Kikongo grammar, first part

Note :

At the insistent request of some English-speaking visitors, I was forced

to translate this lexicon from French to English. It’s a colossal job that

took me a lot of time, I applied myself and tried to do my best. Despite

this, since English is not my usual language, there could be some

translation errors here and there. If you find any, do not hesitate to

report them to me by writing to me through the contact page of this

website.

Thank you in advance !

INTRODUCTION TO KIKONGO: GRAMMAR LESSON (FIRST PART).

PRELIMINARY NOTE.

The Kikongo uses all the letters of the Roman alphabet, except the

letters “q”, “r” and “x” which are unusual, even if the letter “r” may appear in some

“Lari” words.

In Kikongo the “u” is pronounced “oo”, the “s” is pronounced “ss” regardless of its

position in the word and the “g” is pronounced “gg” when preceded by the

letter “n” and “ghe” if this is not the case and this only when the following letter is the

vowel “a”, “e” or “o”, if the following letter is the vowel “i” or “u”, the “g” is

pronounced “gg”.
The letters “y” and “w” which are used as vowels in Kikongo can also become

consonants when they are at the beginning of the word or when they are preceded by the

letters “n” and “m” respectively.

1. CONJUGATION LESSON.

This chapter is not intended to give you a complete study of Kikongo grammar, but only to

give you some basic notions that will allow you to learn the Kikongo language. If you wish

to deepen your knowledge with more details on the different grammatical forms presented

here, please refer to the specialized books.

1.1. The infinitive of Kikongo verbs:

The Kikongo verb in the infinitive is characterized by the prefix “ku” which precedes the

radical of the verb, which always ends with the letter “a”.

Example : ku-dia (to eat)

1.2. The verb “to be” (mpanga ya “kuba” evo ya “kukala”) :

Note :

In all the forms of conjugation we present, in the case of the third persons of the singular

and plural relating to things, we should replace :

 the prefix “ki” indicated here in the verb conjugated in the singular by “di”,

“ku”, “lu”, “wu” or by “yi” to match the prefix of the subject

replacing “kima”,

 the prefix “bi” indicated here in the verb conjugated in the plural by “ma/me”,

“mi” or by “zi/ze/za” to match the prefix of the subject replacing “bima”.

1.2.1. General form of the verb “to be” in the present tense :

– (mono) ngiena : I am

– (ngeye) wena : you are

– (yandi) wena : he (she) is

– (kima) kiena : it is

– (beto) tuena : we are

– (beno) luena : you are

– (bawu) bena : they are

– (bima) biena : they are

Note :

We notice that in this conjugation, the verb “to be” (“kuba” or “kukala”) does not

appear, it is normal, because in reality the verb that is conjugated here is the

verb “kuena/kuwena” which also means “to be” but which is only used in this form or

to serve as an auxiliary to the verb “to be” itself.

To find the verb “to be” (“kuba” or “kukala”) in its conjugation to the present tense, it

would have to be conjugated in the immediate form of the present tense to obtain the

following :

– (mono) mbele/nkele : I am

– (ngeye) bele/kele : you are

– (yandi) bele/kele : he (she) is

– (kima) kibele/kikele : it is

– (beto) tubele/tukele: we are

– (beno) lubele/lukele: you are

– (bawu) babele/bakele : they are

– (bima) bibele/bikele : they are

1.2.2. The verb “to be” in the future tense :

– (mono) ngiena/ngina ba/kala : I will be

– (ngeye) wena/wuna ba/kala : you will be

– (yandi) wena/wuna ba/kala : he (she) will be

– (kima) kiena/kina ba/kala : it will be

– (beto) tuena/tuna ba/kala: we will be

– (beno) luena/luna ba/kala: you will be

– (bawu) bena ba/kala : they will be

– (bima) biena/bina ba/kala : they will be

Note :

In this conjugation, the verb “kuena/kuwena” which means “to be” is used as an

auxiliary to the verb “to be” (“kuba” ou “kukala”).

