Lingala dictionary · browse all
niama
NI-a-ma
beast / animal (insult)
French: bete / animal (injure)
Yaka awa, niama oyo!
Come here, you animal!
Viens ici, sale bete!
Niama — INSULT form (tonal homonym of #722 nyama = meat/animal, which is neutral). When nyama is leveled directly at a person as "niama," it carries deep offense — implying the person lacks a soul or human decency. The change in tone marks the change in register.
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