English→Kinshasa Lingala

Translate English to Kinshasa Lingala like a local.

Kinshasa Lingala sounds like itself through mbote-style greetings, French borrowings such as combien and message, and compact everyday phrasing.

474 local dialects

What locals actually say

How much is this one?

Oyo ezali combien?

The French loan combien is routine in Kinshasa market speech, while oyo points directly to the item being discussed.

Text me when you get home.

Tindela ngai message tango okokoma na ndako.

Message is the natural urban word for a phone text, and the ko- future marker in okokoma frames arrival as something expected.

I’m on my way, don’t worry.

Nazali na nzela, komitungisa te.

Nazali na nzela literally places the speaker on the road, while komitungisa te is the familiar negative imperative for reassuring someone.

Have you eaten yet?

Osili kolya déjà?

Déjà is a French loan used naturally in Kinshasa conversation to mark an informal “yet” question.

The boss is looking for you.

Patron azali koluka yo.

Patron is an urban French loan common in Kinshasa workplace speech and signals an everyday city register.

It’s very hot today.

Molunge ezali makasi lelo.

Molunge means heat, while makasi intensifies it in a familiar Kinshasa-style expression.

I miss you a lot.

Nazangi yo mingi.

Nazangi yo uses the Lingala construction “I lack you” to express missing someone, with mingi adding strong emotion.

My mother is coming tomorrow.

Mama na ngai akoya lobi.

Mama is a familiar Kinshasa kinship term, often used warmly for one’s mother or an older woman.

Notes like these come with every AIRTranslate translation, so you learn why locals phrase it that way as you go.

Kinshasa Lingala; mbote greetings; French loanwords natural in urban register.

Every one of 474 dialects, with voice, camera, a keyboard for any app, and offline packs.