toki pona

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Toki Pona, good speech, simple speech, helpful words, speak Toki Pona
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toki pona
Toki Pona
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/ˈto.ki ˈpo.na/
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The name of Sonja Lang's small constructed language, with native uses for good or simple speech and for speaking or translating something into that language.
Practice using this word in conversation

Examples

  • ona li ante e toki utala tawa toki pona.
    They change hostile speech into peaceful words.
  • lipu pu li lipu sona pi toki pona.
    The book pu is a textbook of Toki Pona.
  • nimi pi toki pona li lili taso li ken toki e ijo mute.
    The words of Toki Pona are few but can express many things.
  • toki pona li ken pona e pilin ike.
    Kind speech can soothe bad feelings.
  • toki pona li toki pali li toki lili.
    Toki Pona is a constructed language and a small language.

Similar words

toki pona
toki pi nasin pona
toki suwi

Meanings

Minimalist constructed language

linguistics
neutral
The name of Sonja Lang's minimalist constructed language, built from a small core vocabulary and a simple grammar for broad, flexible expression.

Usage

Use toki pona for the language itself when the headword is being treated in Toki Pona, and use the capitalized English form Toki Pona only in English prose.

Examples

  • mi kama sona e toki pona.
    I am learning Toki Pona.
  • jan Sonja li pali e toki pona lon tenpo sike 2001.
    Sonja created Toki Pona in 2001.
  • kulupu mute li toki kepeken toki pona lon lipu linluwi.
    Many communities speak in Toki Pona online.
  • nimi pi toki pona li lili taso li ken toki e ijo mute.
    The words of Toki Pona are few but can express many things.
  • lipu pu li lipu sona pi toki pona.
    The book pu is a textbook of Toki Pona.
  • mi lukin e sitelen pona lon toki pona.
    I see sitelen pona writing in Toki Pona.
  • toki pona li toki pali li toki lili.
    Toki Pona is a constructed language and a small language.

Common mistakes

The native lowercase spelling is often replaced by the English capitalized name, and the language is sometimes described as natural rather than constructed.
IncorrectCorrect
mi kama sona e Toki Pona. mi kama sona e toki pona.
mi kama sona toki pona. mi kama sona e toki pona.
toki pona li toki mama. toki pona li toki pali.
jan Sonja li mama e toki pona. jan Sonja li pali e toki pona.

Similar words

Good or simple speech

communication
neutral
Ordinary speech, advice, or communication that is good, kind, simple, helpful, or pleasing.

Usage

Use toki pona in this sense when the phrase is built from its parts, not when it names the language as a whole.

Examples

  • toki sina li toki pona tawa mi.
    Your words are good speech to me.
  • mi wile kute e toki pona tan sina.
    I want to hear good advice from you.
  • jan lawa li pana e toki pona tawa kulupu.
    The leader gives helpful words to the group.
  • toki pona li ken pona e pilin ike.
    Kind speech can soothe bad feelings.
  • ona li ante e toki utala tawa toki pona.
    They change hostile speech into peaceful words.
  • tenpo ike la kulupu li wile e toki pona.
    In hard times the community needs good communication.
  • mama li pana e toki pona tawa jan lili.
    The parent gives good words to the child.

Common mistakes

The phrase is easy to over-read as only the language name, even when the sentence simply means good or helpful speech.
IncorrectCorrect
ona li pana e pona toki. ona li pana e toki pona.
toki utala li toki pona. toki utala li toki ike.
mi wile e toki pona e sina. mi wile e toki pona tan sina.
jan li toki pona e mi. jan li pana e toki pona tawa mi.

Similar words

toki pona
toki suwi
toki pi nasin pona

Speak or translate into Toki Pona

language use
neutral
To speak, write, express, or translate something in Toki Pona.

Usage

Use toki pona as a verb phrase with an object after e when something is being put into Toki Pona.

Examples

  • mi toki pona e ijo ni.
    I express this thing in Toki Pona.
  • sina ken ala ken toki pona e toki Inli ni?
    Can you translate this English into Toki Pona?
  • jan Sonja li toki pona e lipu lili.
    Sonja translated the short text into Toki Pona.
  • ona li toki pona lon kulupu pi toki sin.
    They speak Toki Pona in a conlang group.
  • mi wile toki pona tawa sina.
    I want to speak Toki Pona to you.
  • kulupu li toki pona lon lipu tenpo.
    The group writes in Toki Pona in lipu tenpo.
  • sina toki pona la jan mute li sona.
    If you say it in Toki Pona, many people understand.

Common mistakes

The object marker e is often dropped, and the phrase is sometimes confused with simply talking about the language.
IncorrectCorrect
mi toki pona toki Inli ni. mi toki pona e toki Inli ni.
sina li toki pona e mi. sina li toki pona tawa mi.
ona li toki e toki pona e lipu ni. ona li toki pona e lipu ni.
mi toki pona e toki pona taso. mi toki pona e toki Inli.

Similar words

Usage

Use the context to tell the language name from the transparent phrase for good speech or the verb phrase for putting something into Toki Pona.

Common mistakes

Toki Pona is the English capitalized name, while the native headword is normally lowercase toki pona.

Etymology

From Toki Pona toki, meaning language, speech, or communication, and pona, meaning good or simple. Sonja Lang established the language in 2001.

FAQ

What does toki pona mean?

toki pona can name Sonja Lang's minimalist constructed language, mean good or simple speech, or work as a verb phrase for speaking or translating into Toki Pona.

Why is the entry lowercase?

The Toki Pona phrase is normally written toki pona in its own language, while English usually capitalizes the language name as Toki Pona.

Who created toki pona?

Sonja Lang created toki pona in 2001 as a small constructed language built around simplicity and broad expression.

How many words does toki pona have?

The core vocabulary is small, commonly described by official materials as about 120 to 140 basic words.

Can toki pona mean good speech?

Yes. Inside Toki Pona, toki pona can be read from its parts as good, simple, or helpful speech.

How does toki pona work as a verb phrase?

With an object, toki pona e ijo means to express or translate something in Toki Pona.

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