1.2.3. The verbe “to be” in the imperfect tense :

– (mono) yabele/yakele : I was being

– (ngeye) wabele/wakele : you were being

– (yandi) wabele/wakele : he (she) was being

– (kima) kiabele/kiakele : it was being

– (beto) tuabele/tuakele : we were being

– (beno) luabele/luakele : you were being

– (bawu) babele/bakele : they were being

– (bima) biabele/biakele : they were being

1.2.4. The verbe “to be” in the perfect tense / preterite :

– (mono) yaba/yakala : I have been/ I was

– (ngeye) waba/wakala : you have been / you were

– (yandi) waba/wakala : he (she) has been / he (she) was

– (kima) kiaba/kiakala : it was / it has been

– (beto) tuaba/tuakala : we have been / we were

– (beno) luaba/luakala : you have been / you were

– (bawu) baba/bakala : they have been / they were

– (bima) biaba/biakala : they have been / they were

Note :

The distinction between the perfect tense and the preterite is made on the basis of the

intonation used and according to the context in which the conjugation takes place.
1.2.5. The verb “to have”.

The verb “to have” follows from the verb “to be” by associating with it the

conjunction “ye” or “na” so as to have this :

– kuba na/ye : to have, to be with

– kukala ye/na : to have, to be with

1.3. Conjugation of the other verbs :

Example : the verb “to eat” which translates as “kudia”.

1.3.1. Conjugation in the present tense :

The conjugation of a verb in the present tense can be done in two different ways depending

on what you want to express :

 The general form of the present tense indicates that the action is taking place at

this moment and is literally translated as “being in the process of”

(verb “kueta/kuweta”).

 The immediate form of the present indicates that the action has just taken place

and is literally translated as “coming from”.

1.3.1.1. General form of the conjugation of a verb in the present tense.

1.3.1.1.1. Verb “to eat” (“kudia”) to the present :

– (mono) ngieti dia : I am eating

– (ngeye) weti dia : you are eating

– (yandi) weti dia : he (she) is eating

– (kima) kieti dia : it is eating

– (beto) tueti dia : we are eating

– (beno) lueti dia : you are eating

– (bawu) beti dia : they are eating

– (bima) bieti dia : they are eating

1.3.1.1.2. Verb “to eat” (“kudia”) in the present tense with insistence.

The general form of the present tense has a variant to express the insistence on the action

in progress, it is obtained by preceding the general form of the present with the radical of

the verb which thus appears twice and is conjugated as follows :

– (mono) dia ngieti dia : I am (really) eating

– (ngeye) dia weti dia : you are (…) eating

– (yandi) dia keti dia : he (she) is (…) eating

– (kima) dia kieti dia : it is (…) eating

– (beto) dia tueti dia : we are (…) eating

– (beno) dia lueti dia : you are (…) eating

– (bawu) dia beti dia : they are (…) eating

– (bima) dia bieti dia : they are (…) eating

Note : the transformation in the third person of the singular of “weti” from the general

form into “keti” in the present form with insistence.

1.3.1.2. Conjugation of a verb in the present tense that lasts:

By replacing the ending “i” of the radical “eti” of the auxiliary by the letter “a”, we

reaffirm even more the insistence on the action that is currently taking place and we obtain

an additional variant of the present tense, which gives for the two previous forms the

following conjugations :

1.3.1.2.1. The verb “to eat” (“kudia”) in the present tense that lasts :

– (mono) ngieta/nita/nta dia : I am eating

– (ngeye) weta/uta/ta dia : you are eating

– (yandi) keta/kata dia : he (she) is eating

– (kima) kieta/kita dia : it is eating

– (beto) tueta/tuta dia : we are eating

– (beno) lueta/luta dia : you are eating

– (bawu) beta/bata dia : they are eating

– (bima) bieta/bita dia : they are eating

Note : the two variants of the conjugation of the auxiliary

verb “kueta/kuweta” separated by “/” differ in the duration attributed to the action of

the verb.

