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Common Mam to Lingala phrases

100 practical Mam to Lingala phrases for travel, study, work, and daily conversation.

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Looking for practical Mam to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the Mam 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 Mam 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 Mam 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.

  1. Xo'j

    Mbote (sho'j)

  2. Tz'ik

    Melesi (tz'ik)

  3. Xo'j nax

    Mbote na ntango ya mokolo (sho'j nax)

  4. Xo'j q'ij

    Mbote na ntango ya midi (sho'j q'ij)

  5. Xo'j k'ux

    Mbote na ntango ya soir (sho'j k'ux)

  6. Xo'j k'ux nax

    Malamu na butu (sho'j k'ux nax)

  7. K'ux q'ij

    Tala yo nsima (k'ux q'ij)

  8. Xo'j k'ux

    Kende malamu (sho'j k'ux)

  9. Ja' k'ux nax?

    Nkombo na yo nani? (ha' k'ux nax?)

  10. Ja' k'ux nax John

    Nkombo na ngai ezali John (ha' k'ux nax John)

  11. Jach' k'ux?

    Ozalaki malamu? (hach' k'ux?)

  12. Nab' k'ux

    Nayoki malamu na yo (nab' k'ux)

Useful phrases for travellers

Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.

  1. ¿K'ax k'utun English?

    Ozali koloba lingala? (ozali koloba lingala)

  2. Nek'ux k'utun Hindi k'ax k'utun.

    Nasalaka hindi malamu te (nasalaka hindi malamu te)

  3. Nek'ux k'ax k'utun.

    Nalingi te (nalingi te)

  4. Por favor, k'utun k'ux.

    S'il vous plaît, koloba butu (koloba butu)

  5. ¿K'ax k'utun k'ux?

    Okoki koloba yango lisusu? (okoki koloba yango lisusu)

  6. ¿Jach'och k'ux?

    Bato ya nzoto ezali wapi? (bato ya nzoto)

  7. ¿Jach'och k'ux ch'ich'?

    Nakanisi ndenge nini nakokende na centre? (nakokende na centre)

  8. K'utun k'ux.

    Tika na mobali (tika na mobali)

  9. K'utun k'ux.

    Tika na mwasi (tika na mwasi)

  10. K'utun k'ux.

    Kende na ntango (kende na ntango)

  11. ¿K'ax k'ux ch'ich'?

    Mbala nini ezali? (mbala nini)

  12. K'utun ch'ich', por favor.

    Billet moko, s'il vous plaît (billet moko)

  13. ¿K'ax k'ux jach'och?

    Ezali na esika ya mbali? (ezali na esika ya mbali)

  14. Nek'ux k'ax k'ux.

    Nazali na esika ya mabe (nazali na esika ya mabe)

  15. ¿Jach'och k'ux k'utun SIM?

    Nakanisi wapi nakokota SIM card? (nakokota SIM card)

Everyday conversation

Small talk, feelings, opinions, and common chat phrases for daily life.

  1. Juj

    Oyo (hoo)

  2. Man

    Te (mah)

  3. K'ux

    Soki (k'ush)

  4. Juj k'ux

    Nalingi (hoo k'ush)

  5. Man k'ux

    Nalingi te (mah k'ush)

  6. K'ux juj

    Eza malamu (k'ush hoo)

  7. ¿Juj k'ux k'ut?

    Oyo olingi nini? (¿hoo k'ush k'ut?)

  8. ¿Juj k'ux juj k'ux?

    Okoki kosalisa ngai? (¿hoo k'ush hoo k'ush?)

  9. Juj k'ux juj k'ux k'ut

    Naza na bosenga ya kosalisa (hoo k'ush hoo k'ut)

  10. K'ux k'ut

    Sunga moke (k'ush k'ut)

  11. Juj k'ux k'ut

    Nasalaki mabe (hoo k'ush k'ut)

  12. Man k'ux k'ut

    Nani azali na problème (mah k'ush k'ut)

  13. K'ux juj k'ut

    Mokolo malamu (k'ush hoo k'ut)

  14. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Mokolo ya mbotama malamu (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

  15. K'ux juj k'ut k'ux

    Zala na nzela ya malamu (k'ush hoo k'ut k'ush)

Directions and getting around

Asking where something is, left and right, distances, and finding your way.

  1. ¿Jujuk pa ri tren?

    Eko zali wapi? (Eko zali wapi?)

  2. ¿Jujuk pa ri bus?

    Eko zali wapi na bis?

  3. ¿K'ux ri plataforma?

    Eko zali na esika nini?

  4. ¿K'ux ri tiempo pa k'ux?

    Ekozanga na ntango nini?

  5. ¿¿K'ux ri camino?

    Oyo ezali nzela ya malamu?

  6. Ri k'ut pa ri.

    Ezali pene awa.

  7. Ri k'ut pa ri k'ul.

    Ezali mbali awa.

  8. ¿¿K'ux k'ut ri mapa?

