Kikongo is a rich and historic language spoken across Central Africa, carrying the culture and traditions of its people through everyday speech. Learning a few common Kikongo phrases is a great way to start connecting with the language and the communities that speak it.
Greetings in Kikongo
| English | Kikongo |
|---|---|
| Greetings | Mbote |
| Good evening | Mbote ya nkokila |
| Good morning | Mbote ya suka |
| Good afternoon | Mbote ya midi |
| How are you? | Widi mbote? |
| How are you today? | Widi mbote bubu yayi? |
| I am fine | Mono kele mbote |
| Have a good day | Kala mbote bubu yayi |
| I am doing great | Mono kele mbote mingi |
| Hi/Hello | Mbote |
| Nice to meet you | Kiese ya kukutana nge |
| See you soon | Ntama mingi ve |
| See you later | Tata monana na nima |
Love language in Kikongo
| English | Kongo |
|---|---|
| Love language | Ndinga ya luzolo |
| I love you | Mono ke zola nge |
| I miss you | Mono ke mona nge mpasi |
| Love you so much! I want to see you | Mono ke zola nge mingi, mono ke zola kumona nge |
| I love you with all my heart | Mono ke zola nge na ntima na mono nyonso |
| I love you too | Mono mpe ke zola nge |
| I want to see you | Mono ke zola kumona nge |
| I like you | Mono ke sepela na nge |
| You are beautiful | Nge kele kitoko |
| My love | Luzolo na mono |
| You look beautiful | Nge kele kitoko mingi |
| My beautiful wife | Nkento na mono ya kitoko |
| I miss you so much, darling | Mono ke mona nge mpasi mingi, luzolo na mono |
| I need you | Mono ke zola nge / Mono kena mfunu na nge |
| You will miss me | Nge ta mona mono mpasi |
| Goodbye, my love | Kwenda mbote, luzolo na mono |
| See you tomorrow | Mono ta mona nge lumbu ya mbazi |
| I will marry you | Mono ta kwela nge |
| I want some space | Mono ke zola mwa ntangu na mono |
| I need your love | Mono kena mfunu ya luzolo na nge |
| You are mine | Nge kele ya mono |
Direction in Kikongo
| English | Kongo |
|---|---|
| Directions | Nzila / Kisika ya kwenda |
| Where are you? | Nge kele wapi? |
| Where did you go? | Nge kwendaka wapi? |
| Where do you live? | Nge ke zingaka wapi? |
| Where are you going? | Nge ke kwenda wapi? |
| Where were you? | Nge wandaka wapi? |
Common questions in conversations in Kikongo
| English | Kongo |
|---|---|
| Common questions in conversations | Bisisamuna ya nsungi ya nsundi |
| How much? | Mingi wapi? |
| How are you feeling? | Nge ke vanda mbote?/Nge ke vanda mbote mingi? |
| How have you been? | Nge ke vanda ndenge nini bubu? |
| What is your name? | Zina na nge kele nani? |
| What are you doing? | Nge ke sala nini? |
| What are you cooking/eating? | Nge ke pika nini?/Nge ke lamba nini? |
| Are you okay, dear? | Nge ke mbote, luzolo na mono? |
| When are you coming? | Nge ta monana ntangu nini? |
| How was your night/day? | Butu to lumbu na nge vandaka ndenge nini? |
| How are you doing? | Nge ke vanda mbote? |
| How is your family? | Libota na nge ke vanda mbote? |
| How was your day? | Lumbu na nge vandaka ndenge nini? |
| What is wrong? | Nini ke fwana? |
| What do you mean? | Nini nge ke tuba? |
| How’s the weather over there? | Mosi ke pona ndenge nini kuna? |
| Have you gone to church? | Nge kwendaka na dibundu? |
| What is this? | Yai nini? |
| What’s going on? | Nini ke salama? |
| Are you listening? | Nge ke yoka? |
| Have you heard? | Nge me yoka? |
| Can I go home? | Mono ta kwenda na nzo? |
| Can I ask something? | Mono ta tula kiuvu? |
| How is everything? | Nyonso ke pona ndenge nini? |
| What’s your phone number? | Numero ya telefoni na nge kele nani? |
Everyday conversations in Kikongo
| English | Kongo |
|---|---|
| Everyday conversations | Muyuki wa matuku onsu |
| Happy birthday | Mbote ya luvunu |
| Thank you | Matondo |
| I am sorry | Naku zola / Naku kwisa mpasi |
| You are welcome | Ke nsoni te / Yoka matondo |
| Me too! | Mono mpe! |
| God bless you | Nzambi ke benga nge |
| May God protect you | Nzambi ke linga nge |
| She is happy | Ye ke vanda mbote |
| Please help me | Salu mfunu, nanku vanda mpasi |
| I don’t know | Mono ke sadi |
| I will come tomorrow | Mono ta monana lumbu ya mbazi |
| Come here | Monana wapi |
| Feel at home | Vanda lokola na nzo na nge |
| Be blessed | Vanda benga / Vanda ke benga |
| I am coming soon | Mono ta monana nsuka |
| Excuse me | Nsoni na mono / Nkumbu na mono |
| Leave me alone | Leka mono / Leka mono ndeke |
| It is okay | Ke nsoni te / Ke mbote |
| I am going home | Mono ke kwenda na nzo |
| I don’t want | Mono ke tula te |
| Love is a beautiful thing | Luzolo kele mambu ya kitoko |
| Let me try | Leka mono leka |
| Welcome home | Mbote na nzo |
| I reached home safely | Mono ta fika na nzo mbote |
| God is good | Nzambi ke mbote |
| I don’t understand | Mono ke kumaka te |
| We are happy to see you | Biso ke vanda mbote ya kukutana nge |
| I have it | Mono kena yango |
| Rest in peace | Penda na kimvuka / Penda na mpasi te |
| I don’t have money | Mono kena mbongo te |
| I am done | Mono ke fisa / Mono ke suka |
| I am going to the shop | Mono ke kwenda na duka |
| Happy New Year | Mbote ya luvunu lya nsuka |
| Bad manners | Mambu mabe / Mbeleko mabe |
| Stop using your phone | Kata kulambula telefoni na nge |
| I need a favour, please | Mono ke zola mfunu, sala |
| Haven’t seen you for ages | Mono ke monaka nge mingi ntangu |
| Great to see you again | Kiese ya monana nge nsuka |
| I really appreciate it | Mono ke nsoni mingi |
| You made my day | Nge ke sala mbote ya mbazi na mono |
| No problem | Ke nsoni te / Ke mpasi te |
| We are hiring | Biso ke landa baninga ya kosala |
Expand your Kikongo vocabulary daily. Learn five new phrases every day with our Kikongo Dictionary and strengthen your language journey.
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