🇨🇩RDC · Congo-Brazzaville
Lingala vocabulary: 98 essential words to communicate
Learn essential Lingala vocabulary with 98 words and phrases organized by theme. Perfect for beginners and travellers who want to communicate confidently.
98words & phrases
9themes
ENtranslations
Greetings & politeness
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Mbote | Hello / Hi | Culture: Salutation universelle en lingala, utilisable à toute heure. Très souvent répété pour marquer la chaleur de l'accueil. |
| Mbote na yo | Hello (to you) | |
| Mbote na bino | Hello (to you all) | |
| Sango nini? | What's up? / How are you? | Culture: "Sango nini?" est l'expression la plus courante pour demander des nouvelles à Kinshasa. |
| Malamu | Good / Fine | |
| Melesi | Thank you | |
| Bolamu | You're welcome / Good health | |
| Tikala malamu | Goodbye (stay well) | |
| Sukisa | Sorry / Excuse me | |
| Ndeko | Brother / Friend (term of affection) |
Food & drinks
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Bilei | Food | |
| Mai | Water | |
| Nyama | Meat | |
| Mbisi | Fish | |
| Loso | Rice | |
| Fufu | Cassava fufu | Culture: Le fufu de manioc est l'aliment de base en RDC, accompagné de sauces diverses. |
| Pondu | Cassava leaves dish | Culture: Le pondu est la sauce nationale congolaise, préparée avec des feuilles de manioc pilées. |
| Liboke | Fish in banana leaves | Culture: Le liboke consiste à cuire du poisson ou de la viande emballé dans des feuilles de bananier. |
| Lotoko | Distilled corn alcohol | |
| Maza | Drink |
Family
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Tata | Father | Culture: "Tata" s'utilise aussi comme terme de respect pour tout homme âgé. |
| Mama | Mother | |
| Mwana | Child | |
| Ndeko ya mibali | Brother | |
| Ndeko ya basi | Sister | |
| Mobali | Husband / Man | |
| Mwasi | Wife / Woman | |
| Nkoko ya mibali | Grandfather | |
| Nkoko ya basi | Grandmother | |
| Moninga | Friend |
Human body
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Moto | Head | |
| Liso | Eye | |
| Zolo | Nose | |
| Monoko | Mouth | |
| Litoi | Ear | |
| Loboko | Hand / Arm | |
| Lokolo | Foot / Leg | |
| Motema | Heart | Culture: "Motema" signifie aussi l'âme, les sentiments profonds. |
| Libumu | Stomach | |
| Nzoto | Body |
Numbers (1-20)
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| moko | One | |
| míbalé | Two | |
| mísáto | Three | |
| mínei | Four | |
| mítáno | Five | |
| motóba | Six | |
| nsambo | Seven | |
| mwambe | Eight | |
| libwá | Nine | |
| jómi | Ten | |
| jómi na moko | Eleven | |
| jómi na míbalé | Twelve | |
| jómi na mísáto | Thirteen | |
| jómi na mínei | Fourteen | |
| jómi na mítáno | Fifteen | |
| jómi na motóba | Sixteen | |
| jómi na nsambo | Seventeen | |
| jómi na mwambe | Eighteen | |
| jómi na libwá | Nineteen | |
| tuku míbalé | Twenty |
Colors
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| mpembe | White | |
| moindo | Black | |
| motane | Red | |
| buluu | Blue | |
| vɛrɛ | Green | |
| jaune | Yellow | |
| gris | Grey | |
| oranje | Orange |
Animals
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Nkoi | Leopard | Culture: Le léopard est l'animal emblématique de la RDC, symbole de pouvoir. |
| Nzau | Elephant | |
| Mbwa | Dog | |
| Nsoso | Chicken | |
| Ngombe | Cow / Bull | |
| Ntaba | Goat | |
| Mbisi | Fish | |
| Ndeke | Bird | |
| Nkọkọ | Crocodile | |
| Nyoka | Snake |
Home & daily life
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Ndako | House | |
| Ekuke | Door | |
| Chambre | Room | |
| Marché | Market | |
| Kelasi | School / Class | |
| Mbongo | Money | |
| Elamba | Clothes | |
| Moto | Person | |
| Mosala | Work | |
| Esengo | Joy / Party | Culture: "Esengo" est central dans la culture congolaise : musique, danse et fête sont indissociables de la vie sociale à Kinshasa. |
Time & weather
| Lingála | English | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Lelo | Today | |
| Lobi | Yesterday | |
| Lobi oyo ekoya | Tomorrow | |
| Moi | Sun | |
| Butu | Night | |
| Mbula | Rain | |
| Mpela | Cold | |
| Molayi | Heat | |
| Mopepe | Wind | |
| Eleko ya mbula | Rainy season |
Learn Lingala with a native teacher
Vocabulary is the foundation. But to speak fluently, nothing beats live classes with a native teacher. Targumi offers Lingala classes in small groups, 2 sessions per week, with passionate teachers.
30-day money-back guarantee
Cultural immersion in Lingala
Films, TV shows, music and podcasts to practise Lingala every day.