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Selected Lingala Words for this week - 3

In this third post in the series, I'll focus mainly on verbs. In Lingala verbs in their infinitive form take the prefix "ko-" instead of "ku-" which is common in swahili for example "to walk" in Lingala becomes "kotambola". Another important note is that verbs in their future form take the affix "-ko-" instead of "-ta-" in swahili for example "I will walk" becomes "nakotambola". Again in Lingala most verbs take the suffix  "-aki" for example I walked is natambolaki

With all that in mind, let's look at some selected Lingala verbs, that I think are quite useful.

1. Koyemba - to sing. When I think of this word the song that comes to my mind is Madilu System's song tittled "Ya Jean" where he sings, "Nayemba na Luambo Makiadi Franco ayembisaki ngai makambo ezali minene.." roughly translating to "I sang with Luambo Makiadi Franco made to sing 'problems are big.'"

2. Koloba - to talk. A quick example is found in Ferre Gola's song, Panzi Likolo where he sings, "Bakulutu balobaka na ngai leki biloko..." translating to "The elders tell me to pass on the wealth.."

3. Kosolola - To converse. There is a popular song by Werrason entitled 'Solola Bien', which of course means "Talk well"

4. Kotambola - to walk. Ochieng Kabaselleh sang, in his song 'Piny Dunia Mokili', "Johny Bokelo alobaki tambola na mokili oyo.. ohooo nde okomona makambo. Lelo nandimi yango Kalle." Translation: Johny Bokelo said that (when) you walk in this world that's when you'll see many strange things. Today I believe it, Kalle.."

5. Kokimba - To run.

6. Kolamba - To cook

7. Kosomba - To buy

8. Kotanga - To read

9. Kokoma - To write

10. Kokoma - To reach/arrive/to become

11. Kotika - To stop

12. Kotala - To look

13. Koyeba - To know

14. Koyebisa - To tell

15. Konganga - To shout/yell

17. Kobima - To leave (a place)

18. Kopesa - To give

19. Kopima - To deny

20. Kolinga - To love

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