Table of Contents
Last update 31st Dec 2024
While Lingala numbers exist, most speakers use French numbers, inherited from the formers rulers’ language. Most people are able to count up to ten at most and don’t know how to count in Lingala. Then, a lot of them struggle to count beyond. A few people don’t even know that it is possible to calculate further than billions without saying a word in French!
In this article, we explain the importance of numbers in our day-to-day life and show you how to count in Lingala. You will also discover an interesting way of writing an ordinal number in Lingala.
1. Importance of counting
Our own lives are ruled by numbers. We use numbers not only in the basic mathematical operations like summation, subtraction, multiplication or division, but also in or daily life. Indeed, how do you survive in our modern society without being numerate? How do you do your daily businesses, measure, trade, or other important activities? Either school, work, leisure, we use numbers for date, time, phone numbers, password …
In the absence of numbers, nothing can be measured or quantified. This would lead to compare things or concepts to each other’s using a qualitative approach and analogies like “a few” or “some.”, “more “ or “less”. Which would not only be tedious, but also inaccurate. Without numbers, people would be struggling to precisely differentiate and recall quantities.

2. How to count in Lingala: cardinal number
2.1. Unit
Counting up to 9 in Lingala is straight forward thanks to specific words.
Numeral | Cardinal |
0 | Libungutúlu |
1 | Mókó |
2 | Míbalé |
3 | Mísató |
4 | Mínei |
5 | Mítáno |
6 | Motóba |
7 | Sámbó |
8 | Mwámbe |
9 | Libwá |
2.2. Tens
2.2.1. From 11 to 19
From 10, Lingala number naming system is regular. It uses consistent rules to combine ten with the basic unit to indicate quantities. Which make counting very easy to learn.
When counting from 11 to 19, we use zómi and the word ná (with) and then one of the unit numbers.
Numeral | Cardinal |
10 | Zómi |
11 | Zómi ná mókó |
12 | Zómi ná míbalé |
13 | Zómi ná mísató |
14 | Zómi ná mínei |
15 | Zómi ná mítáno |
16 | Zómi ná motóba |
17 | Zómi ná sámbó |
18 | Zómi ná mwámbe |
19 | Zómi ná libwá |
In contrast to Lingala, French and English use irregular counting in the first set of tens.
Numeral | French Cardinal | English Cardinal |
10 | Dix | Ten |
11 | Onze | Eleven |
12 | Douze | Twelve |
13 | Treize | Thirteen |
14 | Quatorze | Forteen |
15 | Quinze | Fifteen |
16 | Seize | Sixteen |
17 | Dix sept | Seventeen |
18 | Dix huit | Eighteen |
19 | Dix neuf | Nineteen |
2.2.2. From 20 to 99
When we reach 20, instead of using the word zómi, we replace it with ntúkú. The tens are formed by putting ntúkú before their multiplier digit as in the table below.
Numeral | Cardinal |
20 | Ntúkú míbalé |
30 | Ntúkú mísató |
40 | Ntúkú mínei |
50 | Ntúkú mítáno |
60 | Ntúkú motóba |
70 | Ntúkú sámbó |
80 | Ntúkú mwámbe |
90 | Ntúkú libwá |
To write compound numbers, the rule is the same as for between 10 and 19. We use ntúkú and the word ná (with) and then one of the unit numbers. This rule is applicable until 99.
Numeral | Cardinal |
21 | Ntúkú míbalé ná mókó |
99 | Ntúkú libwá ná libwá |
French has some exceptions in counting the tens, which make it harder to learn for beginners.
Numeral | French Cardinal | Transcription |
70 | Soixante dix | 60 and 10 |
80 | Quatre vingt | 4 X 20 |
90 | Quatre vingt dix | 4 X 20 and 10 |
2.3. Hundreds
2.3.1. Simple numbers
Hundreds are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word nkámá. As the tens, the exception is for one hundred itself.
