translation / dictionary Lingala - English
all words with the tag body
bongó (class 14 : abstract nouns - no plural)
bongo,
pl. babongo (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
brain, brain
context : computers
cpu, processor, microprocessor
bongó na kati ya moto
©
pvh
other words with the tag 'body' : bongó,
bontólo,
ebángá,
lobebú,
ebekú,
ebelo,
ebóbó,
eboló,
edádá,
elongi,
enama,
esóngó,
kíngó,
libéle,
liboló,
libolongo,
libumu,
lifuni,
likata,
lokolo,
lino,
linzáka,
lipeka,
lisisa,
liso,
lisókó,
litáma,
litoyi,
lokéto,
lolemo,
loposo,
makilá,
mandéfu,
lisásámbá,
lobebo,
mbunzu,
moyoyo,
mofáti,
mokongo,
mongóngó,
mopanzí,
mosapi,
motéma,
mupende,
monoko,
mutolo,
motó,
nkúki,
tólo,
nzóto,
poso,
pótá,
nsima,
losúki,
zólo,
litói,
lomposo,
lobôko,
lisu,
kunza,
kovo,
lolému,
súki,
engóngólo,
monzômbâ,
nkíngó,
ntólo,
mompúlúlú,
likundú,
motolú,
mosopó,
libale,
mosómba,
likáká,
etindi,
mopende,
búnya,
lolemu,
mbángá,
mingayi,
motshopo,
zémi,
etambe,
libandi,
likosi,
linu,
lopiko,
libundi,
lokíkí,
manduta,
muika,
mopiko,
nkunki,
sóka,
soyi,
lolemo,
lokéto,
mpótá,
lotó,
monsisá,
mutema,
libondi,
goró,
lotókó,
mpanzí,
litolú,
motoló,
ndéfu,
mimbebo,
mokunza,
mposo,
lokíkí,
nsóka,
monpúlúlú,
ebebú,
liliká,
mataku,
mosai,
libinzi
tólo,
pl. batolo (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
bontólo (class 14 : abstract nouns - no plural)
ntólo,
pl. bantolo (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))sonorous consonant
torso, chest chest
Article :
consonants
In Lingala, sometimes you hear "
nsoso" and sometimes you hear "
soso". You might get the impression that
it would be free to choose wether to use the first letter
m or
n when the word starts with two consonants,
but in reality there is a precise rule for it :
In lingala, the first letter m or n may be ommitted for words that start with mp, nt, ns or nk.
(The voiced consonants - FR: Les consonnes sonores)
| NK |
| nkama / kama | cent |
| nkingo / kingo | cou |
| nkisi / kisi | médicament |
| nkulutu / kulutu | aîné |
| nkoba / koba | tortue |
| MP |
| mpinzoli / pinzoli | larme |
| mpo / po | pour |
| mpamba / pamba | nul |
| mpuku / puku | souris |
| mpongi / pongi | sommeil |
| NS |
| nse / se | dessous |
| nsoso / soso | poulet |
| nsambo / sambo | sept |
| nsango / sango | information |
| nsinga / singa | fil |
| NT |
| ntina / tina | importance |
| ntolo / tolo | torse |
| ntalo / talo | valeur |
| ntango / tango | temps |
| ntaba / taba | chèvre |
In all other cases, the first letter is mandatory.
(The unvoiced consonants - FR: Les consonnes sourdes)
| NG |
| nguya | pouvoir |
| ngai | moi |
| nganda | bar |
| nguba | arachide |
| ngulu | cochon |
| MB |
| mboka | village |
| mbeli | couteau |
| mbetu | lit |
| mbila | palmier |
| mbisi | poisson |
| ND |
| ndako | maison |
| ndeko | cousin |
| ndakisa | exemple |
| ndumba | prostituée |
| ndunda | légume |
| NZ |
| nzoto | corps |
| nzete | arbre, baton |
| nzela | chemin |
| nzungu | marmite |
| nzala | faim |
| NY |
| nyei | excrément |
| nyoso | rien |
| nyoka | serpent |
| nyama | animal |
| nyongo | dette |
mbángá,
pl. bambanga (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
ebángá,
pl. bibanga (class 7/8 : e- / bi-)
lobángá,
pl. mbanga (class 11/10m : lo- / m- : in front of p,b)
jaw, mouth
lobebo,
pl. mbebo (class 11/10m : lo- / m- : in front of p,b)
lobebú,
pl. mbebu (class 11/10m : lo- / m- : in front of p,b)
ebebú,
pl. bibebu (class 7/8 : e- / bi-)
lip
ebekú,
pl. bibeku (class 7/8 : e- / bi-)
chin (facial part)
mopende,
pl. mipende (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
mupende,
pl. mipende (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)Kinshasa version
thigh
edádá,
pl. bidada (class 7/8 : e- / bi-)
palate (ceiling of the mouth)
other words with the tag 'sex' : bokáli,
bolúmbú,
ekóbo,
esóngó,
kindumba,
libéle,
liboló,
likata,
mbúla,
ngondo,
kosiba,
kolála,
búnya,
mvula,
sóka,
mbúla,
momboto,
goró,
mpówa,
bopo,
mongondo,
mimbebo,
nsóka,
liliká,
libinzi
nkíngó,
pl. bankingo (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))sonorous consonant
kíngó,
pl. bakingo (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
neck
libéle,
pl. mabele (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
tit, breast, nipple
pl. mabele
milk
liboló,
pl. mabolo (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
vulva, vagina
libumu,
pl. mabumu (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
belly, abdomen, stomach
pl. mabumu
intestins
matrilineal lineage (from the same womb, the same mother)
other words with the tag 'food and drinks' : biríka,
bisikíti,
bóí,
bokénzú,
dongódongó,
ekéne,
engwélé,
fufú,
fumbwa,
