translation / dictionary Lingala - English
all words with the tag family
mobóti,
pl. baboti (class 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba- (persons))
parent, biological parent, genitor
other words with the tag 'family' : mobóti,
bokilo,
bolóngani,
bondeko,
bonyangó,
bosángó,
mozéngé,
ebóto,
etike,
nkulútu,
léki,
libála,
libota,
lipása,
mama,
litshombé,
mwana,
ndeko,
nókó,
papá,
semeki,
tata,
yayá,
kóko,
nkóko,
moana,
muana,
mobokoli,
ya,
nsimba,
nzuzi,
kulútu,
kolonga,
litsombé,
mama-leki,
tata-leki,
tata-koko,
mama-kulutu,
mama-koko
bokilo,
pl. babokilo (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
son-in-law, doughter-in-law, father-in-law, mother-in-law (relative by mariage, not by adoption)
other words with the tag 'mariage' : mobala,
bokilo,
bolóngani,
libála,
likwéla,
kobála,
kokwa,
kinzónzi,
likuéla,
likonza,
kolonga,
bombanda
bolóngani,
pl. babolongani (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
religious (chrisitan) mariage
spouse, husband or wife
bondeko
friendship, brotherhood
with a family link (brothers, sisters, cousins,...)
mozéngé,
pl. bazenge (class 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba- (persons))
widower, widow
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 |
léki,
pl. baleki (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
younger sister, younger brother
libála,
pl. mabala (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
marriage
libota,
pl. mabota (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
family, lineage, progeny, offspring, ability to procreate
lipása,
pl. mapasa (class 5/6 : li- / ma- (parts of body, fauna, flora,...))
twin
mama,
pl. bamama (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
maman
mom, mother, Mrs.
- Mama azali kolela po na nini ? Ntina nini ?
- Why is mom crying ? For what reason ?
- Mama azali kosambela.
- Mom is praying.
- mama mapasa
- mother of twins (also said "mère double")
- mama koko
- grandmother
- mama kulutu
- maternal aunt (older than Mom, Mom's older sister)
- mama mobokoli
- adoptive mother, foster mother
- mama nioso ( mama na mama ) amema mwana na ye.
- that every mom (mom after mom) carries her child.
- bamama nioso bamema bana na bango.
- that all mothers bear their children.
- mama leki
- aunt (mother's younger sister, younger than the mother)
- kati ya tata na mama na yo, nani asalaka ?
- Between your father and your mother, who works ?
- mama na bino, kombo na ye nani ?
- Your mama, what's her name ?
- na ntongo oyo mama akeyi na zando asomba mapa
- This morning mama went to the market to buy bread.
- oooh, solo kitoko. mama azolamba ntaba
- oooh, it smells good. Mama is preparing goat.
- Mama na Jean atekaka na wenze.
- Jean's mum sells on the market.
- Babandi koniata ngai na mosapi ya suka ! mama eh !
- They start marching on my little toe ! oh mama !
- bomoyi ebandaka ntango liki ya mama ekutani na momboto ya tata.
- Life begins when the egg of the mother meets with the sperm of the father.
- tata, mama, ndeko, tofuta mpaku ya mabele, po totonga ville ya kinshasa
- papa, mama, cousin, let's pay the ground tax, so that we build the city of Kinshasa
- mama ya batisimo / mama wa batisimo / mama mobatisi. tata ya batisimo / tata wa batisimo / tata mobatisi.
- godmother. godfather.
- Nasala nini soki papa to mama amelaka bangi to alangwaka masanga
- what to do when papa or mama smokes weed or is getting drunk with beer ?
- makango ya mama kombo na ye papa
- mama's lover, his name is papa
- maman wana alataki maputa ya konzuluka
- That woman there wore a worn out loin cloth.
- nawuti kotala mama bokilo na lopitalo
- I come from seeing mother in law at the hospital
- mama aye nzala esili
- Mama is here, the hunger is over
- nalingi ozala mama ya bana na nga
- I want you to be the mother of my children
- koyoka ye te. yoka ngai mama na yo.
- Don't listen to him. Listen to your mum for me.
- hum... solo kitoko na makusa. mama azolamba nini ?
