Phrases › Lingala
Phrases
In Lingala, hello is Mbote and thank you is Matondi. Here are 59 everyday Lingala phrases with pronunciation, for travel and a first conversation.
How to say hello in Lingala · How to say thank you in Lingala · How to say goodbye in Lingala · How to say please in Lingala · How to say sorry in Lingala · How to say how are you in Lingala · How to say my name is in Lingala
| English | Lingala |
|---|---|
| Hello | Mbote |
| Goodbye | Tikala malamu Said to the person staying behind; the one leaving instead says "Kende malamu" |
| Please | Nabondeli yo Lit. "I beg you"; French loan "souplé" is also heard informally |
| Thank you | Matondi |
| Yes | Ee |
| No | Te |
| Excuse me / Sorry | Bolimbisi ngai |
| Do you speak English? | Olobaka Lingelesi? |
| I don't understand | Nazali kokanga ntina te Lit. "I'm not grasping the meaning" |
| Please speak slowly | Loba malembe, nabondeli yo |
| How much is it? | Ezali ntalo boni? |
| Where is the bathroom? | Toilette ezali wapi? "Toilette" is the common French loanword used in everyday Lingala |
| I'd like this, please | Nalingi oyo, nabondeli yo |
| The bill, please | Addition, nabondeli yo French loanword "addition" (the bill) is standard in everyday Lingala |
| Where is …? | … ezali wapi? Put the place name for "…" |
| Help! | Sunga ngai! |
| I need a doctor | Nazali na mposa ya monganga |
| Call the police! | Benga bapolisi! |
| I don't speak Lingala | Nalobaka Lingála te |
| Can you help me? | Okoki kosunga ngai? |
| English | Lingala |
|---|---|
| Hello | Mbote |
| How are you? | Ozali boni? to several people or elders: Bozali boni? |
| I'm fine, thank you. | Nazali malamu, matondi. |
| And you? | Mpe yo? to several people: Mpe bino? |
| What's your name? | Nkombo na yo nani? to several people or elders: Nkombo na bino nani? |
| My name is … | Nkombo na ngai ezali … put your name in the gap |
| Where are you from? | Outaki wapi? to several people or elders: Boutaki wapi? |
| I'm from … | Nauti na … put your country in the gap |
| Goodbye, see you later. | Tikala malamu, tokomonana lisusu. the one leaving may say: Kende malamu |
| English | Lingala |
|---|---|
| Slower, please. | Loba malembe, nabondeli yo. to several people or elders: Bloba malembe |
| Again, please. | Loba lisusu, nabondeli yo. |
| I don't understand. | Nazali kokanga ntina te. literally 'I'm not grasping the meaning' |
| Can you write it down, please? | Okoki kokoma yango, nabondeli yo? |
| I'm learning Lingala. | Nazali koyekola Lingála. |
| English | Lingala |
|---|---|
| Take me to the airport, please. | Mema ngai na aéroport, nabondeli yo French loan "aéroport" is what Kinshasa speakers say |
| Take me to this address, please. | Mema ngai na adresse oyo, nabondeli yo |
| How much is it to go to …? | Ezali ntalo boni mpo na kokende na …? Put the place name in the gap |
| Stop here, please. | Telemisa awa, nabondeli yo |
| One ticket to …, please. | Nabondeli yo, tikiti moko mpo na … Put the place name in the gap; "tikiti" may be said "ticket" |
| Which bus goes to …? | Bis nini ezali kokende na …? Put the place name in the gap |
| I'm lost. | Nabungi nzela |
| Call an ambulance! | Benga ambulance! |
| Where is the pharmacy? | Pharmacie ezali wapi? French loan, commonly used |
| It hurts here. | Ezali pasi awa Point to the spot |
| I've lost my passport. | Nabungisi passeport na ngai |
| My bag was stolen. | Bayibi saki na ngai |
| A table for two, please. | Mesa mpo na bato mibale, nabondeli yo |
| The menu, please. | Menu, nabondeli yo |
| Water, please. | Mayi, nabondeli yo |
| I have a reservation. | Nazali na réservation |
| Where is the nearest grocery store? | Boutique ya pene ezali wapi? boutique = small shop (French loanword); supermarché = supermarket |
| Can I pay by card? | Nakoki kofuta na carte? |
| Where is an ATM? | ATM ezali wapi? |
| That's too expensive. | Ezali ntalo mingi |
| I'm just looking. | Nazali kotala kaka |
| My name is … | Nkombo na ngai ezali … Put your name in the gap |
| I'm from … | Nauti na … Put your country or city in the gap |
| Can you write it down? | Okoki kokoma yango? |
| Can you say that again, please? | Loba lisusu, nabondeli yo |
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