:
Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya counties; north Kisii and Nyamira counties; Busia and Kakamega counties: border areas. Kavirondo Gulf area.
Language Status
5 (Developing).
Classification
Nilo-Saharan, Satellite-Core, Core, Eastern Sudanic, Southern (n languages), Nilotic, Western, Luo, Southern, Luo-Acholi, Luo
Typology
SVO; verb affixes mark person, number, object; tense; 26 consonant and 5 vowel phonemes; tonal (4 tones: high, low, falling, rising); vowel harmony (ATR).
Language Use
Vigorous. Home, community. Used by all. Positive attitudes. Also use English [eng]. Also use Swahili [swh]. Used as L2 by Suba [sxb].
Language Development
Literacy rate in L1: 10%–30%. Literacy rate in L2: 50%–75%. Taught in primary schools. Literature. Radio. Videos. Dictionary. Grammar. Bible: 1953–1977.
Language Resources
OLAC resources in and about Dholuo
Writing
Latin script [Latn].
Other Comments
Different from Luwo [lwo] (Luo, Jur Lwo) of South Sudan. The people are Luo; the language is Dholuo. Christian, traditional religion.

Also Spoken in

Language Name
Luo
User Population
185,000 in Tanzania (Mradi wa Lugha za Tanzania 2009).
Location
Mara region: Tarime district, Girango, Luo Imbo, Nyancha, and Suba divisions.
Language Status
6a (Vigorous)
Other Comments
Different from Lwo [laj] (Lango) of Uganda or Lwo [luw] (Luo, Jur Luwo) of Sudan.
View other languages of Tanzania

Map

Location: Homa Bay, Kisumu, Migori, and Siaya counties; north Kisii and Nyamira counties; Busia and Kakamega counties: border areas. Kavirondo Gulf area.