ENGLISH-LINGALA DICTIONARY FROM O TO Z

O

obedient:         motósi

obey (to):         kotósa

objet:   elóko

oblige (to):      koséngisa, (obliger, forcer)

obscure:          molíli

observe (to):    komóna; kotósa

obtain (to):                  kozwa

obvious:           emónani, (évident)

occasion:         okasío, (occasion)

occupation:                 mosálá, (métier, profession)

occupy (to):     kokipé, (occuper)

occur:  kosálema, koleka, (se produire, se présenter)

ocean: mbú, (océan)

o’clock:            ngonga, (heure)

odd:     ndéngé, (étrange, curieux, bizarre; impair)

of:        ya, na

of course:        (évidemment)

off (to be):       kokende, (éteint, fermé, absent, annulé)

offence:           (infraction, crime, délit)

offend (to):      (offenser, blesser)

offer:               (offre, proposition)

offer (to):        kobonzela, kokabela, kopesa

office:  biro, (bureau)

often:   mbala míngi

oil:       mafúta

old:      ya kala, mobangé, monuná, mpaka

on:       likoló ya

once:   mbala mókó

one:     mókó

only:    kaka, bobélé, sé

open (to):        kofungola

opening:          (ouverture)

operation:       (opération)

opinion:           likanisi, (opinion, avis)

opponent:        (opposant, adversaire)

opportunity:    (occasion)

opposite:         (en face de)

optician:          (opticien)

optimist:          (optimiste)

option: (option, choix)

or:        tó, sókó

oral:     (oral)

order:  molongó, (ordre); motíndo, (commandement)
order (to):       kotínda, (commander, ordonner); in order to: mpô na, ete
organisation:   (organisation)

organise (to):  (organiser)

original:           (original)

orphan:            etíké

other:  mosúsu

our:      bísó

ours:    ya bísó

ourselves:        bísó mókó

out:      libándá

outcome:         (résultat, issue)

outdoor:          (en plein air)

outside:           libándá

over:                likoló, na

overnight:        (soudain, durant la nuit, de nuit)

own (my own):            ya ngáí mókó
own to:            kozala na

ox:       ngómbé

P

palm: mbíla
paradise: paladíso

party: feti, (fête)
to pass by: (koleka)

past: ya kala

to pay: kofúta
peace: kímíá, (paix), (tranquillité)

people: (peuple)

to permit: kolingisa, (permettre)

to phone: kobenga, kotelephoné, (téléphoner)

plan: (plan)

plane: mpépo, pépo

plastic: (plastique)

play: kosakana; (to play football): kobéta bále

pleasant: elengi, (agréable)

please: (s’il vous plaît), (s’il te plaît)

plenty: ebelé, míngi

plot (of land): (parcelle de terre)
plot: (complot)
to plot: (comploter)

plumber: (plombier)

policeman: polísi, (police), mbíla

pork: ngúlu

possible: ekoki kosálema, (possible)

post office: (poste)

potato: mbálá, libengé

pound (unit of currency): livre sterling

to prefer: kosepela, (préférer)

preparation: (préparation)

to prepare: kobongisa

to prescribe: kokomela, (prescrire)

prayer: libondeli, losambo
present (to be): kozala; (at present: sikóyo, na ngonga óyo)

president: mokonzi, (président)

pretty: kitóko

prison: bolóko

problem: likambo, (problème)

programme: (programme)

project: (projet)
promise: elako
to promise: kolaka
to protect: kobátela
protector: mobáteli

pub: ekalá, (bar)

to put: kotíya; to put off: koúmelisa

Q

question: motúná

quick: mbángu, mbángo, nokí

quiet: kimía

R

radio: radio

railway: nzela ya lukalu, engbunduka, (train)
to raise: kotómbola

rather: (plutôt que)

to read: kotánga

recently: kala míngi té

recommend: (recommander)

record: makomami, (passé), (archives), (casier judiciaire), (dossier)

red: lángi ya makilá

red light: (feu rouge)

