Everything below is what a beginner actually needs first: greetings, polite words, numbers, family, food, time and getting around. Each entry shows the Lingala spelling, the English meaning, and a respelling with the stressed syllable in capitals so you can say it out loud without guessing.
First words Greet someone and be polite
Mbote Hello Melesi Thank you Boyei malamu Welcome Kende malamu Goodbye Iyo Yes Te No Nabondeli yo Please Bolimbisi ngai Sorry Meeting people Introduce yourself and ask how someone is
Nkombo na ngai Amara My name is Amara Nkombo na yo nani? What is your name? Ozali malamu? How are you? Nazali malamu I am fine Mai Water Bilei Food Moninga Friend Ndako House Counting Numbers one to five and market basics
Moko One Mibale Two Misato Three Minei Four Mitano Five Ezali talo boni? How much is it? Zando Market Mai Water Nalingi kosomba I want to buy Questions people ask about Lingala 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.