Language/Lingala/Vocabulary/Binomials
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
penza – 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