    Okoki kolakisa ngai na kati ya mape?

  9. ¿¿K'ut pa ri, por favor?

    Tika awa, s'il vous plaît.

  10. ¿¿K'ux ri tiempo?

    Ekozala ntango nini?

Shopping and dining

Ordering food, asking prices, paying the bill, and shopping at markets or stores.

  1. K'ux k'ulub' ri'?

    Mbongo ya yango eza nini? (K'ux k'ulub' ri'?)

  2. K'ux ri' k'ulub'?

    Yango eza mabe na mbongo. (K'ux ri' k'ulub'?)

  3. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Ozali na makambo mosusu ya mbongo moke? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  4. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    Nalingi kobonga na carte? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  5. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?

    Nalingi meka mpo na mibale. (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax k'oj?)

  6. Ri' k'ulub', por favor

    Liyangani, s'il vous plaît. (Ri' k'ulub', por favor)

  7. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Service eza na kati? (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  8. In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Nazali mvegetarian. (In k'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  9. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Bokoya biloko ya mabe, s'il vous plaît. (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  10. K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax

    Yango ezali malamu. (K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax)

  11. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Nalingi menu, s'il vous plaît. (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

  12. ¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?

    Leki ya mayi, s'il vous plaît. (¿K'ux ri' k'ulub' k'ax?)

Emergencies and health

Help, police, doctor, pharmacy, and urgent situations when you need assistance fast.

  1. K'uxik la policía

    Tindá polisi

  2. K'uxik un ambulancia

    Tindá ambulance

  3. Nek' a doctor

    Nalingi médecin

  4. K'utun k'ax

    Nazali na maladi

  5. Nek' a k'uxi' ch'ich'

    Nazali na allergie na mbala

  6. Jach' k'uxik la hospital?

    Hospital ya liboso ezali wapi?

  7. K'utun k'uxi' aquí

    Ezalaka na nse awa

  8. Nek' a k'uxik mi pasaporte

    Nazwi passport na ngai

  9. ¿K'uxik a k'uxik mi hotel?

    Okoki kotinda hôtel na ngai?

  10. ¡Ayuda!

    S.O.S!

Work and business

Meetings, email tone, schedules, and professional phrases for the workplace.

  1. Chik'oj ch'ab'ej

    Nasepeli na yo (chee-k'oh chahb'eh)

  2. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ulb'al

    Tika tozala na mitema (kah-hee k'ah-wik ree kool-bahl)

  3. K'ut ri k'utal k'axik?

    Ngai nalobi ntango nini ekozala malamu na yo? (k'oot ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee)

  4. In k'axik ri k'ik'oj ch'ich'

    Naboya raport lelo (een kah-hee ree kee-k'oh ch'eech')

  5. K'axik ch'awik ri k'ik'oj k'ay?

    Tango tozali na mposo? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree kee-k'oh kahy)

  6. Ch'awik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    S'il vous plaît, tala fichier oyo ezali na nzela (ch'ah-wik ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  7. Tz'ib'ej ri k'utal

    Mersi mpo na ntango na yo (tzee-beh-eh ree k'oo-tahl)

  8. In k'axik ri k'ulb'al k'axik

    Nasalela yo na mosala (een kah-hee ree kool-bahl kah-hee)

  9. K'axik ch'awik ri k'utal?

    Okoki kosala likambo yango malamu? (kah-hee ch'ah-wik ree k'oo-tahl)

  10. K'axik in k'axik ch'awik

    Napesi yo nzela (kah-hee een kah-hee ch'ah-wik)

  11. Ri k'utal k'axik k'ay

    Mokolo ya kokanga ezali Vendredi (ree k'oo-tahl kah-hee kahy)

Time, days and numbers

Clock times, days of the week, months, quantities, and counting for appointments and plans.

  1. ¿K'ux ri'?

    Nini tango ezali? (ni-ni tan-go e-za-li)

  2. K'ux ri' k'i'ik'

    Ezali ntango ya misato (e-za-li n-tan-go ya mi-sa-to)

  3. Rij

    Lelo (rij)

  4. Rij k'i'ik'

    Bokoko (rij k'i'ik')

  5. Rij k'ux

    Kaka (rij k'ux)

  6. Rij k'ux k'ay

    Lundi (rij k'ux k'ay)

  7. Rij k'ux k'ay k'i'

    Mardi (rij k'ux k'ay k'i')

  8. Rij k'ux k'ay k'ax

    Mercredi (rij k'ux k'ay k'ax)

  9. Jun

    Moko (jun)

  10. K'ij

    Mbala (k'ij)

  11. K'i'ik'

    Misato (k'i'ik')

  12. Waq

    Libwa (waq)

  13. Jun b'ix

    Sankuru (jun b'ix)

  14. K'ux ri' k'ay

    Bato (k'ux ri' k'ay)

  15. K'ux

    Soki (k'ux)

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