Looking for practical Lingala to Fon phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala phrase first, then the Fon translation (Fon) — 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 Fon.
Tip: when a Fon phrase looks unfamiliar, compare it with the Lingala 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 Lingala to Fon 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.
Mbote
Nɔ́(nɔ́)
Melesi
Mèdɔ́(mèdɔ́)
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Mèdɔ́ agblɔ(mèdɔ́ agblɔ)
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Mèdɔ́ ɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖe)
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe(mèdɔ́ ɖeɖe)
Malamu na butu
Mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ(mèdɔ́ xɔxɔ)
Tala yo nsima
Nɔ́ wɛ(nɔ́ wɛ)
Kende malamu
Nɔ́ wɛ ɖe(nɔ́ wɛ ɖe)
Nkombo na yo nani?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Mè nɔ́ John(mè nɔ́ John)
Ozalaki malamu?
Nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?(nɔ́ wɛ nɔ́?)
Nayoki malamu na yo
Mèdɔ́ nɔ́(mèdɔ́ nɔ́)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
I gbè yé èdè Gẹ̀ẹ́sì?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
Mè n'gbè yé Èdè Hindi kè.(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
Mè n'kó nù.(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
S'il vous plaît, gbè yé kè.(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Mè s'kà yé nù?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Èwé n'kà dɔ́?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Mè n'kà yé nù àlà nà?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Tò n'kà kè.(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Tò n'kà pɔ́.(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Lè n'kà kè.(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Kí n'kà dɔ́?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
Mè s'kà àyé, s'il vous plaît.(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
Èwé n'kà mɛ́?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
Mè n'kà nɔ́.(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Èwé n'kà nɔ́ SIM?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Ɛ(e)
Te
Ayi(ayi)
Soki
Mɛ(me)
Nalingi
Mè yé(me ye)
Nalingi te
Mè n'yi(me n'yi)
Eza malamu
N'kɔ nɔ(n'ko no)
Oyo olingi nini?
N'kɔ a kɔ?(n'ko a ko)
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
I n'kɔ mɛ?(i n'ko me)
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
Mè n'kɔ mɛ(me n'ko me)
Sunga moke
Tɔ́ nɔ(to no)
Nasalaki mabe
Mè nɔ n'kɔ(me no n'ko)
Nani azali na problème
Ayi n'kɔ(ayi n'ko)
Mokolo malamu
Mè nɔ wé(me no we)
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Mè nɔ tɔ́(me no to)
Zala na nzela ya malamu
N'kɔ a wé dɔ(n'ko a we do)
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
N'ye wé train station?(N'ye wé train station?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
N'ye wé bus stop?(N'ye wé bus stop?)
Eko zali na esika nini?
Ké platform na?(Ké platform na?)
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
N'ye wé yé na?(N'ye wé yé na?)
Ezali pene awa.
Yé na hɛn(Yé na hɛn)
Ezali mbali awa.
Yé na hɛn gbo(Yé na hɛn gbo)
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?(Mè wé hɛn n'ye map?)
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît(Tó hɛn, s'il vous plaît)
Ekozala ntango nini?
Ké sa a yé?(Ké sa a yé?)
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
Mè wé na?
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Yè wé bɔ́ nɔ́.
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
A wé nɔ́ dɔ́?
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
Mè wé hɛn nɔ́?
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
Mè wé dɔ́ nɔ́ fɔ́.
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
A wé nɔ́ bɔ́.
Service eza na kati?
Sè wé bɔ́?
Nazali mvegetarian.
Mè wé kɔ́ nɔ́.
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
Mè wé nɔ́ kɔ́ nɔ́.
Yango ezali malamu.
Yè wé sɔ́.
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
Mè wé nɔ́ mɛ́ nɔ́?
Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît.
Mè wé nɔ́ gɔ́ nɔ́.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.