Lingala phrases | Most common phrases for everyday life

Lingala phrases – Here you will find the most common phrases in Lingala with translation. | Free & useful

Lingala phrases are short expressions or idioms often used in speech to be polite, express gratitude, greet or say goodbye or simply to have a pleasant conversation.

They are an important part of Lingala culture and can be useful in different situations, both in private and business life.

Lingala phrases you should know

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Greet someone in Lingala

If you want to greet someone in Lingala, it’s actually quite easy:

English	Lingala	IPA
Welcome!	Boyei malamu!	/bɔ.jɛ́i ma.la.mu/
Good day to you!	Lakisa malamu!	/la.ki.sa ma.la.mu/
Good morning to you!	Mbote na ntɔ́ngɔ!	/ᵐbó.tɛ na n.tɔ́.ŋɔ/
Good evening!	Mbote na mpɔ́!	/ᵐbó.tɛ na m.pɔ́/
Good to see you.	Kitoko komona yo.	/ki.tó.kɔ kɔ.mó.na jó/
I’m glad to see you.	Nazali na esengo ya komona yo.	/na.za.li na ɛ.sɛ.ŋɡɔ ya kɔ.mó.na jó/

If you are greeted in Lingala, the best way to respond is as follows:

English	Lingala	IPA
Have a nice day too!	Yokana malamu na mokolo mpe!	/jo.ka.na ma.la.mu na mɔ.kɔ.lɔ mpɛ/
Thanks, it’s nice to see you too.	Matondo, kitoko komona yo mpe.	/ma.tɔ́n.dɔ ki.tó.kɔ kɔ.mó.na jó mpɛ/

How is my dialogue partner?

As in any other country, it is polite to start by asking where the person you are talking to is located. Here’s how you do it:

English	Lingala	IPA
How are you doing?	Ozali malamu?	/ɔ.za.li ma.la.mu/
Are you doing well?	Ozali na bomoyi malamu?	/ɔ.za.li na bɔ.mɔ.ji ma.la.mu/

If you are asked how you feel, you can answer with the following phrases:

English	Lingala	IPA
Thank you for asking, I am fine.	Matondo mpo na kotuna, nazali malamu.	/ma.tɔ́n.dɔ mpɔ na kɔ.tú.na na.za.li ma.la.mu/
Thank you, I am fine.	Matondo, nazali malamu.	/ma.tɔ́n.dɔ na.za.li ma.la.mu/
Thank you, I am not doing so well.	Matondo, nazali te malamu mingi.	/ma.tɔ́n.dɔ na.za.li tɛ ma.la.mu mí.ŋɡi/
Thanks, I’m fine. How are you doing?	Matondo, nazali malamu. Bongo yo?	/ma.tɔ́n.dɔ na.za.li ma.la.mu bɔ.ŋgɔ jɔ/

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How do I say goodbye to someone in Lingala?

Saying goodbye to a friend or stranger in Lingala is not that difficult. Just use the following phrases:

English	Lingala	IPA
Goodbye!	Kolala malamu!	/kɔ.la.la ma.la.mu/
Take care of yourself!	Lingá yo moko!	/liŋɡá jɔ mɔ.kɔ/
Goodbye	Kobɛla!	/kɔ.bɛ.la/
See you tomorrow	Tokomi kokutana lobi.	/tɔ.ko.mi kɔ.ku.ta.na lɔ.bi/
See you soon	Tokomi kokutana noki.	/tɔ.ko.mi kɔ.ku.ta.na nɔ.ki/
See you later	Tokomi kolobela nsima.	/tɔ.ko.mi kɔ.lɔ.bɛ.la n.si.ma/
Good night	Butu malamu.	/bu.tu ma.la.mu/
Sleep well	Lala malamu.	/la.la ma.la.mu/
Talk to you later.	Nasalaka na yo nsima.	/na.sa.la.ka na jɔ n.si.ma/
Nice to have met you!	Esengo mingi na kokutana na yo!	/ɛ.sɛ.ŋɡɔ mí.ŋɡi na kɔ.ku.ta.na na jɔ/

How do I introduce myself in Lingala?