to regret: kozala na mawa, (regretter)

to refuse: kobóya, kopíma

to relax: (se détendre, se décontracter)

remember: kobósana té, (se rappeler)

repair: kobongisa

repeat: kozóngela

reserve: (réserve)
to reserve: kobómba, (réserver)

restaurant: (restaurant)

return: kozónga

rich: míngi; rich man: moto ya mosolo míngi

ring: mpété, pété, lompété

to rise: kotélema, kotéleme

risk: (risqué)

road: nzelá, balabála, molóló, mofalí

roast: rôti
to roast: rôtir

robe: (robe)

roof: motóndo, (toit)

S

safe: (sain et sauf), (sans danger), en sécurité, (sûr)

sale: botéki, (vente)
salesman : motéki

sandwich:

save: kobíkisa
saviour: mobíkisi

to say: koloba

school: kelási, etéyelo

sea: mbú

seat: kíti

to see: komona

seldom: míngi té, (rare)

to sell: kotéke

serious: monéne, ya mpási, ya makási, (serieux), (grave)
to serve: kosálela

sharp: nsóngé, sóngé, (pointu), (aigu), (tranchant), (vif), (net)

she: yé
shock: choke, (choc)

shop: magazíni

shopping: (courses), (achat), (shopping)

short: mokúsé
shot: ekíndo

shower: douche
shrimp: (crevette)

to shut: kokanga
sign: elembo

single: (s.room: chambre mpô na moto mókó); (s.ticket: aller simple)
single: (s.mom: monzemba, likombe)

silly: zobá, elémá

sister: ndeko mwási

to sit: kofánda

six: motoba
skin: mposo, lomposo
slap: mbatá
to slap: kobéta mbatá
sleep: mpongí

to sleep: kolála

slice: ndámbo

slow: malémbe; slow to: kowúmela, koumela

small: moké

smell: nsólo, solo
to smell: kolumba nsólo

to smile: komúngamunga, (sourire)
smoke: mólinga

to smoke: komele likáyá
to snore: (ronfler)

so far: kíno sikóyo

some: mosúsu

someone: moto mosúsu

something: elóko mosúsu

sometimes: ntángo mosúsu
sore: mpótá, to have a sore throat: kozala na mpási na mongóngó

sorry: paladó, bolímbisi, (désolé)

sound: makeléle, lokitó, (son); mpóndo
to sound: kozala lokola, (sembler), (avoir l’air de); kopóndo

soup: súpu, (soupe)

Spain: (Espagne)

to speak: koloba

sports: (sport)

stairs: ebuteli, (escalier)

start: ebandeli
to start: kobandá, (engine) kosémolo

to stay: kotíkala
stiff neck: (torticolis)

still: naínu
to sting: koswâ

stomach: libumu, likundú, (stomach ache): mpási na libumu
stone: libángá
stools: nyéi, (selles)

stop: (bus stop: esika bisi ekangamaka), arrêt
to stop: kokanga, kotélema, kotélemisa

store: magazíni

stress: (stress), (tension mentale ou émotionnelle)
stroke : (accident vasculaire cérébral)
student: moyékoli, mwána ya kelási, (étudiant)

to study: koyékola

such as: (tel que)

summer: été
sun: mói, mwésé

supermarket: (supermarché)
support: lisálisi, (soutien), (assistance); to support: soutenir
sure: (sûr)

to swallow: komele
to swell : kovímba, kotutwa

sweater: (pull), (pull-over)

to swim: (nager), (se baigner)
symptom: elembo, (symptôme)

