Looking for practical Lingala to Krio phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Lingala phrase first, then the Krio translation (Krio) — 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 Krio.
Tip: read the Krio line out loud three times, then cover the Lingala 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 Lingala to Krio 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
Hello
Melesi
Tenki
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo
Gud mɔnin
Mbote na ntango ya midi
Gud aftanun
Mbote na ntango ya soir
Gud ivnin
Malamu na butu
Gud nait
Tala yo nsima
Si yu leta
Kende malamu
Bai
Nkombo na yo nani?
Wetɛn na yu neym?
Nkombo na ngai ezali John
Ma neym na John
Ozalaki malamu?
Ow yu de?
Nayoki malamu na yo
Naes fo mit yu
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
Ozali koloba lingala?
Yu sabi English?(ozali koloba lingala)
Nasalaka hindi malamu te
A no sabi Hindi well.(nasalaka hindi malamu te)
Nalingi te
A no sabi.(nalingi te)
S'il vous plaît, koloba butu
Plis, tok slow.(koloba butu)
Okoki koloba yango lisusu?
Yu fit tok dat again?(okoki koloba yango lisusu)
Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi?
Weh na di toilet?(bato ya nzoto)
Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre?
Ow A go fit reach di city center?(nakokende na centre)
Tika na mobali
Turn left.(tika na mobali)
Tika na mwasi
Turn right.(tika na mwasi)
Kende na ntango
Go straight.(kende na ntango)
Mbala nini ezali?
Ow much na di fare?(mbala nini)
Billet moko, s'il vous plaît
One ticket, plis.(billet moko)
Ezali na esika ya mbali?
E far from ya?(ezali na esika ya mbali)
Nazali na esika ya mabe
A don lost.(nazali na esika ya mabe)
Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card?
Weh A go fit buy SIM card?(nakokota SIM card)
Everyday conversation
Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.
Oyo
Yes
Te
No
Soki
Maybe
Nalingi
A mi agree
Nalingi te
A no agree
Eza malamu
Dat na fine
Oyo olingi nini?
Wet in you tink?
Okoki kosalisa ngai?
You fit help me?
Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa
A need help
Sunga moke
Wait small
Nasalaki mabe
A sorry
Nani azali na problème
No problem
Mokolo malamu
Congratulations
Mokolo ya mbotama malamu
Happy birthday
Zala na nzela ya malamu
Get safe trip
Directions and getting around
Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.
Eko zali wapi?
Weh na di train station?(Eko zali wapi?)
Eko zali wapi na bis?
Weh na di bus stop?
Eko zali na esika nini?
Which platform na im?
Ekozanga na ntango nini?
Wetin time e go lef?
Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?
Dis na di right way?
Ezali pene awa.
E dey near here
Ezali mbali awa.
E far from here
Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?
Yu fit show me pan di map?
Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.
Stop here, pliz
Ekozala ntango nini?
How long e go tek?
Shopping and dining
Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.
Mbongo ya yango eza nini?
How much dis cost?
Yango eza mabe na mbongo.
Dat too expensive.
Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke?
You get anytin wey cheaper?
Nalingi kobonga na carte?
I fit pay by card?
Nalingi meka mpo na mibale.
I wan table for two.
Liyangani, s'il vous plaît.
Di bill, please.
Service eza na kati?
Service dey include?
Nazali mvegetarian.
I na vegetarian.
Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît.
No spicy food, please.
Yango ezali malamu.
Dis dey sweet.
Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît.
I fit get di menu?
Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît.
A glass of water, please.
Emergencies and health
Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.
Tindá polisi
Call di police
Tindá ambulance
Call ambulance
Nalingi médecin
A need doctor
Nazali na maladi
A dey feel sick
Nazali na allergie na mbala
A get allergy for peanuts
Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?
Weh di nearest hospital de?
Ezalaka na nse awa
E dey pain here
Nazwi passport na ngai
A don lose mi passport
Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?
You fit call mi hotel?
S.O.S!
Help!
Work and business
Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.
Nasepeli na yo
Na nice for meet you
Tika tozala na mitema
Make we plan wan meeting
Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo?
Wetin time go work for you?
Naboya raport lelo
A go send di report tiday
Tango tozali na mposo?
We go fit talk tomorrow?
S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela
Abeg find di file wey attach
Mersi mpo na ntango na yo
Tenki for your time
Nasalela yo na mosala
A dey look forward for work with you
Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu?
You fit clarify dat point?
Napesi yo nzela
Make I get back to you
Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi
Di deadline na Friday
Time, days and numbers
Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.