Looking for practical Ilocano to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Ilocano 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: when a Lingala phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Ilocano wording — noticing word order differences helps you understand grammar naturally.
Bookmark this page for offline review, share it with a travel buddy, or open the Ilocano 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.
Kumusta
Mbote(kumusta)
Agyamanak
Melesi(agyamanak)
Naimbag a bigat
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo(naimbag a bigat)
Naimbag a malem
Mbote na ntango ya midi(naimbag a malem)
Naimbag a rabii
Mbote na ntango ya soir(naimbag a rabii)
Naimbag a rabii
Malamu na butu(naimbag a rabii)
Kitaen tayon
Tala yo nsima(kitaen tayon)
Pakada
Kende malamu(pakada)
Ania ti nagan mo?
Nkombo na yo nani?(ania ti nagan mo)
Ti nagan ko ket John
Nkombo na ngai ezali John(ti nagan ko ket John)
Kumusta ka?
Ozalaki malamu?(kumusta ka)
Naragsakak nga makilala ka
Nayoki malamu na yo(naragsakak nga makilala ka)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Agsasaoka ti English?
Ozali koloba lingala?(ozali koloba lingala)
Saanak a nasayaat ti agsasaon ti Hindi.
Nasalaka hindi malamu te(nasalaka hindi malamu te)