T

tablet: (comprimé)
to take: kokamata, kozwa, kokanga

talk: lisoló
to talk: kosólola

tap: robinet

taste (good): elengi, gú, (goût)
tax: mpáko, (impôt)

taxi: taksí, (taxi)

tea: ti, (tea kettle: théière, bouilloire)

to teach: kotéya, kolakisa

telephone: telefone

to tell: koyébisa

ten: dix
to thank: kotóndo, kotónda

thank you: melesí míngi, matóndo míngi
that: ete; he says that: alobi ete

theatre: (théatre)

theirs: yabangó

them: bangó

themselves: bangó mókó
therapy: lisalisi mpô na molímo, (thérapie), (cure)

there: kúná, wâná

they: bangó

thing: elóko

to think: kokanisa, kobánza

thirty: mpósa

this: óyo
thought: likanisi

three: misáto
throat: mongóngó

ticket: tiké

tired (to be): kolembe, kolemba; to make tired: kolembisa

to: epái ya, esíká, na

together: elóngó, lisangá

tomorrow: lóbí

too: míngi; mpé, mpé lokola

tooth: líno

top: o likoló, na likoló

towards: epái na, (vers), (envers)

traffic: (circulation), (traffic)

train: engbunduka, lukálu, (train)
traitor: mosúli
trauma: choke ya monéne, (trauma), (traumatisme)

to travel: kokende mobémbo, kobémba, (voyager)

travel agent: (agent de voyage)

travel agency : (bureau de voyage)
traveller: moto óyo azali kosala mobémbo, (voyageur)

treatment: lisálisi, (traitement)

trip: mobémbo
trouble: mikakatano, (problème), (ennui)

to trouble: kotungisa

to try: komeka
tuberculosis: (tuberculose)

to turn off: koboma

turn on: kopelisa

tv: tevé, telé

tv programme: programme ya telé

twins: mapása
two: mibalé

U

umbrella: longembú, (parapluie)

to understand: koyóka, (comprendre)

unfriendly: malíli, mongúná, (peu amical), (froid), (ennemi)

unhappy: mawa, kozala na esengo té, (mécontent), (malheureux)

unsafe: mabé, (dangereux), (malsain)
until: kíno

unwell: kobéla, maladi, (souffrant)

up: likoló, libosó, télema !

us: bísó

used to: kozalá+ka; I used to sing: nazaláka koyémba

V

vacation: (vacances)
vaccine: mangwelé
vagina: (vagin)

valley: (vallée)

vegetarian: moto óyo alíaka mosúni té, (végétarien)
vein: mosísa ya moké, (veine)
vertigo: kizunguzúngu, (vertige)

very: míngi

view: (vue); likanisi, (point de vue), (avis)
to view: (visiter), (considérer)

vinegar: (vinaigre)

vintage: (vendage), (cuvée)

vision: bomóni, (vue), (vision)
vitamin: vitamine
to vomit: kosánza

W

to wait (for): kozela

waiter: (serveur)

to walk: kotámbola

walk: (promenade), (tour)
wall: efelo

want: (besoin)

to want: kolinga; kozanga
war: etumba

to wash: kosukola

watch: sâ, montele, (montre)

water: mái

waterproof: ekótaka mái té

way: nzela

we: bísó
weak: motaú, ya kolembe
weakness: botaú

weather: eleko, (temps)

to wear: koláta

week: mpóso, póso

weekend: nsúka ya mpóso, (fin de semaine), (week-end)
weight: kiló, (poids)

well (adv.): malámu

what: níni

when: ntángo níni

where: esíká níni

which: óyo, which one?: óyo wapi?

while: na ntángo
whip: fímbo

white: mondéle

who: náni
whole: mobimba

whom: óyo

whose: óyo

why: mpô níni, ntína níni

wine: víno

window: lininísa

with: na, elóngó
witness: motátoli

woman: mwási

work: mosála
to work: kosála

worker: mosáli

worth: motúya, (valeur)
wound: mpótá
wrinkle: (ride)
wrist: (poignet)

to write: kokoma, kokomela

XYZ
xenophobia:    koyina bato ya ba mbóka mosúsu, (xénophobie)
Xmas:  Noël
x-ray:   (radiographie)


year:                mobú
yearn (to):  (aspirer, désirer)

yellow: motáné
yes:                  íyo, (oui)
yield:               kobota, (produire); (céder)

yesterday:       lóbí
yet:                  nzónkandé
yoga:               yoga

yoghurt:           yawúr, (yaourt)

you:                 yó

young: elengé
your:                nayó

yours:  yayó

yourself:          ye moko

yourselves:      bínó mókó

youth:  bilengé

zeal:                 mpíko (zèle, empressement)
zebra:  (zebra)

zenith: zénite

zero:                elóko té, mpámba, (zéro)
zest:                 (enthousiasme, entrain)
zigzag: (zigzag)
zone:                (zone, quartier)

zoo:                  (zóo)

