Lingala is a Bantu language and lingua franca of Democratic Republic of Congo(Kinshasa) and Republic of Congo(Brazzaville). Its use has spread to northwestern Angola, eastern Gabon, southern Central African Republic, and southern Sudan. The popularity of soukous music is instrumental in the spread of Lingala. It was derived from Bangala speaking people of the Mongala, Ngiri, and Ubangi river areas. The language has become a language of trade. The following is a sample of lingala counting system.
| Number | Lingala | | 1 | moko | | 2 | mibale | | 3 | misato | | 4 | mine | | 5 | mitano | | 6 | motoba | | 7 | sambo | | 8 | yembo | | 9 | libwa | | 10 | dzomi | | 11 | dzomi na moko | | 12 | dzomi na mibale | | 13 | dzomi na misato | | 14 | dzomi na mine | | 15 | dzomi na mitano | | 16 | dzomi na motoba | | 17 | dzomi na sambo | | 18 | dzomi na yembo | | 19 | dzomi na libwa | | 20 | dzomi na mibale' | | 21 | dzomi na mibale na moko | | 22 | dzomi na mibale na mibale | | 23 | dzomi na mibale na misato | | 24 | dzomi na mibale na mine | | 25 | dzomi na mibale na mitano | | 26 | dzomi na mibale na motoba | | 27 | dzomi na mibale na sambo | | 28 | dzomi na mibale na yembo | | 29 | dzomi na mibale na libwa | | 30 | dzomi na misato | | | |
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