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").
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