Lingala is the language of Kinshasa, of Congolese rumba and of the streets where ISOLELE was born. It is spoken by tens of millions of people in the DR Congo, the Republic of Congo and beyond. Here are 15 Lingala words to start with.
Greetings and kindness
Mbote: hello. Matondo: thank you. Malamu: good, well. Kitoko: beautiful. Nalingi yo: I love you.
Family and people
Mama: mother. Tata: father. Mwana: child, and bana: children. Ndeko: brother, sister or friend. That is where Bana ya ISOLELE comes from: Children of ISOLELE, the name of ISOLELE’s children’s literacy and arts program.
Power and pride
Mokonzi: king or chief. Makasi: strong. Mboka: country, home. Mai: water. Ebale: river, like the great Congo River that runs through Kinshasa.
Lingala in the ISOLELE Universe
The heroes of ISOLELE speak the languages of Africa, and Lingala is at the heart of Kinshasa’s stories. Zaiire, heir to a throne, is a future mokonzi, and the brothers of the Kivus, like Baku, are makasi. These words carry the whole Congo with them.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say hello in Lingala?
Mbote. And to say thank you, matondo.
What does Bana ya ISOLELE mean?
Children of ISOLELE, in Lingala. It is the name of ISOLELE’s children’s literacy and arts program.
Where is Lingala spoken?
Mainly in the Democratic Republic of Congo, especially Kinshasa, and in the Republic of Congo, by tens of millions of people.
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