1.3.1.2.2. The verb “to eat” (“kudia”) in the present tense that lasts with insistence.

The general form of the present tense has a variant to express the insistence on the action

in progress, it is obtained by preceding the general form of the present with the radical of

the verb which thus appears twice and is conjugated as follows:

– (mono) dia ngieta/nita/nta dia: I am (really) eating

– (ngeye) dia weta/uta/ta dia : you are (…) eating

– (yandi) dia keta/kata dia : he (she) is (…) eating

– (kima) dia kieta/kita dia : it is (…) eating

– (beto) dia tueta/tuta dia: we are (…) eating

– (beno) dia lueta/luta dia: you are (…) eating

– (bawu) dia beta/bata dia : they are (…) eating

– (bima) dia bieta/bita dia : they are (…) eating

1.3.1.3. Immediate form of the conjugation of a verb in the present tense:

This form of the present expresses that the action has just ended.

For the verb “to eat” (“kudia”), the conjugation is done as follows:

– (mono) ndidi : I just ate

– (ngeye) didi : you just ate

– (yandi) didi : he (she) just ate

– (kima) kididi : it just ate

– (beto) tudidi : we just ate

– (beno) ludidi : you just ate

– (bawu) badidi : they just ate

– (bima) bididi : they just ate

1.3.1.3.1. Note 1:

The conjugation of a verb in this immediate form of the present tense differs according to

the group to which it belongs. For this form of conjugation, the kikongo verbs fall into the

following groups :

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by the letter “i”,

example : the verb “kubakisa” (to understand) that is conjugated “mbakisi”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by the letter “e”,

example : the verb “kuzimbakana” (to forget) that is conjugated “nzimbakane”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by “ele”,

example : the verb “kuzola” (to like, to love, to want) that is conjugated “nzolele”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by “ene”,

example : the verb “kukoma” (to hammer) that is conjugated “nkomene”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by “di”,

example : the verb “kudia” (to eat) that is conjugated “ndidi”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by “idi”,

example : the verb “kubua” (to fall) that is conjugated “mbuidi”

– verbs whose terminal letter “a” is replaced by “ini”,

example : the verb “kunua” (to drink) that is conjugated “n’nuini”/”nduini”

– verbs that end with “la” which we replace with “di”,

example : the verb “kutambula” (to accept) that is conjugated “ntambudi”

– verbs that end with “la” which we replace with “didi”,

example : the verb “kusala” (to work) that is conjugated “nsadidi”

– verbs that end with “ala” which we replace with “idi”,

example : the verb “kusala” (to stay) that is conjugated “nsidi”

– verbs that end with “ana” which we replace with “eni”,

example : the verb “kuvana” (to give) that is conjugated “mveni”

– verbs that end with “aba” which we replace with “ebi”,

example : the verb “kuzaba” (to know) that is conjugated “nzebi”

– verbs that end with “ua” which we replace with “olo”,

example : the verb “kukondua” (to lack) that is conjugated “nkondolo”

– verbs that end with “ama” which we replace with “amane”,

example : the verb “kufinama” (to approach) that is conjugated “mfinamane”

– verbs that end with “ema” which we replace with “emene”,

example : the verb “kuyema” (to suck, to feed) that is

conjugated “ngiemene”/”ngyemene”.

There are special cases for verbs ending in “ula” or “una”, where the letter “u” can be

replaced by “o” without changing the meaning of the verb, in this case the letter “o” gets
over and this verb is found in the group where the final letter “a” is replaced by the

letter “e”,

example 1 : the verb “kuzokula” or “kuzokola” (to perforate) which is

conjugated “nzokole”

example 2: the verb “kuzokuna” or “kuzokona” (to peel) which is

conjugated “nzokone”

There are also verbs that do not belong to any of these groups and have particular

conjugations. Among them, we find the following verbs:

– “kuenda” (to leave) which is conjugated : ngiele, wele, wele, kiele, tuele,

luele, bele

– “kumona” (to see) which is conjugated : mbuene, muene, muene, tumuene,

lumuene, …

1.3.1.3.2. Note 2:

With regard to the subject placed before the verb, in this immediate form of the present

tense, the prefix “ku” of the verb is replaced by :

– the letter “n” if the consonant following “ku” is d, g, k, n, s, t or z to indicate the

subject “I”,

example : “kudia” which is conjugated “ndidi” to mean “I” just ate.

