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English to Lingala translation

Type a sentence, get it in Lingala with a respelling that shows you which syllable to stress. Fifteen translations a day are free and you do not need an account to start.

Translate English → LingalaTake the Lingala course

English to Lingala: everyday phrases

Common phrases from the Lingala course, each with a respelling — capitals mark the stressed syllable.

  • HelloMbote
    Hello/m-BO-teh/
  • Thank youMelesi
    Thank you/meh-LEH-see/
  • WelcomeBoyei malamu
    Welcome/bo-YEH-ee ma-LA-moo/
  • GoodbyeKende malamu
    Goodbye/KEN-deh ma-LA-moo/
  • YesIyo
    Yes/EE-yo/
  • NoTe
    No/TEH/
  • PleaseNabondeli yo
    Please/na-bon-DEH-lee yo/
  • SorryBolimbisi ngai
    Sorry/bo-leem-BEE-see n-GAI/
  • My name is AmaraNkombo na ngai Amara
    My name is Amara/n-KOM-bo na n-GAI a-MA-ra/
  • What is your name?Nkombo na yo nani?
    What is your name?/n-KOM-bo na yo NA-nee/
  • How are you?Ozali malamu?
    How are you?/o-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/
  • I am fineNazali malamu
    I am fine/na-ZA-lee ma-LA-moo/
  • WaterMai
    Water/MA-ee/
  • FoodBilei
    Food/bee-LEH-ee/
  • FriendMoninga
    Friend/mo-NEEN-ga/
  • HouseNdako
    House/n-DA-ko/
  • OneMoko
    One/MO-ko/
  • TwoMibale
    Two/mee-BA-leh/
  • ThreeMisato
    Three/mee-SA-to/
  • FourMinei
    Four/mee-NEH-ee/
  • FiveMitano
    Five/mee-TA-no/
  • How much is it?Ezali talo boni?
    How much is it?/eh-ZA-lee TA-lo BO-nee/
  • MarketZando
    Market/ZAN-do/
  • WaterMai
    Water/MA-ee/
  • I want to buyNalingi kosomba
    I want to buy/na-LEEN-gee ko-SOM-ba/

What to know before you translate

About Lingala

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

  • 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.

How accurate is it?

Translations are produced by an AI model, so treat long or legal text as a draft and check it with a speaker. Short everyday sentences — greetings, directions, family talk — are where it is strongest, and the pronunciation guide is written for English readers. Lesson audio is AI pronunciation audio, not a recording of a native speaker.

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