- yummi... It smells good in the kitchen. What is mum preparing ?
- biso na bino, tozali bana ya tata moko na mama moko
- we and you, we are children of the same father and the same mother.
- mama ya moninga na ngai moko akufi
- The mother of one of my friends died.
- mama na biso atekaka lipa na balabala na biso
- My mother sells bread in our street.
- oza koluka mosala nini, mama ?
- What job a are you looking for, mama ?
- maman akabuani na papa na biso
- Mama has divorced our papa.
- maman azolamba supu moko ya kitoko
- Mama is preparing a delicious soup.
- naza na tukutuku. nazokende kotala mama na ngai.
- I'm on the motorbike. I'm going to see my mum.
- nakofunda yo epayi ya maman.
- I will denounce you to mum.
- maman na ye, bakokunda ye lobi
- His mother, they'll bury her tomorrow.
- koswa ye neti mama na yo te
- Don't take her for your mother.
- yo oza na bizaleli kaka neti mama na yo
- You just have a behaviour like your mother.
- mama kulutu na biso azalaka baba.
- My maternal great-aunt is deaf-mute.
- maman nkulutu na biso azobela makasi
- The big sister of my mother is very sick.
- Nayoki ke okomi kobima na ex na ngai. Mama, ozali semba bilokota.
- I heard that you started dating my ex. Lady, you are a semba bilokota.
- Mama na ngai nde alakisa ngai kolamba.
- It's my mother who taught me how to cook.
- mama ya mobali na yo akoya lisusu te.
- Your mother in law will not come anymore.
- mama, mela bakisi na yo oyo munganga apesi.
- Mum, take your medicine that the doctor prescribed you.
- tokutanaki na mama leki na nzela.
- We met auntie on the way.
- Bolimbisi papa, kobengana mama na ndako te.
- Please papa, don't chase mama from the house.
- Mama na bango aza kokata matungulu.
- Their mum is cutting onions.
- aye lisusu, mama wana ya liboma.
- She came again, that crazy lady.
- mbanda mama akufa nakoma mowumbu ya mwasi ya papa.
- Since mother died, I became the slave of dad's wife.
- Maman azali malamu moke
- Mother is doing a bit well
mwana,
pl. bana (class 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba- (persons) exception - special form )
moana,
pl. bana (class 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba- (persons) exception - special form )
muana,
pl. bana (class 1/2 : mo- (mu-) / ba- (persons) exception - special form )
child
pl. bana - bana - bana
comes from
mwana =
mo-ana --> pl.
ba-ana =
bana (class 1/2)
muana na kati ya kitunga
©
pvh
- mwana mboka
- citizen
- mwana etinda
- domestic, compliant child, obedient child
- mwana ya etike
- orphan
- mwana popi
- doll
- mwana mosala
- maid, servant
- mwana somi
- legitimate child, citizen (law)
- mwana suka
- benjamin, last child of a sibling
- mwana nkazi
- nephew, niece
- mwana mwasi
- daughter
- mwana mobali
- boy
- bana mapasa
- twins, twins
- mama nioso ( mama na mama ) amema mwana na ye.
- that every mom (mom after mom) carries her child.
- bamama nioso bamema bana na bango.
- that all mothers bear their children.
- mwana na mwana, bendana !
- that each child leaves !
- tala boni bana Jacob azuaki mpe lolenge boni azuaki bango
- see how many children Jacob got and also in what way he got them
- mbwa aswi mwana.
- The dog has bitten the child.
- mwana maki
- eggseller
- Djo ayebaki ete kosopa zemi ezali lisumu monene, kasi makango na ye azwaki zemi, mpe Djo azalaki na likoki te ya kobala mpe kobokola mwana.
- Djo knew that having an abortion is a great sin, but his fiancée got pregnant and Djo did not have the means to get married and raise a child.
- mwana azui zemi ya papa
- the child got pregnant from a daddy
- mwana mwasi amibomi likolo ya 440.000 FC ... kokamwa !!!
- a young girl committed suicide because of 440.000 FC ... be amazed !!!
- milinga ya shimbok ebebisaka ADN ya mwana
- the sigarette smoke damages the child's DNA
- muana alie nzungu mobimba ya badi
- The child ate the entire kettle of fufu
- mwana angulumi
- the child is crawling on all fours.
