telo

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telo in sitelen pona
telo in sitelen sitelen
Pronunciation /ˈte.lo/
Usage 2024: Core (100% → )2023: Core (100% → )2022: Core (100%)
Book and era nimi pu
Part of speech Content word
Codepoint 󱥪 U+F196A

telo is a core content word relating to liquids and fluids.

Etymology[edit | edit source]

The word telo is derived from Acadian French de l'eau ("(some) water"),[1] pronounced /dəlo/ in jan Sonja's idiolect.[2]

Semantic space[edit | edit source]

Fluids of different viscosities. Both may be telo.

The semantic space of telo includes liquids and fluids, amorphous substances and states of matter that conform to the shape of their container. It most often refers to liquid water, ranging in size from droplets to oceans, unless a different fluid can be inferred from context. Despite the prototypical focus on watery properties, telo can also refer to viscous fluids, such as honey.[3]

kala li tawa lon telo 

kala li tawa lon telo.

The fish is swimming in water.

telo suli li lon insa ma tu

telo suli li lon insa ma tu.

A big [body of] water is between the two lands.

telo can describe wetness. When used as a transitive verb, it usually refers to causing something to become wet, such as applying water and cleaning (with water).

mi telo e soweli mi

mi telo e soweli mi.

I wash my pet.

It may also refer to turning something into a fluid.

seli li telo e kiwen

seli li telo e kiwen.

The heat melted the rock.

Extensions[edit | edit source]

Figuratively, telo can also describe abstract senses of fluidity, for objects or concepts that change over time or between situations. Speakers who use this sense may also contrast kiwen as "resisting change".[3]

pu[edit | edit source]

In the "Official Toki Pona Dictionary" section, the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good defines telo as:

NOUN  water, liquid, fluid, wet substance; beverage

ku[edit | edit source]

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as telo:[4]

fluid5, water5, wet4, wash3, pond3, pool3, drink2, shower2, lake2

sitelen pona[edit | edit source]

The sitelen pona glyph for telo (󱥪) represents a wave as two curvy horizontal lines. Compare the glyph for kon.

sitelen sitelen[edit | edit source]

The sitelen sitelen glyph for telo (telo) represents a wave with three peaks.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Word Origins". tokipona.org. Archived from the original on 8 August 2002.
  2. jan Sonja [@sonjalang]. (5 August 2024). Message in #toki. sona.pona.la. Discord. Retrieved 5 August 2024. "acadian french is not standardized, but in my own transcription of my own idiolect:".
  3. 3.0 3.1 lipamanka. "toki pona dictionary". lipamanka.gay.
  4. Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 360.

Further reading[edit | edit source]