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Lingala overview

How to say hello, thank you and more in Lingala

25 essential Lingala phrases with pronunciation written out for English speakers. Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. The stressed syllable is in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.

Quick answers

Hello

Mbote

/m-BO-teh/

Thank you

Melesi

/meh-LEH-see/

Goodbye

Kende malamu

/KEN-deh ma-LA-moo/

Yes

Iyo

/EE-yo/

No

Te

/TEH/

Please

Nabondeli yo

/na-bon-DEH-lee yo/

Welcome

Boyei malamu

/bo-YEH-ee ma-LA-moo/

Sorry

Bolimbisi ngai

/bo-leem-BEE-see n-GAI/

How are you?

Ozali malamu?

/o-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/

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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/

Meeting people

Introduce yourself and ask how someone is

  • Nkombo na ngai AmaraMy name is Amara/n-KOM-bo na n-GAI a-MA-ra/
  • Nkombo na yo nani?What is your name?/n-KOM-bo na yo NA-nee/
  • Ozali malamu?How are you?/o-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/
  • Nazali malamuI am fine/na-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/
  • MaiWater/MA-ee/
  • BileiFood/bee-LEH-ee/
  • MoningaFriend/mo-NEEN-ga/
  • NdakoHouse/n-DA-ko/

Counting

Numbers one to five and market basics

  • MokoOne/MO-ko/
  • MibaleTwo/mee-BA-leh/
  • MisatoThree/mee-SA-to/
  • MineiFour/mee-NEH-ee/
  • MitanoFive/mee-TA-no/
  • Ezali talo boni?How much is it?/eh-ZA-lee TA-lo BO-nee/
  • ZandoMarket/ZAN-do/
  • MaiWater/MA-ee/
  • Nalingi kosombaI want to buy/na-LEEN-gee ko-SOM-ba/

Questions people ask about Lingala

How do you say "hello" in Lingala?

"Hello" in Lingala is Mbote, pronounced /m-BO-teh/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "thank you" in Lingala?

"Thank you" in Lingala is Melesi, pronounced /meh-LEH-see/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

How do you say "how are you?" in Lingala?

"How are you?" in Lingala is Ozali malamu?, pronounced /o-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/ (stressed syllables in capitals).

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.

Where is Lingala spoken?

DR Congo, Republic of the Congo — around 40 million including second-language speakers. Writing system: Latin alphabet.

Can I learn Lingala for free?

Yes. This phrasebook is free to read, and SemaSoma gives you the first three units of the course plus 15 translations a day before anything is paid.

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