– the prefix “nd” which takes the place of the consonant following the prefix “ku” if this is

“n“, as an alternative to the previous case to indicate the subject “I“,

example : “kunua” which is conjugated “nduini” or “n’nuini” to mean “I” just drank.

– the prefix “nd” if the consonant following “ku” is “l” to indicate the subject “I“,
example : “kuleka” which is conjugated “ndekele” to mean “I” just went to bed.

– the letter “m” if the consonant following “ku” is b, f, p ou v to indicate the subject “I“,

example : “bonga” which is conjugated “mbongele” to mean “I” just took.

– the prefix “mb” if the consonant following “ku” is “m” to indicate the subject “I“,

example : “kumona” which is conjugated “mbueni” to mean “I” just saw.

– the prefix “ng” if the letter following “ku” is i, e, y ou w to indicate the subject “I“,

example : “kuiza/kuyiza” which is conjugated “ngizidi” to mean “I” just arrived.

– the prefix “ni” if the letter following “ku” is e, b, f, m, p ou v to indicate the subject “I“,

as an alternative to the previous case to indicate the subject “I“,

example : “kumona” which is conjugated “nimueni” to mean “I” just saw.

– no prefix if the prefix “ku” is followed by a consonant to indicate the subject “you”

example : “kudia” which is conjugated “didi” to mean “you” just ate.

– the letter “w” if the letter following the prefix “ku” is i, e, y ou w to indicate the subject

“you“, example : “kuiza” which is conjugated “wizidi” to mean “you” just arrived.

– no prefix if the prefix “ku” is followed by a consonant to indicate the subject “he/she”

example : “kudia” which is conjugated “didi” to mean “he/she” just ate.

– the letter “w” if the letter following the prefix “ku” is i, e, y ou w to indicate the subject

“he/she“, example : “kuiza” which is conjugated “wizidi” to mean “he/she” just

arrived.

– the prefix “tu” to indicate the subject “we“,

example : “kudia” which is conjugated “tudidi” to mean “we” just ate.

example : “kuiza” which is conjugated “tuizidi” to mean “we” just arrived.

– the prefix “lu” to indicate the subject “you“,

example : “kudia” which is conjugated “ludidi” to mean “you” just ate,

example : “kuiza” which is conjugated “luizidi” to mean “you” just arrived.

– the prefix “ba” if “ku” is followed by a letter other than “e” or “i” to indicate the subject

“they“, example : “kudia” which is conjugated “badidi” to mean “they” just ate.

– the letter “b” if “ku” is followed by one of the two vowels “e” and “i” to indicate the

subject “they“, example : “kuiza” which is conjugated “bizidi” to mean “they” just ate.

1.3.1.3.3. Note 3:

With regard to the third person of the singular, when the subject does not designate a

human (it), the prefix “ku” of the verb is, depending on the object to which the subject

refers, replaced by:

– the prefix “lu” or one of the letters “d”, “k”, “w” or “y” if the subject is impersonal

or refers to something that can be replaced by “that” and that this prefix “ku” is

followed by one of the two vowels “e” and “i”, example : “kuiza” which is

conjugated “luizidi”, “dizidi”, “kizidi”, “wizidi” or “yizidi” to say “it” has just

arrived.

– one of the prefixes “di”, “ki”, “ku”, “lu”, “wu” or “yi” if the subject is impersonal

or refers to something that can be replaced by “that” and the prefix “ku” is followed by

a letter other than “e” or “i”, example : “kubua” which combines “dibuidi“,

“kibuidi“, “kubuidi“, “lubuidi“, “wubuidi” or “yibuidi” to mean “it” has just fallen.
Similarly, with regard to the third person of the plural, when the subject “they” does not refer

to humans, the prefix “ku” of the verb is, depending on the object to which the subject

refers, replaced by :

– one of the letters “b”, “m” or “z” if the subject is impersonal or relates to things and

the prefix “ku” is followed by one of the two vowels “e” and “i”,

example: “kuiza” which is conjugated “bizidi”, “mizidi” or “zizidi” to

mean “they” have just arrived.

