Question Words

1. Nini?

   What?

   Usage

   The basic question word for things and events.

   Grammar Note

   Nini means what and normally ends the sentence (for example Olingi nini?).

2. Wapi?

   Where?

   Usage

   Asks for a place; it follows the noun (for example Ndako na yo wapi?).

   Grammar Note

   Wapi means where and sits after the subject at the end of the clause.

3. Ntango nini?

   When?

   Usage

   Asks about time, as in the sample sentence about when a party is.

   Grammar Note

   Ntango is time and nini is what, together meaning when.

4. Nani?

   Who?

   Usage

   Asks about a person.

   Grammar Note

   Nani means who and is reserved for asking about people.

5. Mpo na nini?

   Why?

   Usage

   Asks for a reason, as in Olelaki mpo na nini? (Why did you cry?).

   Grammar Note

   Mpo na means for or because of and nini means what; together they mean why.

6. Boni?

   How?

   Usage

   Asks about manner or condition.

   Grammar Note

   Boni means how and can stand alone as a short question.

7. Oyo ezali nini?

   What is this?

   Usage

   Point at an unknown object or dish and ask what it is.

   Grammar Note

   Question words usually come at the end, and there is no question particle; intonation makes the question. Ezali is the third-person form of be.

8. Oyo ezali talo nini?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Asks the price; talo means price or value.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. It follows the pattern of a corpus sentence asking the price of a fish, with talo nini.

9. Toilette ezali wapi?

   Where is the toilet?

   Usage

   Toilette is a French loan written the same way in Lingala texts.

   Grammar Note

   Question words usually come at the end, and there is no question particle; intonation makes the question. It matches the pattern of asking where the nearest supermarket is.

10. Ozali na yango?

    Do you have it?

    Usage

    To ask a seller whether they have something.

    Grammar Note

    Having is expressed with na (with): ozali na means you have. The question is marked by intonation only.

11. Okoki kosala yango?

    Can you do it?

    Usage

    To check whether someone is able to do something for you.

    Grammar Note

    Okoki is you can; kosala is the infinitive do.

12. Ezali malamu?

    Is it good?

    Usage

    To ask whether something is fine or good.

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Ezali is the be-verb with a thing as subject.

13. Ozali malamu?

    Are you OK?

    Usage

    Asks how someone is; answer Nazali malamu (I am well).

    Grammar Note

    O- is you, zali is be and malamu is good.

14. Ozali na elikya na yango?

    Are you sure?

    Usage

    To double-check what someone told you; literally "do you have certainty about it".

    Grammar Note

    Elikya means hope or confidence; na means with or about. A Tatoeba sentence has the same wording, translated "Are you sure about this?".

15. Ozali moto ya wapi?

    Where are you from?

    Usage

    The standard question about origin; answer in the form Nazali moto ya Japon.

    Grammar Note

    Moto ya wapi is literally person of where; ya means of.

16. Nkombo na yo nani?

    What is your name?

    Usage

    Asks for a name. To introduce yourself say Nkombo na ngai ...

    Grammar Note

    Possession follows the noun with na (nkombo na yo is your name).

17. Ozali kokende wapi?

    Where are you going?

    Usage

    Asks where a person is heading, for instance when a driver asks you.

    Grammar Note

    Ozali ko- is the progressive (you are doing); kokende is to go.

18. Olingi nini?

    What do you want?

    Usage

    Asks what someone wants or would like.

    Grammar Note

    Olingi is you want or like, and nini comes at the end.

19. Ozali na mbula boni?

    How old are you?

    Usage

    Asks an age; answer in the form Nazali na mbula ntuku mibale (I am twenty).

    Grammar Note

    Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Mbula is year and boni asks how many.

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