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
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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
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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
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komata – to climb
kokita – to descend
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koluka – to search
kokuta – to find
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kotelema – to stand
kofanda – to sit
----
kosepela – to be happy
kosilika – to be angry
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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
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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
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kotinda – to send
kozua – to receive
----
kolingisa – to allow
kopesika – to forbid
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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