Basic Nouns

1. Mayi

   Water

   Usage

   For asking for drinking water. Mayi malili is cold water.

   Grammar Note

   Mayi (water) belongs to the ma- class, and adjectives agree with it.

2. Bilei

   Food

   Usage

   The general word for food and meals.

   Grammar Note

   Bilei is a bi- class plural noun meaning food in general.

3. Mbongo

   Money

   Usage

   The word for money. Note that pesa means to give, not money.

   Grammar Note

   Mbongo means money and is common in both Bible and news texts.

4. Toilette

   Toilet

   Usage

   A French loan used with the same spelling in Lingala texts.

   Grammar Note

   Toilette is a loanword; the plural appears written with ba as in ba toilettes.

5. Nkisi

   Medicine

   Usage

   Means medicine, as in komela nkisi (take medicine). It can also mean a traditional charm, so use it in a clinic or pharmacy context.

   Grammar Note

   Nkisi means medicine and goes with komela (drink, take).

6. Famasi

   Pharmacy

   Usage

   Where medicine is bought; Lingala Wikipedia describes it as a place to buy nkisi.

   Grammar Note

   Famasi is the Lingala spelling of French pharmacie.

7. Telefone

   Telephone

   Usage

   Telephone or mobile phone; a loan with the same form in local texts.

   Grammar Note

   Telefone is a loan from French téléphone, written with a final -e.

8. Lopitalo

   Hospital

   Usage

   The word for hospital, widely written this way in Lingala Wikipedia.

   Grammar Note

   Lopitalo is a loanword; the plural is written ba lopitalo.

9. Polisi

   Police

   Usage

   Police or a police officer, for when you need help.

   Grammar Note

   Polisi is a loanword; the plural bapolisi is also written.

10. Nzela

    Road

    Usage

    A road, path or way, useful when asking directions.

    Grammar Note

    Nzela means road or way; it is an n- class noun.

11. Libota

    Family

    Usage

    Family or clan, used in Bible and everyday speech.

    Grammar Note

    Libota is a li- class noun with the plural mabota.

12. Nkombo

    Name

    Usage

    The word for name; introduce yourself with Nkombo na ngai ...

    Grammar Note

    Nkombo is an n- class noun; na ngai means my.

13. Liso

    Eye

    Usage

    Part of the body; the plural miso is common in the Bible.

    Grammar Note

    Liso is li- class; its plural is miso.

14. Lino

    Tooth

    Usage

    Part of the body; the plural is mino.

    Grammar Note

    Lino is li- class; the plural is mino.

15. Libumu

    Belly

    Usage

    The belly, useful for describing abdominal pain.

    Grammar Note

    Libumu is a li- class noun.

16. Mokongo

    Back

    Usage

    The back, useful for describing back pain.

    Grammar Note

    Mokongo is mo- class; the plural is mikongo.

17. Loboko

    Hand / arm

    Usage

    One word for both hand and arm; the plural is maboko.

    Grammar Note

    Loboko is a lo- class noun.

18. Lokolo

    Leg / foot

    Usage

    One word for leg and foot, useful when describing pain.

    Grammar Note

    Lokolo is a lo- class noun.

19. Hotel

    Usage

    A French loan; Lingala Wikipedia writes it without the accent.

    Grammar Note

    Hotel is a loanword, most often seen in names such as Hotel Memling.

20. Ambassade

    Embassy

    Usage

    A French loan, for when you need to contact your embassy.

    Grammar Note

    Ambassade is a loanword, followed by ya and a country, as in Ambassade ya Etats-Unis.

21. Banki

    Bank

    Usage

    A bank, where one withdraws or exchanges money.

    Grammar Note

    Banki is a loanword used as in mosala ya banki (work at a bank).

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