Grammar - Nouns

NOUNS

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)
…

(This lesson is part of a ten-lesson-course in Lingala. "Lingala in 10 Lessons" can be purchased at www.Amazon.com ). For more details send us an e-mail at: rgoma65@gmail.com .