In other lessons we will discuss in more depth how to count in Lingala. However here it would be good to look at the number one: moko.
This word is special in that it is also used to convey the idea of self. When used with a personal pronoun:
Mpo na ngai moko
This means for myself (literally: for me self). This works with any and all personal pronouns:
| ngai moko | myself |
| biso moko | ourself |
| ye moko | himself/herself |
| bango moko | themself |
| yo moko | yourself (singular) |
| bino moko | yourselves (plural) |
| yango moko | itself or themselves (inanimate) |
Connected to the word moko is the word liboso. This word means before. However when used with the word ya notice:
moto ya liboso
This means the first person (literally: person of before/first). It conveys the idea of the first, that is it is the one before anything else.