When travelling in Kongo, sooner or later you will come into contact with local people. Naturally, you’ll want to introduce yourself in Lingala and know who you’re talking to.

English	Lingala	IPA
My name is Jonas.	Kombo na ngai ezali Jonas.	/kɔm.bɔ na ŋɡai ɛ.za.li ʒo.nas/
What is your name?	Kombo na yo nani?	/kɔm.bɔ na jɔ na.ni/
What is your surname?	Kombo ya libota na yo nani?	/kɔm.bɔ ja li.bɔ.ta na jɔ na.ni/
What is your first name?	Kombo ya liboso na yo nani?	/kɔm.bɔ ja li.bɔ.sɔ na jɔ na.ni/
What is your surname?	Kombo ya libota na yo nani?	/kɔm.bɔ ja li.bɔ.ta na jɔ na.ni/

If you want to tell people where you come from, the following sentences are useful:

English	Lingala	IPA
Where do you come from?	Otuwaki wapi?	/o.tu.wa.ki wa.pi/
I am from London.	Nazali uta London.	/na.za.li u.ta lɔn.dɔn/
Are you from Birmingham?	Otuwa Birmingham?	/o.tu.wa bɪr.mɪŋ.ham/
No, I’m from Madrid.	Te, nazali uta Madrid.	/tɛ na.za.li u.ta ma.dɾid/
Great, I’m from Madrid too.	Malamu, nazali uta Madrid mpe.	/ma.la.mu na.za.li u.ta ma.dɾid mpɛ/
Where do you live?	Ozali na esika nini?	/o.za.li na e.si.ka ni.ni/
I live in Berlin.	Nazali na Berlin.	/na.za.li na bɛɾ.lin/

If you have problems with your Lingala, it is good to know which languages are still spoken:

English	Lingala	IPA
Do you speak English?	Ozali koloba Lingelesi?	/o.za.li ko.lɔ.ba li.ŋɡe.le.si/
Yes, I speak English.	Ee, nazali koloba Lingelesi.	/eː na.za.li ko.lɔ.ba li.ŋɡe.le.si/
Yes, I speak some English.	Ee, nazali koloba Lingelesi mingi te.	/eː na.za.li ko.lɔ.ba li.ŋɡe.le.si mí.ŋɡi tɛ/
No, I do not speak any English.	Te, nazali te koloba Lingelesi.	/tɛ na.za.li tɛ ko.lɔ.ba li.ŋɡe.le.si/
I only speak English.	Nasɛngi koloba Lingelesi kaka.	/na.sɛŋ.ɡi ko.lɔ.ba li.ŋɡe.le.si ka.ka/
I understand some Lingala.	Na moni moke Lingala.	/na mɔ.ni mɔ.kɛ li.ŋɡa.la/

Useful sentences with ‘I am…’

The following sentences will help you orientate yourself in Lingala and express your wishes and concerns:

