Let us show you some everyday phrases in Lingala to help improve your vocabulary in minutes.
One of the wonders of Congolese culture is its splendid national language Lingala, which is the most widely spoken language in the Democratic Republic of Congo after French but it is also spoken in central African Republic, Congo Republic, particularly in the capital Brazzaville. If you want to travel to the DRC, to Kinshasa precisely, where this language is commonly spoken, you can learn everyday and easy phrases in Lingala.
How to learn Lingala?
- Learn easy Lingala phrases
- How to pronounce Lingala words
Fun easy phrases in Lingala
In this part we will discover the easy, fun and common phrases in Lingala.
Mbote: Hello is the most common Lingala words
Ndenge nini: how is it going?
Na za Kitoko or tokoss from a Congolese singer Fally Ipupa since it is his own music style: I’m fine I’m beautiful, I’m well or well dressed
Oza kitoko: you are beautiful or well dressed, but the most used tokoss
Na za Malamu: I am fine
Oza malamu: you are fine
Na za Mabe: I am bad
Eza mabe: it’s bad
So romantic: How to say I love you in Lingala? To say I love you in the Lingala language we say ‘na lingi yo’; ‘Lingi’ comes from the word ‘Bolingo’ meaning love. I would be tempted to say that it is the Lingala word most used by singers from Kinshasa.
Nako bala yo: I will marry you
How to say shut up in LINGALA? We say Kanga monoko na yo
Ye moko: him alone
Yo moko: you alone
To za awa: we are here
Mwasi na nga: my woman if you combine a little with Na lingi yo Mwasi na nga
Maman na nga: your mother
Olingi nini: what do you want? What are you looking for?
Nazo Yoka te Lingala I don’t understand LINGALA
O Yoki: you understand
Ndeko: friends
Motema na nga: my heart
Nake ko sombela bilamba I’m going to buy the clothes
Eza mawa: it’s sad, it’s a shame
Mikolo nionso: every day
Na brosser minu: I brush my teeth
Kombo na nga Felie: my name is Felie
Kombo na yo eza nani: what is your name?
Sangonini: what news?
Boni: how are you?
Mobali na ye: her husband
Na key: I am leaving
Oh nzambe na nga: my God
Lingala in the market: na wenze
I am going to buy food: Nake kosamba bileyi na wenze
How much does it cost? Eza how much
You have the oil: boza na mafuta
Get out: kende kuna
To learn and improve your language as much as you really want, you can watch our YouTube videos on how to learn Lingala.
Lingala At home: na ndako
What time is it? Eza tango nini eza hour nini
I am hungry: naza na nzala
I’m going to eat the foufou: nako lia foufou
I wash the plates: Nazo nika ba sani
I wash nazo: Nika bilamba
I go to wash: nake kosokola
I cook: nazo lamba
With friends: na ba masta
I am going into my room: I am going into the bathrooms
I am going to hit you: nako beta yo
it’s his child: Eza mwana na ye
Azokomba nse: He is sweeping the floor.
Azopangusa mesa: She is cleaning the table.
Bakobamba ndako na biso: They will repair our house.
Nasengeli kokombola ndako: I am going to clean the house.
Pompe ezali ya kotoboka: The pipe has a hole.
Tozofutela ndako: We are going to rent a house.
Nasepeli yo: I thank you
Lingala at school: na kelasi
Kake na kelasi: I am going to school
Pesa nga bic: give me a pen
Pesa nga notebook: give me a pen
Nazo yo kate: I don’t understand
Na Ba camarad na ye: with your classmates
You can improve your fun and easy phrases in Lingala by watching this Video.
How to pronounce Lingala words
Example with vowels
A as potato
E as dwell
O as close
I as It
U as put
Example of Lingala phrases with English phonetics:
Na zo yoka te: Nah Zoh yo kah teh
Oza kitoko makasi: Oh za Kee-toh-Koh mah-kah-See
Na lingi yo : Na Lin-gee Yoh
Kombo na yo eza nani ?: Koh-Mboh nah-yo-azah Nah-Nee
Na Ko Beta yo: Nah ko Betah yo
I think with these pronunciations you will be able to read well in Lingala.
Conclusion
Lingala is the easiest language in the DRC, Angola, Central Africa, and the Republic of Congo; so a large part of the Kongo kingdom. These easy and common phrases will help you to learn Lingala faster. How much does it take? Only a few minutes with this article, or visit our YouTube channel where you can learn more to deepen your knowledge of Lingala in particular and of Congolese culture in general.
