Looking for practical NKo to Lingala phrases? This free guide lists 100 essential sentences for travel, study, work, and everyday conversation. Each line shows the NKo 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: read the Lingala line out loud three times, then cover the NKo 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 NKo 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.
ᎣᏍᏆ
Mbote(Oscha)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ
Melesi(Ascadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎡᏚᏙᏗ
Mbote na ntango ya mokolo(Oscha Edodhi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᎠᏧᏍᏆᏗ
Mbote na ntango ya midi(Oscha Atsachadi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏚᏗ
Mbote na ntango ya soir(Oscha Dagadudi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Malamu na butu(Oscha Datsicha)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᎦᏙᏗ
Tala yo nsima(Oscha Dagadodi)
ᎣᏍᏆ ᏓᏁᏙᏗ
Kende malamu(Oscha Danodi)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎢᏳᏍᏆ?
Nkombo na yo nani?(Hisch Ascadodi Iyuscha?)
ᎠᏓ ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᎠᏍᏆ ᏥᏍᏆ
Nkombo na ngai ezali John(Ada Ascadodi Ascha Tischa)
ᎯᏍᏆ ᎯᏍᏆ?
Ozalaki malamu?(Hisch Hisch?)
ᎠᏍᏆᏙᏗ ᏓᏥᏍᏆ
Nayoki malamu na yo(Ascadodi Tischa)
Useful phrases for travellers
Airport, hotel, tickets, and transport phrases for getting around on a trip.
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬?
Ozali koloba lingala?(ozali koloba lingala)
ߊ߲߬ ߞߊ߬ ߡߊ߬ߟߊ߬ ߗߊ߬ߓߊ߬ ߞߊ߬ߕߊ߬
Nasalaka hindi malamu te(nasalaka hindi malamu te)