Transportation

1. Nalingi kokende na Gombe

   I want to go to Gombe

   Usage

   Gombe, the central commune of Kinshasa, is the example; replace the name after na with your destination.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. The Bible has the pattern nalingi kokende; na marks the destination.

2. Taxi ezali wapi?

   Where is the taxi?

   Usage

   To find a taxi stand or a car; taxi is a French loan.

   Grammar Note

   The question word wapi comes at the end.

3. Bus ezali wapi?

   Where is the bus?

   Usage

   To find a bus; bus is a loanword.

   Grammar Note

   The question word wapi comes at the end.

4. Telema awa, nabondeli yo

   Stop here, please

   Usage

   To the driver where you want to get off; telema means stop or stand.

   Grammar Note

   Telema is the imperative of stop and awa is here; a corpus sentence reads Telema, zela! (Stop, wait!).

5. Ezali mosika?

   Is it far?

   Usage

   Asks how far a destination is.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Intonation marks the question; mosika is far.

6. Nakokende na bus

   I am going by bus

   Usage

   States how you will travel; na marks the means.

   Grammar Note

   Composed from dictionary- and corpus-verified words by regular grammar. Nako- is the future and na means by.

7. Sala mbangu

   Please hurry

   Usage

   Asks someone to hurry; a corpus sentence has osali mbangu (you hurry).

   Grammar Note

   Sala is the imperative of do and mbangu is speed; sala mbangu means hurry.

8. Motuka

   Car

   Usage

   The word for a car.

   Grammar Note

   Motuka is an mo- class noun for car.

9. Ndeke

   Plane / bird

   Usage

   Originally bird; a corpus sentence also uses it for plane. The plural is bandeke.

   Grammar Note

   Ndeke is an n- class noun; context decides between bird and plane.

10. Masuwa

    Boat / ship

    Usage

    A boat or ship on river or sea, including those on the Congo River.

    Grammar Note

    Masuwa is the word for a boat in the Bible and in news texts.

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