SemaSoma
Lingala overview

Free Lingala starter kit — 25 phrases you can print

A one-page Lingala cheat sheet for absolute beginners. Every phrase shows the Lingala spelling, what it means, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud today. DR Congo, Republic of the Congo — around 40 million including second-language speakers.

First words

Greet someone and be polite

  • MboteHello/m-BO-teh/
  • MelesiThank you/meh-LEH-see/
  • Boyei malamuWelcome/bo-YEH-ee ma-LA-moo/
  • Kende malamuGoodbye/KEN-deh ma-LA-moo/
  • IyoYes/EE-yo/
  • TeNo/TEH/
  • Nabondeli yoPlease/na-bon-DEH-lee yo/
  • Bolimbisi ngaiSorry/bo-leem-BEE-see n-GAI/

Free starter kit

Unlock the remaining Lingala phrases

Enter your email and all 25 phrases open right here — every meaning and pronunciation respelling, ready to print. We'll also send one short daily phrase so it actually sticks.

No card, no account, one click to unsubscribe. We never sell your email.

Is Lingala hard to learn?

  • Grammar is comparatively simple for a Bantu language, which is why it spread so fast.
  • Two registers exist: a fuller classical form and the widely spoken street form.
  • Vowels are pure and consistent, so singing along is a genuinely good study method.