- bana bakoki kotanga malamu te likolo ya makelele ya wenze mpe solo ya fulu source: Espérance-François Ngayibata Bulayumi, Mosuni
- The children couldn't study well because off the noise of the small market and the smell of the dump.
- bana bavandaki na mabele mpo na bakiti ezalaki te. source: Espérance-François Ngayibata Bulayumi, Mosuni
- The children sat on the ground because there were no chairs.
- kokola ya mwana ebandaka na mino © Adolphe
- The growth of a child starts with the theeth
- naza na bana misato: mwasi moko na mibali mibale
- I have three children: One girl and two boys
- nalingi ozala mama ya bana na nga
- I want you to be the mother of my children
- kopesa ye mbongo mingi te, aza nanu mwana muke
- Don't give him much money, it's still a little child
- wana mwana na ngai ya mwasi
- The one there is my daughter.
- awa nde nazalaki kofanda tango nazalali mwana muke
- It's here that I lived when I was a little child
- kobeta bana te. lobela bango malembe
- Don't hit the children. Talk calmly to them.
- boni bana na yo ? bazali malamu ?
- How are your children doing ? Are they doing well ?
- biso na bino, tozali bana ya tata moko na mama moko
- we and you, we are children of the same father and the same mother.
- kotika bana bango moko te
- Don't leave the children alone.
- kotika ngai te, Yawe, nazali mwana na yo
- Don't leave me, Lord, I'm your child.
- nalingaka bana oyo bazalaka boye te
- I don't like children who are like that.
- mwana na ngai, nabatelaka ye lokola liki.
- My child, I protect him like an egg.
- etumba na ngai ezali ke bana na ngai balonga na bomoyi
- My struggle is that my children may be successful in life.
- mwana mwasi oyo azali lokuta monene
- That girl is a big liar.
- pona nini mwana na yo azalaka lokuta boye
- Why is your child a liar like that ?
- aza nanu mwana muke. azomela likaya na mbula na ye.
- He's still a small kid. He smokes sigarets at his age.
- na ndako oyo mokonzi azali te. biso nioso tozali bana.
- In this house there's no chief. We are all children.
- muana oyo azuakate na kelasi.
- That kid is a failure in class.
- mwana oyo akobotola yo bisikiti
- That kid will grab your cookie.
- ndeko na ngai ya mwasi alingi kobota bana zomi
- my sister wants to beare 10 children
- ebongi obima na mwana na yo po azua mopepe
- You should step out with your child so he can take some aire.
- nasombi mapa misato pona bana balia
- I bought three loaves of bread for the the children to eat.
- mwana na yo ya mobali aza kosuba na mbetu mingi
- Your son pees in bed a lot.
- mwana mwasi oyo azalaka monene pe molayi.
- That girl is big and tall.
- mwana oyo azalaka mutu monene penza
- That kid has really a big head.
- napekisi yo kotinda mwana na ngai
- Ik prohibit you to send my child.
- Nazokende na mwana na ngai na lopitalo. Azobela.
- I'm going with my kid to the hospital. He's sick.
- Mwana ebongi amela miliki pona akola malamu.
- A child must drink milk to grow well.
- nioka moko aswe mwana oyo
- There's a snake that bit that kid.
- pona nini oza kokumba mwana na yo na mukongo ?
- Why do you carry your child on your back ?
- oza na bana mwambe na bakoko mibale.
- You have 8 children and 2 grandchildren.
- muana muasi oyo azofiba makata kitoko
- warning - sensible content
- bakobotola ye bana na ye
- They will take her kids away from her.
- aza kaka mwana muke. Kopesa ye bazoka te.
- He's only a small child. Don't give him chewing gum.
- kopesa mwana na ngai bokono te.
- Don't give a disease to my child.
- mwana na yo aza na bokono ya mpongi.
- Your child has the sleeping sickness (African trypanosomiasis).
- akomi kombo ya mwana na ye na buku ya lopango.
- He wrote the name of his child in the plot book (property deed).
- Okoki kobeta ye te. Azali mwana mwasi
- You may not beat her. She's a girl.
- Nakobeta yo lokola mwana na ngai.