USEFUL NOUNS WHEN ASKING QUESTIONS

náni ? – who ?
elóko níni? – what ?
ntángo níni ?- when ?
esíka níni ?, wápi? – where ?
mpo na níni ? n(tína) níni? – why ?
ndéngé níni ? – how ?

bóni ?, ntálo bóni ? – how much ?
mbala bóni ? – how often ?
ntángo bóni ? – how long ?
ngonga bóni ? – how long, how many hours ?
mikolo bóni ? – how many days ?
mbúla bóni ? – how many years ?

                     

SOME USEFUL EXPRESSIONS

Nandimí  -  I agree

Ezalí boye ?  -  Is it so?
Zelá moké! -  Wait a bit!
Ndéngé olingí  -  As you want (wish)
Etalí kaka yó. – It is only depending on you; it is up to you.
Eloko níni áwa? (likambo níni áwa?)  - What is happening here?
Likambo níni na ngáí?  -  What do you want from me?

SOME IMPORTANT ADJECTIVES

kitóko: beautiful
malámu: good
mabé: bad, ugly

mobangé, mpaka: old
ya kala: old
elengé: young
ya sika: new  

moké: small
monéne: big, large
ngáyi: sour
bololo: bitter
molílí: dark
moíndo: black, dark
motáné: light coloured
lokuta: false, wrong
ya (n)solo: true; right
goigoí: lazy
mosáli: hardworking, diligent
molayí (molaí): long; high
mokusé: short
mozindó: deep
malíli, (m)pío: cold
móto, molungé: warm
mosíka: far
pembéni, pénepéne: near, close
malémbe: slow
mbángo, nóki: fast, quick
polélé: open; clear
ebómbama, ya kobómbama: hidden
epolí, ya kopola: rotten,
ebebí, ya kobeba: no longer in good state
ekokí, ya kokoka: sufficient

ASKING FOR A FAVOUR, FORGIVENESS AND THANKING

ASKING FOR FAVOUR
Use the verb ‘kokoka’ (which means: to be able, to be allowed) when you want to ask for a favour.
Ndakisa (Example):
Okokí kolakisa ngáí nzela ya zándo?   -  Can you show me the way to the market ?
Okokí koyébisa bisó ba kómbó ya baboti na yó? -  Can you tell us the names of your parents?
Sometimes people use the French expression ‘s’il vous plaît’ , which is then accompanied by a verb in infinitive but without ‘ko’.
Ndakisa (Example):
S’il vous plaît, yáka áwa – Please, come here.
S’il vous plaît, pesa ngáí máyi ya komela - Please, give me water to drink.

ASKING FOR FORGIVENESS
Nasengí yo bolímbisi – I ask you for forgiveness
Límbisá bángó: forgive them

THANKING
merci (melesi) – thank you
merci míngi: thank you very much
Napesí yó merci míngi: I give you thanks

ASKING QUESTIONS

You formulate a question by following the following rule: Subject + Verb + ... ?
Example:
Búku ezalí wápi? = Búku eza wápi? = where is the book?

Yó ozalí na mbóngo = Ozalí na mbóngo? = Oza na mbóngo?  - Have you got money? (Do you have money?)
Yó ozalí na motúna? = Ozalí na motúna? = Oza na motúna?  – Have you got a question? (Do you have a question?)

Yó olingaka ngáí ? = Olingaka ngáí ?  – Do you love (like) me continually?
Yó olingí ye? = Olingí ye? – Do you love (like) him/her ?