– one of the prefixes “bi”, “ma”, “mi” or “zi” if the subject is impersonal or relates to

things and the prefix “ku” is followed by a letter other than “e” or “i”,

example: “kubua” which is conjugated “bibuidi“, “mabuidi“, “mibuidi” or “zibuidi”

to mean “they” have just fallen.

1.3.1.4. Immediate form of the conjugation of a verb in the present tense with insistence.

The immediate form of the present tense has a variant to express the insistence on the

action in progress, it is obtained by preceding the general form of the present with the

radical of the verb.

For the verb “eat” (“kudia”), we obtain the following formula:

– (mono) dia ndidi : I (actually) just ate

– (ngeye) dia didi : you (…) just eate

– (yandi) dia kadidi : he (she) (…) just ate

– (kima) dia kididi : it (…) just eate

– (beto) dia tudidi : we (…) just ate

– (beno) dia ludidi : you (…) just ate

– (bawu) dia badidi : they (…) just ate

– (bima) dia bididi : they (…) just ate

1.3.1.5. A form of the present that indicates a habit.

To indicate an action that is usually performed, conjugation is obtained from the form of the

present tense that lasts, by modifying the radical of the verb with the replacement of the

terminal letter “a” by the suffix “anga” and by preceding the result thus obtained with a

subject prefix (ni, wu, ka, ki, tu, lu, ba and bi for I, you, he/she, it, we, you,

they and they), then preceded by the radical of the unmodified verb to obtain the

following form

– (mono) dia nidianga : (usually), I eat

– (ngeye) dia wudianga : (usually), you eat

– (yandi) dia kadianga : (usually), he (she) eats

– (kima) dia kidianga : (usually), it eats

– (beto) dia tudianga : (usually), we eat

– (beno) dia ludianga : (usually), you eat

– (bawu) dia badianga : ((usually), they eat

– (bima) dia bidianga : ((usually), they eat

1.3.2. Conjugation in the past tense:

The conjugation of a verb in the past tense takes place in different forms that range from

the near past tense to the distant past tense, depending on whether the action is

instantaneous (brief) or continuous (lasting).

1.3.2.1. Conjugation similar to the imperfect:

The imperfect in Kikongo expresses an action that has lasted in the past, therefore the

general form of the imperfect is conjugated in the form “to be in the process of” with the

verb “to be” (“kuba” or “kukala”) as an auxiliary. To obtain it, simply replace the

letter “a” that ends the verb radical with the suffix “anga”.

We then obtain the forms below according to what we want to express.

1.3.2.1.1. First general form of the imperfect :

– (mono) nabele/yabele/yakele dianga : I was eating

– (ngeye) wabele/wakele dianga : you were eating

– (yandi) wabele/wakele dianga : he (she) was eating

– (kima) kiabele/kiakele dianga : it was eating

– (beto) tuabele/tuakele dianga : we were eating

– (beno) luabele/luakele dianga : you were eating

– (bawu) babele/bakele dianga : they were eating

– (bima) biabele/biakele dianga : they were eating

1.3.2.1.2. First form of the imperfect with insistence :

To insist on the action of the verb, the general form is preceded with the radical of the verb,

which thus appears twice, and the following conjugation is obtained :