English	Lingala	IPA
I am English.	Nazali Mlingelesi.	/na.za.li mli.ŋɡe.le.si/
I am injured.	Nazwaki mabe.	/na.zwa.ki ma.bɛ/
I am here.	Nazali awa.	/na.za.li a.wa/
I am hungry.	Nazali na nzala.	/na.za.li na n.za.la/
I am thirsty.	Nazali na nkama.	/na.za.li na n.ka.ma/
I am a single person.	Nazali moto moko te.	/na.za.li mɔ.tɔ mɔ.kɔ tɛ/
I need help!	Nalingi lisungi!	/na.liŋ.ɡi li.suŋ.ɡi/
I am tired.	Nazali na nzoto mosi.	/na.za.li na n.zɔ.tɔ mɔ.si/
I am happy.	Nazali na esengo.	/na.za.li na ɛ.sɛ.ŋɡɔ/
I am sad.	Nazali na mawa.	/na.za.li na ma.wa/
I am in love.	Nasengi bolingo.	/na.sɛŋ.ɡi bɔ.liŋ.ɡɔ/
I am ill.	Nazali na bolili.	/na.za.li na bɔ.li.li/
I am ready.	Nazali malamu.	/na.za.li ma.la.mu/
I am busy.	Nazali na mosala.	/na.za.li na mɔ.sa.la/
I am lost.	Nami na nzela.	/na.mi na n.zɛ.la/
I am a tourist.	Nazali moto ya bokili.	/na.za.li mɔ.tɔ ja bɔ.ki.li/
I am new here.	Nazali mwasi awa.	/na.za.li mwa.si a.wa/
I am confident.	Nazali na kondima.	/na.za.li na kɔn.di.ma/
I am proud.	Nazali na likita.	/na.za.li na li.ki.ta/
I am a teacher.	Nazali mopɛpɛli.	/na.za.li mɔ.pɛ.pɛ.li/
I am late.	Nasili kokoma nsima.	/na.si.li kɔ.kɔ.ma n.si.ma/
I am 30 years old.	Nazali na mbula sambo.	/na.za.li na m.bu.la sam.bo/
I am in a hurry.	Nasala malamu mbala moko.	/na.sa.la ma.la.mu m.ba.la mɔ.kɔ/
I am happy.	Nasuki esengo.	/na.su.ki ɛ.sɛ.ŋɡɔ/
I am surprised.	Nazwi esengo monene.	/na.zwi ɛ.sɛ.ŋɡɔ mɔ.nɛ.nɛ/
I am angry.	Nazali na colère.	/na.za.li na kɔ.lɛʁ/

Apologising in Lingala

Here’s how to apologise to a Lingala speaker:

English	Lingala	IPA
I apologise.	Nakomeli bolimbisi.	/na.ko.me.li bo.lim.bi.si/
Sorry, that was not the intention.	Libala, yango ezalaki te na mposa.	/li.ba.la ja.ŋɡo e.za.la.ki tɛ na m.po.sa/
Sorry, I did not do it on purpose.	Libala, nakosali yango te na mposa.	/li.ba.la na.ko.sa.li ja.ŋɡo tɛ na m.po.sa/
Sorry, that was very clumsy of me.	Libala, yango ezalaki mabe mingi epai na ngai.	/li.ba.la ja.ŋɡo e.za.la.ki ma.bɛ mí.ŋɡi e.pai na ŋɡai/

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Useful signs and notices in Lingala

Useful signs and messages in Lingala that you will often see.

English	Lingala	IPA
Entrance	Engumba	/ɛŋ.ɡum.ba/
Toilet	Liboko ya mitema	/li.bɔ.kɔ ja mi.tɛ.ma/
Exit	Kwata	/kwa.ta/
Attention!	Lingisa!	/liŋ.ɡi.sa/
Police	Polisi	/pɔ.li.si/
Emergency services	Balakiseni ya likoló	/ba.la.ki.se.ni ja li.kɔ.lɔ/
Fire brigade	Balakiseni ya moto	/ba.la.ki.se.ni ja mɔ.tɔ/
Passage forbidden.	Etape ebongwani.	/ɛ.ta.pɛ ɛ.bɔŋ.ɡwa.ni/
Caution!	Lingisa!	/liŋ.ɡi.sa/
This building is under video surveillance.	Ndako oyo ezali na lifilimi ya video.	/nda.kɔ ɔ.jɔ ɛ.za.li na li.fi.li.mi ja vi.de.o/

Numbers to 25 in Lingala

Counting in Lingala is not that difficult. Here are the numbers in Lingala from 1 to 25.