Possible answers:
ezalí áwa/kuná = eza áwa/kúna – it is here/there.
ée or ‘Oui’ (from French) – yes

té – no
nayébi té – I do not know

GRAMMAR - NOUNS

DEFINITE AND INDEFINITE ARTICLE

The indefinite article ‘a’ (or an) is ‘mókó’, whether it is a masculine or a feminine noun. ‘mókó’ always stands after a noun,

a bed: mbéto mókó

a day: mokolo mókó
a woman: mwási mókó
an idea: likanisi mókó

Note that ‘mókó’ also means: one.

For example:
moto mókó: one person



The definite article ‘the’ does not exist in Lingala:

the man:        mobáli
the woman:   mwási
the knife:       mbelí
the answer:   eyano 

 

The plural of most nouns in Lingala is formed with “ba”, placed before a noun:

Kópo:    glas                   ba kópo:    glasses

Nzeté:   tree                  ba nzeté:   trees
Ndáko:  house              ba ndáko:  houses
nzúbé:   thorn               ba nzúbé:  thorns

But there are some exceptions. The plural of some nouns, which begin with “li” or “lo”, is formed with “ma”. The latter replaces “li” or “lo”:

The plural of some nouns, which begin with “mo”, is formed with “mi”. The latter replaces “mo”:

 
Moyíbi:  thief                               miyíbi:   thieves
mobáli:  man                               mibáli :   men
mokolo: day                                mikolo:   days
mondélé: white person             mindélé: white persons

The plural of very few nouns, which begin with “mwá”, is formed with “ba”. The latter replaces “mwá”:

mwási  (woman)          bási (women)

mwána (child)              bána (children)

 

 (Excerpts from the ebook "Lingala in 10 Lessons").
For more details, please send us an email to Rgoma65@gmail.com

 

 

 

FIRST STEPS INTO A CONVERSATION

Ozalí na …?                      Have you got (or do you have)… ?

ozalí na mbóngo ?    -        have you got money?

ozali na mwána ?      -       have you got a child?

ozalí na ndáko ?       -        have you got a house?
ozalí na likambo ?     -       have you got a problem?

Please notice that it is correct in Lingala to omit “moko”(meaning “a” or “an”) in some cases.

Nalingí…                           I want or I would like …

nalingí sukáli               -     I want sugar / I would like (to have some) sugar
nalingí kolía                 -     I want to eat / I would like to eat

nalingí kobina              -     I want to dance/ I would like to dance

nalingí kosolola na yó  -    I want to talk to you / I would like to talk
                                           to you

10 verbs to learn:

kozala; kozala na: to be; to have, to be with
koloba: to speak
kotánga: to read
kokoma: to write
koyékola: to study, to learn
kotámbola: to walk, to have a walk
kosolola: to have a chat
koseka: to laugh
kokende: to go           
koya: to arrive


GREETING AND TAKING LEAVE OF SOMEBODY

How are you? -  ozalí ndéngé níni?/ozá ndéngé níni?

You may also hear or say “ndéngé níni?”, which means how are you? How is it? Or how are things?
Ndakisa (Example):
“Ndéngé níni, moningá nangáí?
One possible answer:
Nazalí malámu (nazá malámu) – I am fine.
Furthermore, you can hear people say ‘ozalí malámu?’ or ‘ozá malámu?’, meaning are you ok?
Another usual expression is ‘sango níni?’, which means what is new?

The possible answers to that are:
Sango té – no news; Ça va (from French) – It’s ok.
Nazalí na sango malámu – I have got a good news.

You can also hear people say ‘bóni?’ to mean “how are you?’
Actually ‘bóni’ means ‘how much’.


Greeting – mboté

Hi! – Mboté!
I greet you  -  mboté na yó, napesí yó mboté
Goodbye    -   kendé malámu; tíkala malámu
Take care   -  Omibátelaka, omibátela malámu; Omiléngela malámu.

(Excerpts from “Lingala in 10 lessons”).
For more details please send us an email to rgoma65@gmail.com