Numeral | Cardinal |
100 | Nkámá |
200 | Nkámá míbalé |
300 | Nkámá mísató |
400 | Nkámá mínei |
500 | Nkámá mítáno |
600 | Nkámá motóba |
700 | Nkámá sámbó |
800 | Nkámá mwámbe |
900 | Nkámá libwá |
2.3.2. Compound numbers
You still need to use the word nkámá and add likewise the unit with the word ná.
Numeral | Cardinal |
106 | Nkámá ná motóba |
116 | Nkámá zómi ná motóba |
136 | Nkámá ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
206 | Nkámá míbalé ná motóba |
216 | Nkámá míbalé ná zómi ná motóba |
236 | Nkámá míbalé ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
999 | Nkámá libwá ntúkú libwá ná libwá |
2.4. Thousands
2.4.1. Simple numbers
Starting from 1000 thousands are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word nkóto. As the tens and hundreds, the exception is for one thousand itself. Nkóto is used up to 9,999.
Numeral | Cardinal |
1,000 | Nkóto |
2,000 | Nkóto míbalé |
3,000 | Nkóto mísató |
4,000 | Nkóto mínei |
5,000 | Nkóto mítáno |
6,000 | Nkóto motóba |
7,000 | Nkóto sámbó, |
8,000 | Nkóto mwámbe |
9,000 | Nkóto libwá |
2.4.2. Compound numbers
As seen previously the unit is linked to the whole number with ná.
Numeral | Cardinal |
1,036 | Nkóto ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
1, 216 | Nkóto nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
4,036 | Nkóto mínei ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
4, 216 | Nkóto mínei nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
9,999 | Nkóto libwá nkámá libwá ntúkú libwá ná libwá |
2.5. Ten Thousands
2.5.1. Simple numbers
Lingala has a particular word for the ten thousand. Indeed, ten thousands are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word Mokoko. Mokoko is used from 10,000 until 19,999. Then the word has to be put in the plural, mikoko, from 20,000 up to 99,999.
Numeral | Cardinal |
10,000 | Mokoko |
20,000 | Mikoko míbalé |
30,000 | Mikoko mísató |
40,000 | Mikoko mínei |
50,000 | Mikoko mítáno |
60,000 | Mikoko motóba |
70,000 | Mikoko sámbó, |
80,000 | Mikoko mwámbe |
90,000 | Nkóto libwá |
2.5.2. Compound numbers
As seen previously, each group of numbers is linked to the others with ná.
Numeral | Cardinal |
1, 0216 | Mokoko nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
14,036 | Mokoko ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
40,216 | Mikoko mínei nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
44,216 | Mikoko mínei nkóto mínei nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
99,999 | Mikoko libwá nkóto libwá nkámá libwá ntúkú libwá ná libwá |
2.6. Hundreds of thousand
2.6.1. Simple numbers
Lingala has a particular word for the hundreds of thousands. Indeed, hundreds of thousands are formed by setting the multiplier digit after the word Elúndu. This word is used from 100,000 until 199,999. Then the word has to be put in the plural, Bilúndu , from 200,000 up to 999,999.
Numeral | Cardinal |
100,000 | Elúndu |
200,000 | Bilúndu míbalé |
300,000 | Bilúndu mísató |
400,000 | Bilúndu mínei |
500,000 | Bilúndu mítáno |
600,000 | Bilúndu motóba |
700,000 | Bilúndu sámbó |
800,000 | Bilúndu mwámbe |
900,000 | Bilúndu libwá |
2.6.2. Compound numbers
As seen previously, each group of numbers is linked to the others with ná.
Numeral | Cardinal |
100,216 | Elúndu nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
140,036 | Elúndu mikoko mínei ntúkú mísató ná mínei |
40,216 | Bilúndu mínei nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
440,216 | Bilúndu mínei mikoko mínei nkámá míbalé zómi ná motóba |
999,999 | Bilúndu libwá ná mikoko libwá nkóto libw nkámá libwá ntúkú libwá ná libwá |
2.7. Millions
2.7.1. Simple numbers
Lingala has different words to say million. The word is Efúku. As you know now, there is a singular and a plural form. Efúku is used from 1,000,000 until 1,999,999. Then the word has to be put in the plural, Bifúku , from 2,000,000 up to 999,999,999.
