ebale

Bangi

Noun

ebale

1. river

Lingala

FWOTD – 11 October 2025

Etymology

Derived from -bala (“to approach; to join”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /e˩.ba˩.le˩/

Noun

ebale class 7 (plural bibale class 8)

1. river
   • 1963, James E. Redden, Frederic Bongo, Ernest Masakala, Emil Zola, Lingala: Basic Course, Foreign Service Institute, page 191:

     Nakangákí mbísi míngi na ebale.

     I caught a lot of fish in the river.

   • 1981, Eyamba G. Bokamba, Ekolongonelo Ya Lingala: An Introductory Textbook and Grammar, Department of Linguistics, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, page 117:

     Mobembo o Ebale Zaire

     A Trip on the Zaire River

   • 1989, John A. Holm, quoting S. Mufwene, Pidgins and Creoles: Volume II, Reference Survey, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press, →ISBN, page 560:

     Akeí na ebale mpó ásokola nzóto mpé ámela mwámái.

     He went to the river to wash himself and drink some water.