- I will beat you like my child.
- Mwana na yo ya liboso, osundola ye.
- Your first child, you abandonned him.
- mwasi na ngai aboti likaku na esika ya mwana.
- My wife gave birth to an ape instead of a child.
- ngai nalingaka kobota bana mibale kaka
- Me, I want to give birth to just two children.
- nalingi ke eloko te ekomela mwana na ngai.
- I don't want anything to happen to my child.
- yebisa bana wana batinda mbongo.
- Let those children there know they should send money.
- Osundola mwasi na yo na bana kaka boye.
- You abandonned your wife and the children just like that.
- Bana na yo bazalaka mitungisi te penza.
- Your children are really no disturbance
- Msundoli ngai na bana.
- He abandonned me with the children.
- Mwana na bino alingi kotanga mingi
- Your child wants to study much.
- mwana vernis
- Young guy who does manicure, pedicure and nail care (they pass in the street and you can call them)
- Mwana oyo libota naye basundola ye po akoma bulawayo.
- That child, her family abandoned her because she became a prostitute.
- mayele ezalaka pe kokanisa lobi ya bana.
- It's also smart to think about the future of the children.
- madesu ma bana
- tip (as in tipping the waiter)
- Yezu Kristu. Moana Yezu.
- Jesus Christ. Baby Jesus.
- mwana ina mwana vernis
- kid that does nail care service, applies nail polish (in the street or at home)
- tozali koluka muana musala. Azala moyibi te, ndoki te, ndumba te.
- We are looking for a domestic aid. May it not be a thief, not a sorcerer, not a whore.
- eza muana muasi to mobali ?
- Is it a girl or a boy ?
- muana moke amelaka likaya te
- a small child doesn't smoke a sigaret
- muana noko
- nephew
ndeko,
pl. bandeko (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
sibling, relatives
cousin, family, brother, sister, neighbor, friend
family member on the same level
Kimbanseke: nani abomi ndeko tailleur ?
src :
MolièreTV
- Mokonzi, soki ozalaki awa, mbele ndeko na ngai akufaki té. © Yoane 11:21
- Lord, if you would have been here, then my brother would not have been dead.
- tata, mama, ndeko, tofuta mpaku ya mabele, po totonga ville ya kinshasa
- papa, mama, cousin, let's pay the ground tax, so that we build the city of Kinshasa
- pona nini ozali kosala ndeko na yo bongo
- Why do you do like this to your sister ?
- ndeko na ngai ya mwasi awuti kobota.
- My sister just gave birth.
- ndeko na ngai ya mwasi alingi kobota bana zomi
- my sister wants to beare 10 children
- ngai na yo tozali neti bandeko
- Me and you, we are like brothers.
- ndeko na ngai ya mwasi azalaka na makolo molayi
- My sister has long legs.
- oyo ezali bilamba ya ndeko na ngai
- Those are the clothes of my sister.
- ozalaka ndeko na ngai ya solo te.
- You are not my real sister.
- aza mwasi ya ndeko na bino.
- It's the wife of your brother.
- namonaka ye neti kaka ndeko na ngai
- I see her only like my sister
- Mobali nabala akeyi kosala ekobo. Abimi na ndeko nga.
- The guy I married went to do adultery. He went out with my sister.
nókó,
pl. banoko (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
uncle
belgian (the congolese are the belgian's nephews)
papá
in lingala this is a polite form to say "mister",
regardless of the family relation
dad,
father is rather translated with
tata
- Tala papa na ye, alangwi masanga, atamboli abilika
- Look at his father, he got drunk from the beer, he doesn't walk straight (zigzag)
- Nasala nini soki papa to mama amelaka bangi to alangwaka masanga
- what to do when papa or mama smokes weed or is getting drunk with beer ?
- mwana azui zemi ya papa
- the child got pregnant from a daddy
- Mbote papa. Boni ? - Ngai malamu. Bongo yo ? - Ngai mpe malamu.
- Hi mister. How are you ? - Me, I'm good. And you then ? - Me too, I'm good.
- makango ya mama kombo na ye papa
- mama's lover, his name is papa
- papa, zwa bisaka na yo, kende malembe
- Mister, take your things, leave calmly
- wana eza biloko ya papa na bino.
