Looking for practical Dutch (Nederlands) to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Dutch 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 Dutch 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 Dutch (Nederlands) 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.
Hallo
Mbote
Dank je
Melesi
Goedemorgen
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Goedemiddag
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Goedenavond
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Goedenacht
Malamu na butu
Tot later
Tala yo nsima
Tot ziens
Kende malamu
Wat is jouw naam?
Nkombo na yo nani?
Mijn naam is John
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Hoe gaat het?
Ozalaki malamu?
Leuk je te ontmoeten
Nayoki malamu na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Spreekt u Engels?
Ozali koloba lingala?(ozali koloba lingala)
Ik spreek niet goed Hindi.
Nasalaka hindi malamu te(nasalaka hindi malamu te)