Language/Lingala/Vocabulary/Telling-Time

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Lingala → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Time → Telling Time

Introduction: Welcome to the lesson on telling time in Lingala! In this lesson, we will learn how to express the hours and minutes in Lingala, as well as the difference between a.m. and p.m. Understanding how to tell time is essential for everyday conversations and appointments, so let's dive in and explore this topic in depth.

Expressing the Hours

In Lingala, the hours are expressed using a combination of numbers and specific vocabulary. Let's start by learning how to say the hours from 1 to 12. Here are the Lingala words for each hour:

Lingala	Pronunciation	English
1	mokolo ya liboso	one o'clock in the morning
2	mokolo ya misatu	two o'clock in the morning
3	mokolo ya mibale	three o'clock in the morning
4	mokolo ya minoko	four o'clock in the morning
5	mokolo ya mitanu	five o'clock in the morning
6	mokolo ya nsambwa	six o'clock in the morning
7	mokolo ya mpandu	seven o'clock in the morning
8	mokolo ya nkolongo	eight o'clock in the morning
9	mokolo ya nsatu	nine o'clock in the morning
10	mokolo ya mpia	ten o'clock in the morning
11	mokolo ya nzemi	eleven o'clock in the morning
12	mokolo ya liboso	twelve o'clock in the afternoon

To express the hours in the afternoon, we use the same Lingala words as in the morning. However, for 12 o'clock in the afternoon, we use the phrase "mokolo ya liboso" again. It is important to note that Lingala does not have specific words for "a.m." and "p.m." Instead, the context of the conversation usually clarifies whether we are referring to the morning or the afternoon hours.

Now, let's practice expressing the hours in Lingala. Repeat after me: - Mokolo ya liboso - Mokolo ya misatu - Mokolo ya mibale - Mokolo ya minoko - Mokolo ya mitanu - Mokolo ya nsambwa - Mokolo ya mpandu - Mokolo ya nkolongo - Mokolo ya nsatu - Mokolo ya mpia - Mokolo ya nzemi - Mokolo ya liboso

Great job! You're on your way to mastering the Lingala vocabulary for the hours. Let's move on to learning how to express the minutes.

Expressing the Minutes

In Lingala, the minutes are expressed using a combination of numbers and the word "minute" or "minutes." To express a specific minute, simply state the corresponding number followed by the word "minute" or "minutes." Let's take a look at some examples:

Lingala	Pronunciation	English
10 minutes	esengeli na bisika	ten minutes
25 minutes	esengeli na mibale	twenty-five minutes
45 minutes	esengeli na minoko	forty-five minutes

To express a time with minutes, we combine the Lingala words for the hours and the minutes. For example, to say "3:15," we would say "mokolo ya mibale na esengeli na bisika." And to say "6:30," we would say "mokolo ya nsambwa na esengeli na mibale."

Let's practice expressing the minutes in Lingala. Repeat after me: - Esengeli na bisika - Esengeli na mibale - Esengeli na minoko

Well done! You're making great progress. Now, let's move on to understanding the difference between a.m. and p.m. in Lingala.

Understanding a.m. and p.m.

As mentioned earlier, Lingala does not have specific words for "a.m." and "p.m." Instead, the context of the conversation usually clarifies whether we are referring to the morning or the afternoon hours. However, in formal or written contexts, you can use the phrases "ya matinée" (in the morning) and "ya après-midi" (in the afternoon) to specify the time.

For example, to say "9:30 a.m." in Lingala, you would say "mokolo ya nsatu na esengeli na mibale ya matinée." And to say "7:45 p.m.," you would say "mokolo ya mpandu na esengeli na minoko ya après-midi."

Let's practice expressing the time with a.m. and p.m. in Lingala. Repeat after me: - Mokolo ya nsatu na esengeli na mibale ya matinée - Mokolo ya mpandu na esengeli na minoko ya après-midi

Excellent job! You now have a solid understanding of how to tell time in Lingala. Let's move on to the cultural section of this lesson to explore any regional variations and interesting facts related to telling time in Lingala culture.

Cultural Insights

In Lingala culture, the concept of time is often viewed more flexibly compared to Western cultures. While punctuality is still valued in many contexts, it is not uncommon for events to start late or for time to be more fluid. This cultural perspective reflects a focus on interpersonal relationships and flexibility rather than strict adherence to schedules.

Additionally, Lingala speakers often use natural elements such as the position of the sun or specific activities to indicate the time. For example, instead of saying "10:30 a.m.," someone might say "the time when the sun is high and people are having their mid-morning snack." This poetic and descriptive way of expressing time adds richness and depth to the language and culture.

Interesting fact: The Lingala language originated from the Lingala people, who are primarily located in the Democratic Republic of Congo and the Republic of Congo. Lingala serves as a lingua franca in the region, allowing people from different ethnic groups to communicate with each other. This linguistic diversity and cultural fusion contribute to the vibrant and unique aspects of Lingala language and culture.

Now that we've explored the cultural insights, let's move on to some exercises to practice what we've learned.

Exercises

1. Translate the following phrases into Lingala: - 9:15 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. - 6:55 a.m.

Solution: - Mokolo ya nsatu na esengeli na bisika - Mokolo ya liboso na esengeli na mibale ya après-midi - Mokolo ya nsambwa na esengeli na mibale ya matinée

2. Express the following times in Lingala: - 8:20 a.m. - 4:50 p.m. - 11:10 a.m.

Solution: - Mokolo ya nkolongo na esengeli na maboko ya matinée - Mokolo ya minoko na esengeli na mpia ya après-midi - Mokolo ya nzemi na esengeli na liboso ya matinée

Great job! You've successfully completed the exercises. Keep practicing to reinforce your knowledge of telling time in Lingala.

In this lesson, we explored how to express the hours and minutes in Lingala, as well as the difference between a.m. and p.m. We also delved into the cultural insights and interesting facts related to telling time in Lingala culture. Remember to practice regularly to solidify your understanding of this topic.

Thank you for joining me in this lesson. I hope you found it informative and engaging. Stay tuned for the next lesson in our "Complete 0 to A1 Lingala Course."

Table of Contents - Lingala Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Basic Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Pronouns

• Singular and Plural Nouns
• Subject Pronouns
• Object Pronouns

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-10
• Telling Time

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Verbs and Conjugation

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparative and Superlative
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Lingala Culture and Traditions

• Festivals and Celebrations
• Traditional Music and Dance
• Traditional Foods
• Arts and Crafts

  ---

Professions and Hobbies

• Common Professions
• Hobbies and Interests

  ---

Questions and Interrogatives

• Yes/No Questions
• Wh- Questions

  ---

Daily Routines and Activities

• Morning Routine
• Work and School
• Evening Routine

  ---

Imperatives and Commands

• Forming Imperatives
• Using Commands in Context

Sources

• Lingala Vocabulary - Food
• ‎Learn to Speak Lingala: English-Lingala Beginner's Course Audio ...
• Lingala Dictionary Online Translation LEXILOGOS

Other Lessons

• Modes of Transportation
• Days of the Week
• Work and School
• Drinks
• Family Members
• It’s a miracle!
• Daily routines
• Animals
• Time

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