– (mono) dia nabele/yabele/yakele dianga : I was (really) eating

– (ngeye) dia wabele/wakele dianga : you were (…) eating

– (yandi) dia kabele/kakele dianga : he (she) was (…) eating

– (kima) dia kiabele/kiakele dianga : it was (…) eating

– (beto) dia tuabele/tuakele dianga: we were (…) eating

– (beno) dia luabele/luakele dianga : you were (…) eating

– (bawu) dia babele/bakele dianga : they were (…) eating

– (bima) dia biabele/biakele dianga : they were (…) eating

1.3.2.1.3. Second general form of the imperfect :

– (mono) mbele/nkele dianga : I was eating

– (ngeye) bele/kele dianga : you were eating

– (yandi) bele/kele dianga : he (she) was eating

– (kima) kibele/kikele dianga : it was eating

– (beto) tubele/tukele dianga : we were eating

– (beno) lubele/lukele dianga : you were eating

– (bawu) babele/bakele dianga : they were eating

– (bima) bibele/bikele dianga : they were eating

1.3.2.1.4. Second form of the imperfect with insistence:

To insist on the action of the verb, the general form is preceded with the radical of the verb,

which thus appears twice, and the following conjugation is obtained :

– (mono) dia mbele/ nkele dianga : I was (really) eating

– (ngeye) dia bele/kele dianga : you were (…) eating

– (yandi) dia kabele/kakele dianga : he (she) was (…) eating

– (kima) dia kibele/ kikele dianga : it was (…) eating

– (beto) dia tubele/tukele dianga: we were (…) eating

– (beno) dia lubele/lukele dianga : you were (…) eating

– (bawu) dia babele/bakele dianga : they were (…) eating

– (bima) dia bibele/bikele dianga : they were (…) eating

1.3.2.2. Conjugation similar to the perfect tense :

The perfect tense in Kikongo expresses a brief action in the recent past, therefore the

general form of the past tense is conjugated in the form “to have finished to” with the

verb “kumana” (to just finish to) which takes on its meaning and which will be used as

an auxiliary, which gives as a result the conjugated auxiliary followed by the radical of the

verb.

We then obtain the following forms depending on what we want to express.

1.3.2.2.1. General form of the perfect tense :

– (mono) yamene/i dia: I have just eaten

– (ngeye) wamene/i dia : you have just eaten

– (yandi) wamene/i dia : he (she) has just eaten

– (kima) kiamene/i dia : it has just eaten

– (beto) tuamene/i dia: we have just eaten

– (beno) luamene/i dia: you have just eaten

– (bawu) bamene/i dia : they have just eaten

– (bima) biamene/i dia : they have just eaten

1.3.2.2.2. Form of the perfect tense with insistence:

The form of the perfect tense with insistence is obtained by preceding the general form with

the radical of the verb and is conjugated as follows :

– (mono) dia yamene/i//namene/i dia: I have (actually) just eaten

– (ngeye) dia wamene/i dia : you have (…) just eaten

– (yandi) dia kamene/i dia : he (she) has (…) just eaten

– (kima) dia kiamene/i dia : it has (…) just eaten

– (beto) dia tuamene/i dia: we have (…) just eaten

– (beno) dia luamene/i dia: you have (…) just eaten

– (bawu) dia bamene/i dia : they have (…) just eaten

– (bima) dia biamene/i dia : they have (…) just eaten

1.3.2.2.3. Form of the recent perfect tense :

– (mono) dia mbeni/nimeni dia : I just ate

– (ngeye) meni dia : you just ate

– (yandi) meni dia : he (she) just ate

– (kima) kimeni dia : it just ate

– (beto) tumeni dia : we just ate

– (beno) lumeni dia : you just ate

– (bawu) bameni dia : they just ate

– (bima) bimeni dia : they just ate

1.3.2.2.4. Form of the recent perfect tense with insistence:

The form of the perfect tense with insistence is obtained by preceding the form of the

recent perfect tense with the radical of the verb and is conjugated as follows :

– (mono) dia mbeni/nimeni dia: I (actually) just ate

– (ngeye) dia (wu)meni dia : you (…) just ate

– (yandi) dia kameni dia : he (she) (…) just ate

– (kima) dia kimeni dia : it (…) just ate

– (beto) dia tumeni dia: we (…) just ate

– (beno) dia lumeni dia: we (…) just ate

– (bawu) dia bameni dia : they (…) just ate

– (bima) dia bimeni dia : they (…) just ate

1.3.2.3. Conjugation similar to the preterite :

The preterite in Kikongo expresses an instant action in the distant past, therefore the

preterite is conjugated in the different forms below according to what we want to express.
1.3.2.3.1. First form of the preterite :