English	Lingala	IPA
1	moya moko	/mɔ.ja mɔ.kɔ/
2	mibale	/mi.ba.le/
3	misato	/mi.sa.tɔ/
4	minei	/mi.nɛ.i/
5	mitano	/mi.ta.nɔ/
6	motoba	/mɔ.tɔ.ba/
7	sambo	/sam.bɔ/
8	mwambe	/mwa.mbə/
9	libwa	/li.bwa/
10	zomi	/zɔ.mi/
11	zomi na moya moko	/zɔ.mi na mɔ.ja mɔ.kɔ/
12	zomi na mibale	/zɔ.mi na mi.ba.le/
13	zomi na misato	/zɔ.mi na mi.sa.tɔ/
14	zomi na minei	/zɔ.mi na mi.nɛ.i/
15	zomi na mitano	/zɔ.mi na mi.ta.nɔ/
16	zomi na motoba	/zɔ.mi na mɔ.tɔ.ba/
17	zomi na sambo	/zɔ.mi na sam.bɔ/
18	zomi na mwambe	/zɔ.mi na mwa.mbə/
19	zomi na libwa	/zɔ.mi na li.bwa/
20	mibale na zomi	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi/
21	mibale na zomi na moya moko	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi na mɔ.ja mɔ.kɔ/
22	mibale na zomi na mibale	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi na mi.ba.le/
23	mibale na zomi na misato	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi na mi.sa.tɔ/
24	mibale na zomi na minei	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi na mi.nɛ.i/
25	mibale na zomi na mitano	/mi.ba.le na zɔ.mi na mi.ta.nɔ/

The colours in Lingala

The most common colours in Lingala with phonetic transcription for pronunciation.

English	Lingala	IPA
Red	Molayi	/mɔ.la.ji/
Blue	Mpamba	/m͡pám.ba/
Green	Mikala	/mi.ka.la/
Yellow	Mpunga	/m͡pu.ŋɡa/
Black	Moyo	/mɔ.jɔ/
White	Mpɛpɛ	/m͡pɛ.pɛ/
Brown	Mbala	/m.ba.la/
Orange	Limonade	/li.mɔ.na.dɛ/
Pink	Mponi ya motane	/m.pɔ.ni ja mɔ.ta.nɛ/
Purple	Mpɛmbɛ	/m͡pɛm.bɛ/

Days of the week, months and seasons in Lingala

Of course, you will also need the days of the week in Lingala and the pronunciation of the months and seasons in dialogues and daily communication in Lingala.

English	Lingala	IPA
Monday	Luni	/lu.ni/
Tuesday	Mokɔlɔ mwa mibale	/mɔ.kɔ.lɔ mwa mi.ba.le/
Wednesday	Mokɔlɔ mwa misato	/mɔ.kɔ.lɔ mwa mi.sa.tɔ/
Thursday	Mokɔlɔ mwa minei	/mɔ.kɔ.lɔ mwa mi.nɛ.i/
Friday	Mokɔlɔ mwa mitano	/mɔ.kɔ.lɔ mwa mi.ta.nɔ/
Saturday	Samedi	/sa.mɛ.di/
Sunday	Dimanche	/di.mɑ̃ʃ/
January	Janvier	/ʒɑ̃.vje/
February	Février	/fe.vʁje/
March	Mars	/maʁs/
April	Avril	/a.vʁil/
May	Mai	/mɛ/
June	Juin	/ʒwɛ̃/
July	Juillet	/ʒɥijɛ/
August	Août	/ut/
September	Septembre	/sɛp.tɑ̃bʁ/
October	Octobre	/ɔk.tɔbʁ/
November	Novembre	/nɔ.vɑ̃bʁ/
December	Décembre	/de.sɑ̃bʁ/
Spring	Libanga	/li.bá.ŋɡa/
Summer	Eté	/e.te/
Autumn	Ntɔngɔ	/n.tɔ́.ŋɡɔ/
Winter	Ngungu	/ŋɡu.ŋɡu/

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Additional links

• The different ways of learning languages
• Learning vocabulary successfully
• Motivated language learning
• It is so easy to train your understanding of a language at the same time
• Learning languages quickly? – Is it possible?
• The different types of learners when learning languages

More information about the Lingala Course for Children.