Language/Lingala/Vocabulary/Travel-Phrases
| ◀️ Modes of Transportation — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Festivals and Celebrations ▶️ |
Lingala is a Bantu language spoken in the Republic of Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, and Angola. If you're planning a trip to a country where Lingala is spoken, it's helpful to know some basic travel phrases to help you get around and communicate with locals. In this lesson, you will learn useful travel phrases in Lingala, such as asking for directions, booking a hotel room, and more. By the end of this lesson, you will have a better understanding of Lingala and be able to communicate with locals more easily.
Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Contractions & Relationships.
Basic Phrases
Before learning specific travel phrases, it's important to know some basic phrases that you can use in various situations.
Greetings
Lingala speakers are generally friendly and courteous so it's considered polite to greet when entering a public space such as a shop. The following are some basic Lingala greetings and responses:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mbote! | m-BO-te | Hello! (formal) |
| Yo! | yo | Hi! (informal) |
| Moninga! | moh-NING-gah | Buddy! (informal) |
| Masolo na biso epayi ya Lingala. | ma-SOH-loh na BEE-soh ep-AY-ee yah ling-GAH-lah | Our language is Lingala. (formal) |
| Nakambo na biso epayi ya Lingala. | nah-KAHM-boh na BEE-soh ep-AY-ee yah ling-GAH-lah | I am learning Lingala. (formal) |
Responses and Politeness
In Lingala-speaking countries, politeness is paramount when interacting with locals. The following are some common phrases that can be used to show appreciation or gratitude:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Obonga te. | oh-BONG-gah teh | Not at all. |
| Merci. | mehr-SEE | Thank you. |
| Mbote na yo. | m-BO-teh nah yo | Hello to you (response to a greeting) |
Excuse Me and Sorry
It is always good to know how to politely ask for things and apologize. The following are some common phrases:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tika te. | TEE-kah teh | Excuse me. |
| Azanga te. | ah-zahn-gah teh | I'm sorry. |
Directions
When traveling to a new place, it's important to know how to ask for directions. The following phrases will help you to navigate through Lingala-speaking areas:
Common Phrases
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ndeko, na sala ngai masumu. | DEH-koh, nah SAH-lah ngai mah-SOO-moo | Excuse me, can you tell me where ____ is? |
| Sala nini? | SAH-lah NEE-nee | Where is it? |
| Sala maboko ya cinq minutes. | SAH-lah mah-BOH-koh yah sank min-OO-tay | It's a five-minute walk. |
| Tokoki. | toh-KOH-kee | We're lost. |
Places and Directions
Here are some places and directions related phrases:
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ekolo ya bato | eh-KOH-loh yah BAH-toh | Public toilet | |
| Boloko | boh-LOH-koh | Street, way | |
| Bato engambe | BAH-toh ehn-gahm-beh | Crossroad or intersection | |
| Lopital | loh-pee-tahl | Hospital | |
| Libokasi | LEE-boh-kah-see | Bus stop | |
| Mystique | mees-TEEK | Temple, mosque, church | |
| Bureau de change | BU-ros deh shawnzh | Money exchange office | |
| Ko zua | koh zu-AH | Turn left | |
| Ko sala | koh SAH-lah | Turn right |
Accommodation
When you're traveling, finding a suitable place to stay is always a priority. Here are some phrases to help you find accommodation in a Lingala-speaking country:
Booking a Hotel Room
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Na lingi kombo ya mbotama. | nah ling-ee kohm-boh yah m-bo-TAH-mah | I would like to reserve a room. |
| Na lingi kombo ya mbotama na kotambola. | nah ling-ee kohm-boh yah m-bo-TAH-mah nah kohtahm-BOH-lah | I would like to reserve a room and have a tour. |
| Biso to suite na client na biso. | bee-soh toh swee-teh nah klee-yah nah bee-soh | We provide quality services to our clients. |
| Na yembeli tothele ya lelo. | nah yemb-LEEH toh-tell yah leh-LOH | I want to book a room for today. |
Checking In
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Morninga! Na mosali _____ te. | moh-NING-gah! nah moh-SAH-lee ____teh | Hello! I have a reservation under _____. |
| Na lingi kombo ya thele. | nah ling-ee kohm-boh yah teh-LEH | I would like to check in. |
| Ko zonga na bino na misala. | koh zohn-gah nah bee-noh nah mee-SA-lah | Please give me the key to my room. |
| Nakoti denge ya mokili. | nah-KOH-tee den-GEH yah moh-kee-lee | I need a map of the city. |
Checking Out
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Na lingi ko sala thele na lokumu. | nah ling-ee koh SAH-lah teh-LEH nah loh-KOO-moo | I would like to check out. |
| Yaka kende na thele ya bino. | yah-kah ken-deh nah teh-LEH yah bee-noh | Take me to my room. |
| Soki bazali ko kufa. | soh-kee bah-ZAH-lee koh koo-fah | If they die. |
Transportation
When traveling in a Lingala-speaking country, you may need to use one or more modes of transportation. Here are some common phrases that will come in handy:
Modes of Transportation
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Moto-taxi | moh-toh TAHK-see | Motorcycle taxi |
| Pousse-pousse | pooce pooce | Cart pulled by a person or bike |
| Taxi | tahk-see | Taxi |
| Sombolay | sahm-boh-LIE | Bicycle taxi |
| Bato | BAH-toh | Boat or ferry |
| Moto | moh-toh | Motorcycle |
| Taxi-bus | tahk-see boos | Minibus for transit |
| Avion | ah-vee-YON | Airplane |
Getting Around
| Lingala | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| Tokende wapi? | toh-KEN-deh wah-PEE | Where are you going? |
| Na lobi ____. | nah loh-BEE ____ | I want to go to ____. |
| Ngiyaka na bino na liboso ya _____. | ngee-YAH-kah nah bee-noh nah lee-BOH-so yah _____ | Take me to the _____ station. |
| Na sekwa ya _____ yo. | nah seh-KWAH yah _____ yoh | I want to buy a ticket to _____. |
Conclusion
Congratulations! You have learned some of the basic travel phrases in Lingala. By mastering these phrases, you will have an easier time getting around and communicating with locals while traveling in a Lingala-speaking country. Keep practicing and expanding your vocabulary. Good luck and safe travels!
Great work on completing this lesson! Take a moment to investigate these connected pages: Telling Time & On the road.
Other Lessons
- Basic Greetings
- Health
- Feelings and Emotions
- Relationships
- Geography
- Left and right
- Sickness and Health
- Important words
- War and peace
- Weather
Sources
- Learn the 30 most important words in Lingala!
- Learn Lingala on autopilot with superlearning (2023)
- Learn Some New Words in Swahili, Yoruba, Lingala, and Zulu – Our ...
| ◀️ Modes of Transportation — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Festivals and Celebrations ▶️ |