Wolaytta (Wolayttatto Doonaa)

Wolaytta is a North Omotic language spoken by about 7 million people in the Wolaita Zone and other parts of the Southern Nations, Nationalities, and People's Region of Ethiopia. The language is also known as Borodda, Ometo, Ualamo, Uba, Uollamo, Walamo, Wallamo, Welamo, Wellamo, Wolaita, Wolaitta, Wolataita, Wolayta or Wollamo.

Wolaytta was first written in the 1940s by a team of missionaries led by Dr. Bruce Adams. They translated the Bible into Wolaytta, finishing it in 2002. Other publications, including textbooks, have been published in Wolaytta. The are several ways to write Wolaytta with the Latin alphabet. It can also be written with the Ethiopic script. The Latin alphabet shown below is used in Wolaytta school textbooks.

Wolaytta alphabet and pronunciation

The Wolaytta alphabet and pronunciation

Download an alphabet chart for Wolaytta (Excel)

Notes

The sound written nh, a nasalized glottal fricative, is very rare and only appears in a few words. The sound written dh is said by some scholars to be an implosive, but it may be glottalized.

Sample text

  1. Yesuusi eta, “Xoossaa woossiiddi, hagaadan yaagite; ‘Saluwan de7iya nu Aawau, ne geeshsha sunttai anjjetto. Ne kawotettai yo. Ne shenee saluwan hanidoogaadan, sa7ankka hano.
  2. Hachchi hachchi koshshiya quma nuuyyo hachchi imma.
  3. Nuuni nuna naaqqidaageetuyyo ubbaa atto giido gishshau, neenikka nu naaquwaa atto ga. Nuna iitabaappe ashshanaappe attin, paacen gelissoppa’ yaagite” yaagiis.

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/3205/LUK.11.WOB

Translation

  1. And he said unto them, When ye pray, say, Our Father which art in heaven, Hallowed be thy name. Thy kingdom come. Thy will be done, as in heaven, so in earth.
  2. Give us day by day our daily bread.
  3. And forgive us our sins; for we also forgive every one that is indebted to us. And lead us not into temptation; but deliver us from evil.
    The Lord's Prayer - Luke 11: 2-4

Source: https://www.bible.com/bible/1/LUK.11.KJV

Sample video

Information about Wolaytta | Numbers | Tower of Babel

Links

Information about the Wolaytta language
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wolaytta_language
http://www.ethnologue.org/show_language.asp?code=wal

Omotic languages

Aari, Bambassi, Bench, Dizin, Hamer(-Banna), Kafa, Sheko, Wolaytta

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

Page last modified: 26.11.24

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