Among the new words for this lesson is the word ete. This word is useful as it simply means that. We use it in the same way as we do in English:
alobi ete ayebi bango
This would translate as he said that he knew them.
Often we want to introduce a clause into sentence in which we indicate that this contrasts with the previous statement. We do this using the word but in English. In Lingala the equivalent word is kasi. Notice how we can use it:
ezali monene, kasi ezali makasi te
This translates as it is big, but it is not strong. The word kasi is used very often and is used almost identically to how it would be in English.
We also have the word elongo in the vocabulary list. This word means together. It is used very similarly to how we would in English:
nazali elongo na bino
That sentence translates as I am together with you (plural). Notice na is inserted after elongo. This gives us the sense of being together with. Often they are used together in this way. But it can be used on it’s own:
tozali elongo
Here the phrase means we are together.
It should be noted that although this word is used the same as in English, Lingala speakers often use the word na to mean with in place of elongo. As such it is less frequently used than together is in English.