– (mono) yadia/nadia : I ate

– (ngeye) wadia : you ate

– (yandi) wadia : he (she) ate

– (kima) kiadia : it ate

– (beto) twadia : we ate

– (beno) lwadia : you ate

– (bawu) badia : they ate

– (bima) biadia : they ate

1.3.2.3.2. First form of the preterite with insistence :

– (mono) dia yadia/nadia : I (actually) ate

– (ngeye) dia wadia : you (…) ate

– (yandi) dia kadia : he (she) (…) ate

– (kima) dia kiadia : it (…) ate

– (beto) dia tuadia : we (…) ate

– (beno) dia luadia : you (…) ate

– (bawu) dia badia : they (…) ate

– (bima) dia biadia : they (…) ate

1.3.2.3.3. Second form of the preterite :

– (mono) yakala/nakala dianga : I was eating

– (ngeye) wakala dianga : you were eating

– (yandi) wakala dianga : he (she) was eating

– (kima) kiakala dianga : it was eating

– (beto) tuakala dianga : we were eating

– (beno) luakala dianga : you were eating

– (bawu) bakala dianga : they were eating

– (bima) biakala dianga : they were eating

1.3.2.3.4. Second form of the preterite with insistence :

– (mono) dia yakala/nakala dianga : I was (really) eating

– (ngeye) dia wakala dianga : you were (…) eating

– (yandi) dia kakala dianga : he (she) was (…) eating

– (kima) dia kiakala dianga : it was (…) eating

– (beto) dia tuakala dianga : we were (…) eating

– (beno) dia luakala dianga : you were (…) eating

– (bawu) dia bakala dianga : they were (…) eating

– (bima) dia biakala dianga : they were (…) eating

1.3.3. Conjugation in the future tense :

In Kikongo, the conjugation of a verb in the future tense can be done in three different

forms depending on what you want to express.

1.3.3.1. First form of the the future tense to plan the action expimed by the verb :

– (mono) ngiena/ngina dia: I will eat

– (ngeye) wena/wuna dia : you will eat

– (yandi) wena/wuna dia : he (she) will eat

– (kima) kiena/kina dia : it will eat

– (beto) twena/tuna dia : we will eat

– (beno) lwena/luna dia : you will eat

– (bawu) bena dia : they will eat

– (bima) biena/bina dia : they will eat

1.3.3.2. Second form of the future tense to insist on the action that must be carried out

for sure :

– (mono) dia ngiena/ngina dia : I will (certainly) eat

– (ngeye) dia wena/wuna dia : we will (…) eat

– (yandi) dia wena/wuna dia : he (she) will (…) eat

– (kima) dia kiena/kina dia : it will (…) eat

– (beto) dia tuena/tuna dia : we will (…) eat

– (beno) dia luena/tuna dia : we will (…) eat

– (bawu) dia bena dia : they will (…) eat

– (bima) dia biena/bina dia : they will (…) eat

1.3.3.3. Third form of the future tense to express an action that will probably be

accomplished :

– (mono) si nadia: I will (probably) eat

– (ngeye) si wadia : you will (…) eat

– (yandi) si kadia : he (she) will (…) eat

– (kima) si kiadia : it will (…) eat

– (beto) si tuadia : we will (…) eat

– (beno) si luadia : you will (…) eat

– (bawu) si badia : they will (…) eat

– (bima) si biadia : they will (…) eat

1.3.4. Conjugation in the imperative mood :

In Kikongo, to conjugate a verb in the imperative mood, we use the radical of the verb that

we modify or not according to the person concerned by the order, so :

– for the second person of the singular, the radical does not undergo any modification
– for the first person in the plural, the radical is prefixed with “tu” (we) and a suffix is

added by replacing the terminal letter “a” with “eno”.