kabri,
kamundele,
kwánga,
libóké,
libumu,
lidésu,
liki,
lipa,
lipapú,
liyebo,
loso,
masanga,
mateka,
maí,
mbálá,
mbika,
mbisi,
mokate,
mongwa,
mwamba,
ti,
víno,
sokolá,
liyebú,
niampoule,
kosákosá,
molangua,
ndóngó,
biele,
bitoto,
kafi,
kikedi,
linioko,
lotoko,
lunguila,
likoso,
mbilika,
mosáká,
mpíodi,
muamba,
mungua,
nsámbá,
saladini,
tangawisi,
ngai,
mbenda,
mbisi,
nkúnde,
niampoul,
mbili,
súpu,
málemba,
tangaúsi,
ngombo,
gombo,
nkupidi,
kafé,
limbondó,
primus,
kupidi,
gratana,
gratanya,
liebú,
jus
likata,
pl. makata (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
palm (flat of the hand)
(rarely understood like this, so better avoided because of the other meaning ;)
Kin (kikongo)
testicle
(often used for) penis
other words with the tag 'loan word: kikongo' : kidiba,
likata,
kobalula,
kobalusa,
kobaluka,
kobalola,
kitendi,
ndombe,
nzimbu,
kikedi,
litondo,
sakasáka,
ingeta,
mataku,
mazulu
lokolo,
pl. makolo (class 11/6 : lo- / ma-)
likolo,
pl. makolo (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))wrong spelling
foot, leg
lino,
pl. mino (class 5/6mi : li- / ma-i- / mi-)
linu,
pl. minu (class 5/6mi : li- / ma-i- / mi-)
tooth
linzáka,
pl. manzaka (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
nail
lipeka,
pl. mapeka (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
shoulder
Article :
mapeka or masasamba ?
we say mapeka solo or solo ya mapeka
to say "stinking armpits" or "the odor of the armpits", although...
mapeka = shoulders and armpits = masasamba
so why not say masasamba ya solo or solo ya masasamba ?
in fact, originally we said : solo ya nse ya mapeka (the smell from under the shoulders),
but since lingala speakers love to abbreviate, it became
solo ya mapeka
mosisá,
pl. misisa (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
lisisa,
pl. misisa (class 5/6mi : li- / ma-i- / mi-) ( -- ??? not sure ??? -- )
monsisá,
pl. minsisa (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
muscle
vain, artery
nerve
root
liso,
pl. miso (class 5/6mi : li- / ma-i- / mi-)
lisu,
pl. misu (class 5/6mi : li- / ma-i- / mi-)
eye
lisókó,
pl. masoko (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
buttock
madofolo ata eza monene ndenge nini ekoki kokweyisa masoko te
src :
Oyebi que
litáma,
pl. matama (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
cheek
litoyi,
pl. matoyi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
litói,
pl. matoi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
ear
flattery
lokéto,
pl. baloketo (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
lokéto,
pl. nketo (class 11/10n : lo- / n- : in front of t,k,g,s)
hip
context : mesurements
hip size, waist size
lolému,
pl. ndemu (class 11/10nd : lo-l- / n-l- / nd-)
lolemo,
pl. ndemo (class 11/10nd : lo-l- / n-l- / nd-)not official plural (informal)
lolemu,
pl. balolemu (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)not official plural (informal)
lolemo,
pl. balolemo (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)not official plural (informal)
tongue (which is in the mouth)
loposo,
pl. mposo (class 11/10m : lo- / m- : in front of p,b)
poso
lomposo,
pl. mposo (class 11/10m : lo- / m- : in front of p,b exception - special form )
mposo
skin
mandéfu (class 6 : ma-)
ndéfu,
pl. bandefu (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
beard
moyoyo,
pl. miyoyo (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
snot
other words with the tag 'health & sickness' : bokono,
bonsíngá,
ebúbú,
elúmbú,
emimi,
féfele,
nkísi,
moyoyo,
monganga,
ndúndu,
pulúpulú,
sikama,
maládi,
nganga,
lopitalo,
kisi,
dáwa,
maba,
bukabuka,
mánguele,
kokosola,
mángwelé,
kintuntu,
libosono,
lokesu,
lolanda,
malali,
mbasu,
mingayi,
mino,
mobosono,
mokoni,
mpela,
sopísi,
minoi,
pela,
pela,
mpela,
gilípi,
litókó,
mpulúpulú,
mpóti,
evímba,
matókó,
mobeli,
ebola,
mapata
mofáti,
pl. mifati (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
anus
mokongo,
pl. mikongo (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
back (backside of the body)
mopanzí,
pl. mipanzi (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
mpanzí,
pl. bampanzi (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
side (left, right, ...) side (body) side wall (mopanzi Ndako ago) flank
mosapi,
pl. misapi (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
mosai,
pl. misai (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
finger (toe)
motéma,
pl. mitema (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
mutema,
pl. mitema (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)Kinshasa version
heart, strength of character
- Motema na ngai ezali kobeta po na yo
- My heart beats for you
- Akati motema.
