Looking for practical Alur to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Alur phrase first, then the Lingala translation (Lingala) — so you can scan quickly before a trip, class, or video call.
The phrases are grouped into eight topics: greetings and pleasantries, useful phrases for travellers, everyday conversation, directions and getting around, shopping and dining, emergencies and health, work and business, and time, days and numbers. Use the table of contents to jump straight to greetings, directions, dining, emergencies, or numbers. You do not need perfect grammar to start — short, clear sentences often work better than silence when you are learning Lingala.
Tip: read the Lingala line out loud three times, then cover the Alur side and try to recall the meaning — repetition builds memory faster than silent reading.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Alur to Lingala translator to paste your own messages and get an instant translation.
Greetings and pleasantries
Hello, goodbye, please, thank you, and polite introductions for meeting new people.
Salam
Mbote
Matur nuwun
Melesi
Selamat pagi
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Selamat sore
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Selamat malam
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Selamat bobo
Malamu na butu
Sampai jumpa
Tala yo nsima
Selamat tinggal
Kende malamu
Sapa nama mu?
Nkombo na yo nani?
Nama ku John
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Kabar apa?
Ozalaki malamu?
Senang bertemu denganmu
Nayoki malamu na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Nyo nyi ngana Inggris?
Ozali koloba lingala?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nyo ngana Hindi badi.
Nasalaka hindi malamu te(nasalaka hindi malamu te)