– for the second person in the plural, the radical is prefixed with “lu” (you) and a suffix is

added by replacing the terminal letter “a” with “eno”.

Below is the example of conjugation in the imperative which concerns the verb “kudia”:

Example :

– dia : eat

– tudieno : let’s eat

– ludieno : eat

A second example of conjugation in the imperative of the verb “kudisa” (to make eat)

with additional direct object:

Example :

– wundisa : make me eat / make him eat

– tubadiseno : let’s make them eat

– lundiseno : make me eat / make him eat

When the imperative expresses a wish, these formulas are preceded by “do” :

Example :

– do wundisa : make me eat / make him eat

– do tubadiseno : let’s make them eat

– do lundiseno : make me eat / make him eat

1.3.5. Conjugation in the Subjunctive :

In Kikongo, the conjugation of a verb in the subjunctive in its general form is done by simply

replacing the prefix “ku” of the verb in the infinitive by the subject’s indicator while

keeping the radical of the verb intact, then the verb thus conjugated is preceded by the

pronoun “that” (“vo”/”ti”).

Example: kolia :

– vo/ti nadia/yadia : that I eat,

– vo/ti wadia : that you eat

– vo/ti kadia : that he (she) eats

– vo/ti kiadia : that it eats

– vo/ti tuadia : that we eat

– vo/ti luadia : that you eat

– vo/ti badia : that they eat

– vo/i biadia : that they eat

The subjunctive tense is determined by the tense of the conjugation of the preceding verb.

Examples :

– (mono) nzolele vo (ngeye) wadia : I want you to eat

– ngeye wazolele vo mono yadia : you would have wanted me to eat

– bawu bazola vo beto tuadia : they wanted us to have eaten

Besides the conjunctions “vo” and “ti” to introduce the subjunctive, this can also be

introduced by one of the conjunctions “kimana”, “kidi”, “kidimana”, “ngatu”,

“ngati”, “ndaki” and “ndiki” which are translated by the conjunctive locution “so

that”.

Examples :

– nzolele vo wanua bilongo biaku kidi (vo) waniaka : I want you to take your

medicine so that you can heal

– nzolele vo wadia kimana wabaka ngolo : I want you to eat so that you can get

stronger

– lukoteno mu nzo kidi (vo) lualembo bola ku mvula : enter the house so that

you can’t get wet from the rain

– lufueti longoka bileso bieno ngati luabaka kizame : you need to learn your

lesson so that you can pass the exam.

1.3.6. Conjugation in the interrogative form :

In Kikongo, the interrogative form of the conjugation is obtained by taking any form of the

indicative that we have presented above, the only difference lies in the interrogative

intonation that accompanies this form.

Some examples with the verb “kudia”:

– dia weti/weta dia ? are you eating ?

– didi (eh) ? have you eaten (have you just eaten) ?

– didingi ? did you eat ?

With the interrogative pronoun “nki” (“que”), these examples become :

– nki weti/weta dia ? what are you eating ?

– nki (wu)didi ? what did you eat (what did you just eat)?

– nki (wu)didingi ? what did you eat ?

The same will apply to other interrogative pronouns or adverbs such

as “nkia” (“what”), “kue/kueyi” (“where”), “bue/bueyi” (“how”) or “nkia

ntalu/ntangu” (“how much/when”).

1.3.7. Conjugation in the conditional form :

In Kikongo, the conditional form is characterized by the presence of the conditional

indicator “nga” placed before the expression of the conjugated verb, this indicator is itself

generally preceded by an expression of the type “vo” (“if” conditional) + (conjugated

verb), so we obtain a sentence of the type : vo (conjugated verb), nga (verb conjugated in

the conditional form).

Example: the verb “kudia”:

vo (dia) didingi nga kubuidi ko : (if you had eaten you would not have fallen)

Note: for its conjugation, the conditional takes exactly one of the forms of the indicative

that we presented above at the tense we want, it is only the expression “vo (conjugated

verb)” placed before it that allows to indicate the conditional form.

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