- he died (he cut the heart)
- motema mabe
- wickedness, badness
- oza na motema malamu
- You have a good heart (You are nice)
- Apesaki ngai mpasi na motema.
- She gave me pain in my heart.
- eloko nalakisa te. Nalingi yo. Nabombi yango na kati ya motema na ngai.
- There's something I don't show. I love you. I've hidden that in my heart.
- lala malamu. - yo pe, motema na ngai, noki tomonana. nalela yo makasi.
- Sleep tight. - You too, my love, that we may see eachother soon. I thoroughly love you. (in lingala : "I have loved you thoroughly" - past)
- Na motema nayebaki ete ezali mabe, kasi namonaki ndenge mosusu ya kosala te.
- In the heart I knew it was bad, but I saw no other way of acting.
- motema na nga ezoki
- My heart was hurt / wounded
- euti nase ya motema
- that comes from the bottom of the heart
- wuta ngai nakoma kosambela, nakoma na kimia na motema.
- Since I started praying, I had peace of heart.
- semeki na yo azalaka motema mabe
- Your sister in law is wicked.
- papa nkulutu na biso azalaka mutema mabe
- The big brother of my mother is wicked.
- moyibi ya motema
- thief of hearts (sweetheart, someone who stole the heart of someone)
- yo ozali na kati ya motema na ye te.
- You, you are not in his heart.
- tokanga motema banda kala.
- We have supported since long.
- motema mpiko
- brave heart
- kokanga motema
- to support (to endure, to bear), to hold a grudge
monoko,
pl. minoko (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
munoko,
pl. minoko (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)Kinshasa version
mouth, beak
entrance, opening
language, dialect
- Kanga monoko ! kanga mbanga na yo !
- Close that mouth. Close your piehole ! (rude)
- monoko ya ndaku
- the entrance (mouth) of the house
- minoko ya zolo
- the entrances of the nose (nostrils)
- monoko mbeli, makolo ndunda.Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- A mouth like a knife, legs like a vegetable.
- monoko ya Didine
- Didine's mouth
- Oyo ezali nsango ya kosunga yo pona koyeba ndenge nini kelasi ya monoko ya Lifalanse etambolaka.
- This is an information to help you to know in which manner the lesson of the french language functions.
- kolumba monoko solo eza maladi to te ?
- Is stinky mouth an in sickness or not ?
- Monoko ya mobange, elumbaka solo, kasi elobaka makambo ya lokuta te. soki okimi solo wana, okoyeba makambo te. Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- The mouth of the elderly, it smells foul, but doesn't tell lies. If you avoid this smell, you will not know the affairs.
- mpema ya monoko
- breath
- soki oyebi te kanga munoko
- if you don't know, shut up
- monoko ya mokolo elumbaka solo, kasi elobaka maloba ya solo Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- The mouth of the elderly smells bad, but the words are true.
- nalobaka minoko mibale
- I speak two languages
- monoko na yo nde ekoboma yo mokolo mosusu
- It's your mouth that will kill you one of these days.
- ozalaka monoko makasi boye pona nini ?
- Why do you have such a big mouth ?
- kanga monoko na yo pamba te okoya komela nzinzi.
- Close your mouth or else you risk swallowing a fly.
- Ebongi okanga monoko na yo.
