Looking for practical Jawi (جاوي) to Kikongo phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Jawi phrase first, then the Kikongo translation (Kikongo) — 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 Kikongo.
Tip: read the Kikongo line out loud three times, then cover the Jawi 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 Jawi (جاوي) to Kikongo 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.
هلا
Mbote
ترما كاسي
Mele
سلamat pagi
Mokolo mayele
سلamat tengahري
Mokolo ya ntango
سلamat سوري
Mokolo ya mambu
سلamat مالام
Mokolo ya mpembe
جمبا لاغي
Tala mosi
سلامت
Tata
سيا بربا ناما؟
Nki yina nzo?
ناما سياه جان
Nzo yami ke John
بغاي مان؟
Oko wanga?
سنغار بربا سياه
Nki ya mosi na yo
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
أنت تتحدث الإنجليزية؟
Oyo o zola kutu English?(anta tatahaddath al-ingliziyah?)
أنا لا أتحدث الهندية جيدًا
Nkeni kutu Hindi na mosi.(ana la atahaddath al-hindiyah jayyidan)
أنا لا أفهم
Nkeni kanga.(ana la afham)
من فضلك تحدث ببطء
Mokolo, zola kutu na mosi.(min fadlik tahaddath bibut')
هل يمكنك قول ذلك مرة أخرى؟
Oyo o zola kutu na mosi?(hal yumkinuka qawl dhalik marrah ukhraa?)
أين الحمام؟
Kutu wapi banzela?(ayna al-hammam?)
كيف أذهب إلى مركز المدينة؟
Nki zola kuenda na kati ya mbanza?(kayfa adhhab ila markaz al-madinah?)
إلتف إلى اليسار
Tanda na luma.(iltif ila al-yasar)
إلتف إلى اليمين
Tanda na mambu.(iltif ila al-yamin)
اذهب مباشرة
Enda na mosi.(idhhab mubasharatan)
كم الأجرة؟
Nki mbongo ya ndako?(kam al-ujrah?)
تذكرة واحدة، من فضلك
Ticket mosi, mokolo.(tadhkirah wahidah, min fadlik)