MBOTÉ NA BINO! (Hi there)

Today I will introduce to you my favorite language in the whole world: LINGALA!

If you are African, you probably know or heard it through many songs from famous singers like Papa Wemba, Werrason, Koffi Olomidé, Fally Ipupa, or worship bands like Makoma, GAEL,...

Lingala is a Bantu language spoken mainly in both Congo (Rep. of Congo a.k.a Congo-Brazzaville and DR of Congo a.k.a Congo-Kinshasa) as a national language.

I grew up hearing French, Lingala, Kituba, and dialects on a daily basis. However, Lingala as always been my favorite language (English too) and I am really proud to understand and speak it.

Mboté - Hello, Hi

Mboté na yo, moninga - Hello my friend

Ndéngé nini?  - How are you?

Na za Malamu - I am Fine

Sango té - Nothing new

Kombo na nga Pelny - My name is Pelny

Na vandaka na Canada - I live in Canada

Ko zala na - To Have
(Naza na bilamba ébélé - I have a lot of clothes)

Ko séka - To Laugh
(Azali ko séka - She laughs, she is laughing)

Ko Kendé - To Go
(Naza ko kendé zando -  I am going to the market)

Ko linga - To Love
(Na lingui yo - I love you)

Moyi - the Sun

Note: Some Lingala words take their origin from the English language, such as;

- Miliki for Milk

It is going to be more difficult for an Anglophone to learn Lingala than a Francophone because the pronunciation is more similar to the French language. But do not worry nothing is impossible. 

I think the best way to learn a new language is to Fall in love with the country, the culture and the people.

If you want to listen to a song in Lingala to give you an idea of the sonorities, here is the Spotify link of Fally Ipupa new album TOKOOOS. 

Songs 100% in Lingala are:  Esengo, Na lingui yé, Posa, Eloko oyo. Let me know in the comments section what you think of the songs.

XO

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