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.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: English Lingala verbs, Lingala Vocabulary: Learn the words for common food items!, Work and School & Around town.

Verb binomials

kobanda – to start

kosila – to finish  

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kokoma – to arrive

kobima – to leave  

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kofungola – to open

kokanga – to close  

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kosiba – to make love

kobunda – to make war  

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koya – to come

kokende – to go  

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kolala – to sleep

kolamuka – to wake  

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kokundola – to remember

kobasana – to forget  

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kotanga – to read

kokoma – to write  

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kobotoma – to be born

kokunda – to bury  

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kopusa – to push

kobenda – to pull  

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kotambola – to walk

kokima – to run  

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kolamba – to cook

 kolia – to eat  

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koseka – to laugh

kolela – to cry  

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kofanda – to live

kokufa – to die  

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kopesa – to give

kozua – to take  

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kobakisa – to add

kolongola – to remove  

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komata – to climb

kokita – to descend  

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koluka – to search

kokuta – to find  

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kotelema – to stand

kofanda – to sit  

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kosepela – to be happy

kosilika – to be angry  

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kotuna – to ask a question

koyanola – to answer  

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kotumbula – to joke

koseka moke – to smile  

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kosokola – to wash

kopangusa – to dry  

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kosomba – to buy

koteka – to sell  

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koteya – to preach

komina – to repent  

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koyemba – to sing

koyoka – to listen  

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kobala – to marry

kokabwana – to separate  

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kobeta – to hit

kozoka – to hurt  

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koyekola – to learn

koyeba – to know  

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kofinga – to insult

kolimbisa – to forgive  

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kopasola – to break

kokamba – to repair  

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kolonga – to win

kopola – to lose  

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kosala – to work

kosana – to play  

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kobanda – to start

kosuka – to stop  

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kotinda – to send

kozua – to receive  

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kolingisa – to allow

kopesika – to forbid  

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kobela – to be sick

kobika – to be cured 

Noun and adjective binomials

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mbango – fast

malembe – slow  

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likolo – up

nse – down  

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nakati – in

libanda – out  

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molunge – hot

malili – cold  

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mobali – man

mwasi – woman  

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pete – easy

pasi – difficult  

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bopeto – clean

bosoto – dirty  

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moyi – day

butu – night  

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mayele – intelligent

zoba – stupid  

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bitumba – war

kimia – peace  

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mulayi – tall

mukuse – short  

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loboko – hand

lokolo – foot  

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ngomba – mountain

lobwaku – valley  

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sika – new

kala – old  

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likambo – question

eyano – answer  

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moninga – friend

mopaya – stranger  

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mwinda – light

elili – shadow  

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ndeke – bird

nzoi – bee  

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likolo – sky

mabele – earth  

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niao – cat

mbwa – dog  

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mwindu – black

pembe – white  

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esango – happy

mawa – sad  

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makila – blood

mayi – water  

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mwana mobali – boy

mwana mwasi – girl  

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mesa – table

kiti – chair  

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molakisi – teacher

moyekoli – student  

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mungwa – salt

pilipili – pepper  

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ngomba – mountain

lobwaku – valley  

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moi – sun

sanza – moon

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mopepe – wind

mbula – rain

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moninga – friend

monguna – enemy

Source

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

Other Lessons

• Contractions
• Left and right
• At the restaurant
• Government
• Earth
• Family
• Weather
• Clothes
• Days of the Week
• Fruits
• Basic conversation
• Wild animals
• English Lingala verbs
• Numbers
• Drinks