Language/Lingala/Grammar/Gender
Hi Lingala learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn about the gender rules in Lingala. We will look at how to identify the gender of nouns and how to use them correctly in sentences.
Gender in Lingala
In Lingala, nouns are either masculine or feminine. This means that adjectives, verbs, and other words must agree with the gender of the noun they refer to. For example, if a noun is masculine, then the adjective used to describe it must also be masculine.
Identifying Gender
The gender of a noun can usually be identified by its ending. Most nouns ending in -a are feminine, while most nouns ending in -o are masculine. However, there are some exceptions to this rule.
Here are some examples of nouns and their genders:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English Translation | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| moto | moh-toh | fire | Masculine |
| mbisi | mbee-see | cat | Feminine |
| nkolo | n-koh-loh | tree | Masculine |
| nzela | n-zeh-lah | river | Feminine |
It is important to note that some nouns can be either masculine or feminine depending on the context. For example, the word for “person” can be either muntu (masculine) or muntuwa (feminine).
Using Gender in Sentences
Once you have identified the gender of a noun, you must use the correct form of the verb, adjective, or other word that refers to it.
For example, if you are talking about a feminine noun, you must use the feminine form of the verb. Here are some examples:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English Translation | Gender |
|---|---|---|---|
| moto oyo | moh-toh oh-yoh | this fire | Masculine |
| moto oyo aleki | moh-toh oh-yoh ah-leh-kee | this fire is burning | Masculine |
| mbisi oyo | mbee-see oh-yoh | this cat | Feminine |
| mbisi oyo alobi | mbee-see oh-yoh ah-loh-bee | this cat is sleeping | Feminine |
It is also important to note that some verbs and adjectives have different forms depending on the gender of the noun they refer to. For example, the verb “to love” is alobaka for masculine nouns and alobaki for feminine nouns.
Practice
To improve your Lingala Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions!
Quiz
Test your knowledge of gender in Lingala with this quiz:
- What is the gender of the word moto (fire)?
- What is the gender of the word mbisi (cat)?
- What is the gender of the word nkolo (tree)?
- What is the gender of the word nzela (river)?
- What is the verb for “to love” when referring to a masculine noun?
- What is the verb for “to love” when referring to a feminine noun?
Answers:
- Masculine
- Feminine
- Masculine
- Feminine
- alobaka
- alobaki
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