Numeral | Cardinal Efúku |
1,000,000 | Efúku |
2,000,000 | Bifúku míbalé |
3,000,000 | Bifúku mísató |
Numeral | Cardinal Efúku | Cardinal épúná | Cardinal makiasi |
1,000000 | Efúku | Épúná | Makiasi |
2,000000 | Bifúku míbalé | Bipúná míbalé | Makiasi míbalé |
3,000000 | Bifúku mísató | Bipúná mísató | Makiasi mísató |
2.7.2. Tens and hundreds of millions
Coming soon. You already know how to count until millions!
Numeral | Cardinal Efúku |
10,000,000 | Efúku zomi |
25,000,000 | Bifúku ntuku míbalé na mitano |
300,000,000 | Bifúku nkama mísató |

A quick and practical guide to count in Lingala.
Enter your email address and we will send you a free cheat sheet to easily start counting now.

2.8 Billions
Lingala has different words to say Billion. The word is Epúná. Epúná is used from 1,000,000,000 until 1,999,999,999. Then the word has to be put in the plural, Bipúná , from 2,000,000,000 up to 999,999,999,999.
Numeral | Cardinal Efúku |
1,000,000 | Epúná |
2,000,000 | Bipúná míbalé |
3,000,000 | Bipúná ntuku míbalé na mitano |
10,000,000,000 | Bipúná zomi |
25,000,000,000 | Bifúku ntuku míbalé na mitano |
300,000,000,000 | Bipúná nkama mísató |
3. How to count ordinal number in Lingala
Ordinal numbers indicate the order of a collection of things within a list, defining the position of something in a series. Ordinal numbers are used as adjectives, nouns, and pronouns.
Lingala creates ordinal numbers by adding the word ya before the number. The exception is for first created by connecting the word moko is the word liboso or just using the word yambo.
There is no way to shorten the ordinal number in Lingala like in French 1er or English 1st for first. We have suggested a simple way to do that by adding “ya” superscripted after the number.
Numeral | Cardinal | Ordinal | Abbreviation suggested |
1 | Mókó | Ya libosó, yambo | 1wa |
2 | Míbalé | Ya míbalé | 2ya |
3 | Mísató | Ya mísató | 3ya |
4 | Mínei | Ya mínei | 4ya |
5 | Mítáno | Ya mítáno | 5ya |
6 | Motóba | Ya motóba | 6ya |
7 | Sámbó, nsámbó | Ya sámbó, | 7ya |
8 | Mwámbe | Ya mwámbe | 8ya |
9 | Libwá | Ya libwá | 9ya |
99 | Ntúkú libwá ná libwá | Ya Ntúkú libwá ná libwá | 99ya |
1000 | Nkóto | Ya Nkóto | 1000ya |
As you see, counting in Lingala may seem at first intimidating. In contrast to some western languages, like French or English, Lingala numbers have regular number naming, which makes them straightforward to understand.
Some study even showed that learning to count in more regular languages should be easier for children than learning to count in less regular languages. So you can now start teaching your child how to count in Lingala!
We also suggested a new way and simple of writing an ordinal number in Lingala. We hope you will enjoy using it!
As every new skills, there is a learning curve. Once, you get the mechanisms, it will become easy as ABC!
We have a converter to help you to learn to how count in Lingala. You can find it here.
Sources:
There are few sources on how to count in Lingala, especially in English. I was fortunate enough to rely on the exhaustive work done by Gampoko DUMA DI BULA in his book” Dictionnaire étymologique lingala – français / français – lingala” that you can find here.
Did you know that it was possible to count so far in Lingala? If no, are you ready to learn? We would be delighted to see your progress in the comment section!