Frequently asked questions

This page links frequently asked questions about Toki Pona to relevant articles.

General Edit

What order do words go in?
A basic sentence is "subject li predicate (e object)." Modifiers go after their heads.
How do particles like li / o, e, pi, and la work?
How do you say "and"?
Repeat the corresponding particle. Between multiple subjects, use en.
How does anu work?
How do you ask questions in Toki Pona?
seme means "what". Yes-or-no questions use "verb ala verb" or "…anu seme?"
How do prepositions work?
Is kepeken e correct?
Debatably. It's uncommon. Be careful putting e after prepositions: it turns them into transitive verbs, changing their meaning.
How do preverbs work?

How do you say "please"?
There is no politeness marker. Directness and sincerity are better appreciated.
How do you say "hello" and "goodbye" / "thank you" / "sorry"?
Toki Pona: The Language of Good gives some example phrases. You can create other options for specific situations.
What is the word / phrase for…?
There aren't fixed phrases for most concepts, by design. Describe things dynamically, and refer back to those descriptions.
What would this phrase mean?
It all depends on context.
Can I coin a new word for…?
A few extra words have entered common use, but you should be proficient before proposing big changes. Communication takes two, so expect to define rare words with the core vocabulary, and to explain the purpose or benefit of using them.