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
– 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