- That there is the food of your father.
- papa nde azalaka mokonzi ya ndako
- It's father who is the chief of the house.
- maman akabuani na papa na biso
- Mama has divorced our papa.
- papa nkulutu na biso azalaka mutema mabe
- The big brother of my mother is wicked.
- Papa na ye atongisi lopitalo moko ya monene na mboka.
- His father built a big hospital in the village.
- papa na yo aza na basi boni ?
- Your father has how many women ?
- Bolimbisi papa, kobengana mama na ndako te.
- Please papa, don't chase mama from the house.
- mbanda mama akufa nakoma mowumbu ya mwasi ya papa.
- Since mother died, I became the slave of dad's wife.
- papa ya baluba balingaka koliya mingimingi bitoto.
- Baluba men love eating bitoto very much.
semeki,
pl. basemeki (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
brother-in-law, sister-in-law, husband or whife of my cousin
tata,
pl. batata (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
dad, father, man, Mr.
- tata mosusu abimi libanda.
- another man came out.
- Tata azali na libanda. Benga ye.
- Dad is outside. Call him.
- tata kulutu
- paternal uncle (older than Dad)
- tata koko
- grandfather
- tata mwasi
- paternal aunt
- tata leki
- paternal uncle (younger than Dad)
- tata mobokoli
- foster father, foster father
- nayebi tata oyo, kasi nayebi tata wana te.
- I know what this dad, but I do not know what dad then.
- kati ya tata na mama na yo, nani asalaka ?
- Between your father and your mother, who works ?
- Tata na Ida, kombo na ye Théo.
- Ida's father, his name is Theo.
- tata na ye akufaki liwa ya mbalakaka.
- his father died an unforeseen death
- bomoyi ebandaka ntango liki ya mama ekutani na momboto ya tata.
- Life begins when the egg of the mother meets with the sperm of the father.
- tata, mama, ndeko, tofuta mpaku ya mabele, po totonga ville ya kinshasa
- papa, mama, cousin, let's pay the ground tax, so that we build the city of Kinshasa
- mama ya batisimo / mama wa batisimo / mama mobatisi. tata ya batisimo / tata wa batisimo / tata mobatisi.
- godmother. godfather.
- tata wa biso
- Our Father (prayer)
- kolia biloko ya tata na yo te. lia biloko mosusu
- Don't eat your father's food. Eat something else.
- kende kosomba mapa pona tata na yo
- Go buy bread for your father
- tata na yo azoya lelo kotala yo
- Your father comes to see you today.
- tata naza na posa ya mbongo po nasomba bilamba
- Father, I need money to buy clothes.
- kokoma na ndako te. leka mbala moko epayi ya tata na yo.
- Don't arrive home. Pass at your dad's place for once.
- biso na bino, tozali bana ya tata moko na mama moko
- we and you, we are children of the same father and the same mother.
- tata na ngai pe asombi motuka
- My dad too bought a car.
- mutu na ye ekokani na oyo ya tata na ye
- His head ressembles the one of his father.
ya
yayá,
pl. bayaya (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
we say "ya" followed by first name or just "yaya" to indicate the big brother or big sister
kóko,
pl. bakoko (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
nkóko,
pl. bankoko (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
grand-parent, grandfather, grandmother, grandpa, grandma
grand-uncle, grand-auntie (brother or sister of grand-parent)
grandchild
oldie (elderling)
pl. bakoko - bankoko
ancestors
mobokoli
one who raises foster parent, adoptive parent
nsimba
In Bantu cultures, the first born of a set of twins is called
Nsimba, the second is called
Nzuzi.
nzuzi
In Bantu cultures, the first born of a set of twins is called
Nsimba, the second is called
Nzuzi.
kolonga,
regular construction (root : long) (class 15 : ko- (verbs))
to agree
to get married
kolongola
to remove, to take off/away,
to dismiss
context : pregnancy
kolongola zemi : to have an abortion, to interrupt the pregnancy, to remove a pregnancy
mama-leki,
pl. bamama-leki (class 1a/2 : - / ba-)
aunt (mother's younger sister, younger than the mother)
mama-kulutu
maternal aunt (older than Mom, Mom's older sister)