- You should close your mouth.
motó,
pl. mito (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
mutu,
pl. mitu (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)Kinshasa version
motu,
pl. mitu (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
head
nkúki,
pl. bankuki (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
nkunkiwrong spelling
hunchback bump
nzóto,
pl. banzoto (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
body
- Soki nzoto to poso ya moto ekutani na ya moto mosusu, tina ya kobanga ezali te.
- If the body or the skin of a person meets with that of another person, there's no reason to fear.
- kosangana nzoto
- to make love (join the body)
- mafuta ya nzoto, mafuta ya kopakola
- oil for the body, oil to rub on the body
- Nayoki nsolo malamu na nzoto na ye.
- I smelt a nice odor on her body.
- mwasi mwasi nde nzoto Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- a woman, that's the body. (what's important on a woman is the body)
- mwasi nzoto ( misuni )Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- a chubby (plump) woman (considered as very attractive in africa)
- Soki omonaka nzoto ya yo kilo, tala ya baninga se bongo Proverb/expression (don't translate litteraly)
- If you observe your body with respect, see your neighbour's one just so
- nzoto ezosenga tosibana
- The body is asking for us to make love.
- pesa ngai esume napangusa nzoto.
- Give me a towel that I wipe the body.
- mbote, boni nzoto ? nga naza malamu. nalingaki kaka napesa yo mbote
- Hello, how's the body (the health) ? I'm doing well. I just wanted to greet you.
- kobenda nzoto
- to stretch, to stretch out
- ya nga nzoto eboya bitumba © Karlito
- My body refuses fights
- nzoto na ngai tempelo ya Nzambe, esika Molimo Mosantu akofanda
- My body is the temple of God, the place where the Holy Spirit will reside.
- nazoyoka nzoto malamu te
- I don't feel well.
- bangi eza malamu te pona nzoto.
- Drugs are not good for the body.
- Nayoki nzoto mingayi. Nake na lopitalo
- I don't feel well. I go to the hospital.
- kilo ya nzoto emati
- the weight of the body increases
pótá
mpótá,
pl. bampota (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))sonorous consonant
(open) wound, injury
nsima,
pl. bansima (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))sonorous consonant
sima
after, then, later
behind
the behind, the back, the buttocks
losúki,
pl. nsuki (class 11/10n : lo- / n- : in front of t,k,g,s)
súki,
pl. basuki (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)not official plural (informal)
a hair
zólo,
pl. bazolo (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
nose
kunza
nkunza,
pl. bankunza (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
mokunza,
pl. mikunza (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects)
bodyhair
pubic hair
kovo
bald, like when you shave your head completely.
(not the (partial) male baldness, which is
libandi)
comes from:
Quo Vadis, a bakery in Kinshasa that made round bread (glossy / shiny on the top) that looks like a bald head and its name is "lipa KOVO".
likundú
possession, witchcraft, evil eye, bad luck
etindi,
pl. bitindi (class 7/8 : e- / bi-)
litíndí,
pl. matindi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
heel (of foot, not of shoe)
hoof (of animal)
búnya,
pl. babunya (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
vulva
zémi,
pl. bazemi (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
pregnancy
libandi,
pl. mabandi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
baldness (involuntary, from age or by nature)
context : grammar
prefix
likosi
neck, back of the skull top
libundi,
pl. mabundi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
libondi,
pl. mabondi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
lokíkí,
pl. nkiki (class 11/10n : lo- / n- : in front of t,k,g,s)
lokíkí,
pl. makiki (class 11/6 : lo- / ma-)
eyebrow
manduta
ndúta,
pl. banduta (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))
stretch marks
Stretch marks are often the result of the rapid stretching of the skin associated with rapid growth (e.g. pregnancy) or rapid weight changes (e.g. after a diet).
muika,
pl. mika (class 3/4 : mo- (mu-) / mi- : objects exception - special form )
body hair
sóka,
pl. basoka (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
nsóka,
pl. bansoka (class 9/10 (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural invariable from context (or informal/modern ba-))sonorous consonant
penis, pecker
lotó (class 11 : lo-)
flake from the skin
patch on the skin (mycosis, dermatitis)
goró,
pl. bagoro (class 9a/10a (2) : - / - (ba-) : plural from context (or informal/modern ba-), not with n-/m-)
penis
other words with the tag 'slang' : damage,
mistik,
zibolateur,
kodamer,
quado,
ngunda,
nzele,
mopao,
goró,
texto,
tokos,
sape,
danzer,
petite
lotókó,
pl. ntoko (class 11/10n : lo- / n- : in front of t,k,g,s)
eyelid
liliká,
pl. malika (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
testicle
spermatozoïde
mataku (class 6 : ma-)
buttocks
libinzi,
pl. mabinzi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
libindi,
pl. mabindi (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
testicle, gonad
(spermatozoon, spermcell)
