Language/Lingala/Vocabulary/Binomials

Binomials – Learn the Lingala Language

It can sometimes be helpful to think of pairs of related words – I call them ‘binomials’ – when trying to master or memorise vocabulary. Here are some to get you going, although you’ll no doubt find many more to add and use as you become more proficient.

Verb binomials

kobanda – to start

kosila – to finish  

kokoma – to arrive

kobima – to leave  

kofungola – to open

kokanga – to close  

kosiba – to make love

kobunda – to make war  

koya – to come

kokende – to go  

kolala – to sleep

kolamuka – to wake  

kokundola – to remember

kobasana – to forget  

kotanga – to read

kokoma – to write  

kobotoma – to be born

kokunda – to bury  

kopusa – to push

kobenda – to pull  

kotambola – to walk

kokima – to run  

kolamba – to cook

 kolia – to eat  

koseka – to laugh

kolela – to cry  

kofanda – to live

kokufa – to die  

kopesa – to give

kozua – to take  

kobakisa – to add

kolongola – to remove  

komata – to climb

kokita – to descend  

koluka – to search

kokuta – to find  

kotelema – to stand

kofanda – to sit  

kosepela – to be happy

kosilika – to be angry  

kotuna – to ask a question

koyanola – to answer  

kotumbula – to joke

koseka moke – to smile  

kosokola – to wash

kopangusa – to dry  

kosomba – to buy

koteka – to sell  

koteya – to preach

komina – to repent  

koyemba – to sing

koyoka – to listen  

kobala – to marry

kokabwana – to separate  

kobeta – to hit

kozoka – to hurt  

koyekola – to learn

koyeba – to know  

kofinga – to insult

kolimbisa – to forgive  

kopasola – to break

kokamba – to repair  

kolonga – to win

kopola – to lose  

kosala – to work

kosana – to play  

kobanda – to start

kosuka – to stop  

kotinda – to send

kozua – to receive  

kolingisa – to allow

kopesika – to forbid  

kobela – to be sick

kobika – to be cured 

Noun and adjective binomials

mbango – fast

malembe – slow  

likolo – up

nse – down  

nakati – in

libanda – out  

molunge – hot

malili – cold  

mobali – man

mwasi – woman  

pete – easy

pasi – difficult  

– true

lokuta – false  

bopeto – clean

bosoto – dirty  

moyi – day

butu – night  

mayele – intelligent

zoba – stupid  

bitumba – war

kimia – peace  

mulayi – tall

mukuse – short  

loboko – hand

lokolo – foot  

ngomba – mountain

lobwaku – valley  

sika – new

kala – old  

likambo – question

eyano – answer  

moninga – friend

mopaya – stranger  

mwinda – light

elili – shadow  

ndeke – bird

nzoi – bee  

likolo – sky

mabele – earth  

niao – cat

mbwa – dog  

mwindu – black

pembe – white  

esango – happy

mawa – sad  

makila – blood

mayi – water  

mwana mobali – boy

mwana mwasi – girl  

mesa – table

kiti – chair  

molakisi – teacher

moyekoli – student  

mungwa – salt

pilipili – pepper  

ngomba – mountain

lobwaku – valley  

moi – sun

sanza – moon  

mopepe – wind

mbula – rain  

moninga – friend

monguna – enemy

Source

https://lobalingala.files.wordpress.com/2014/07/23042014-loba-lingala.pdf