Lingala

ISO 639-3: lin

Lingua franca of the Congo River region; widely used in music and media

Language Details
Family Lineage Niger-Congo › Atlantic-Congo › Volta-Congo › Benue-Congo › Bantoid › Southern Bantoid › Bantu › Central Bantu
Countries DR Congo, Republic of Congo, Central African Republic
Approximate Speakers ~20,000,000
Notes Developed as a trade language along the Congo River

Hebrew Comparisons

Word Meaning Hebrew Word Transliteration Hebrew Meaning
kolya to eat אָכַל ʼâkal a primitive root; to eat (literally or figuratively); [idiom] at all, burn up, consume, devour(-er, up), dine, eat(-er, up), feed (with), food, [idiom] freely, [idiom] in...wise(-deed, plenty), (lay) meat, [idiom] quite.
kolela to cry, to weep, to lament אַלְלַי ʼalᵉlay by reduplication from אָלָה; alas!; woe.
ngai I, me (independent pronoun) אֲנִי ʼănîy lemma אֲנַי second vowel, corrected to אֲנִי; contracted from אָנֹכִי; I; I, (as for) me, mine, myself, we, [idiom] which, [idiom] who.
Bana Children בֵּן Bana from בָּנָה; a son (as a builder of the family name), in the widest sense (of literal and figurative relationship, including grandson, subject, nation, quality or condition, etc., (like father or brother), etc.); [phrase] afflicted, age, (Ahoh-) (Ammon-) (Hachmon-) (Lev-) ite, (anoint-) ed one, appointed to, ([phrase]) arrow, (Assyr-) (Babylon-) (Egypt-) (Grec-) ian, one born, bough, branch, breed, [phrase] (young) bullock, [phrase] (young) calf, [idiom] came up in, child, colt, [idiom] common, [idiom] corn, daughter, [idiom] of first, [phrase] firstborn, foal, [phrase] very fruitful, [phrase] postage, [idiom] in, [phrase] kid, [phrase] lamb, ([phrase]) man, meet, [phrase] mighty, [phrase] nephew, old, ([phrase]) people, [phrase] rebel, [phrase] robber, [idiom] servant born, [idiom] soldier, son, [phrase] spark, [phrase] steward, [phrase] stranger, [idiom] surely, them of, [phrase] tumultuous one, [phrase] valiant(-est), whelp, worthy, young (one), youth.
koluka seek (different dominant root) בְּעָא bᵉʻâʼ (Aramaic) or בְּעָה; (Aramaic), corresponding to בָּעָה; to seek or ask; ask, desire, make (petition), pray, request, seek.
buka (evuka) to wake up, to rise (morning) בֹּקֶר bôqer from בָּקַר; properly, dawn (as the break of day); generally, morning; ([phrase]) day, early, morning, morrow.
mona to see; as imperative/interjection 'look!','see!' הִנֵּה hinnêh prolongation for הֵן; lo!; behold, lo, see.
ngɔ́ndɛ moon חֹדֶשׁ chôdesh from חָדַשׁ; the new moon; by implication, a month; month(-ly), new moon.
nsiku night; darkness חֹשֶׁךְ chôshek from חָשַׁךְ; the dark; hence (literally) darkness; figuratively, misery, destruction, death, ignorance, sorrow, wickedness; dark(-ness), night, obscurity.
Nzambe God יְהֹוָה Yahweh from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
nzambe the Most High / God יְהֹוָה from הָיָה; (the) self-Existent or Eternal; Jehovah, Jewish national name of God; Jehovah, the Lord. Compare יָהּ, יְהֹוִה.
oseka to laugh יִצְחָק Yitzchak from צָחַק; laughter (i.e. mochery); Jitschak (or Isaac), son of Abraham; Isaac. Compare יִשְׂחָק.
Mayi water מַיִם mayim dual of a primitive noun (but used in a singular sense); water; figuratively, juice; by euphemism, urine, semen; [phrase] piss, wasting, water(-ing, (-course, -flood, -spring)).
koseka laugh צָחַק tsâchaq a primitive root; to laugh outright (in merriment or scorn); by implication, to sport; laugh, mock, play, make sport.
nyoka snake צֶפַע tsephaʻ from an unused root meaning to extrude; a viper (as thrusting out the tongue, i.e. hissing); adder, cockatrice.
seka to laugh שָׂחַק sâchaq a primitive root; to laugh (in pleasure or detraction); by implication, to play; deride, have in derision, laugh, make merry, mock(-er), play, rejoice, (laugh to) scorn, be in (make) sport.
kaka strong, firm שָׂקַד sâqad a primitive root; to fasten; bind.
← Back to Bantu Hebrew