History of the dictionary

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This page was previously located at pad.snopyta.org.

This page details the history and evolution of the dictionary for Toki Pona over time. It collects the earliest available word lists to show how the "official" vocabulary has changed before the publication of the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good.

2001

Word list (August 2001)

According to jan Pije's pre-pu website, this wordlist is "the Toki Pona vocabulary as it was first presented online," presumably refering to 8 August 2001, or else probably not long thereafter.

This word list is 95% complete. Total 118 words so far. A few new minor words may be added later on.

Word	Definition
a	ah! ha! oh! ooh! aw! (emotion word)
ala	no, not, none, negation, zero, un-
ale	they, all, everything, anything, complete, whole
akesi	non-cute earth animal, reptile, amphibian, etc.
anpa	low, bottom, lower, down, under, below, floor
ante	different, other, changed, otherwise
awen	keep, stay, wait, reside
e	(introduces a direct object)
en	and
ijo	thing, something, stuff, anything
ike	bad, evil
iki	he, she, it, him, her, his, its
ilo	tool, device, machine
insa	between, middle, centre, inside, stomach, torso
jaki	disgusting, dirty, pollution
jan	person, people, human, being, somebody, anybody, one
jelo	yellow
jo e	to have, contain, possess
kala	fish, sea creature
kalama	sound, noise, voice
kama	to come, become, appear, arrive, happen, succeed, manage, then
kan	to be/do/go with, accompany, among
kapa	hill, mountain, bump, button
kapesi	brown, grey
kasi	plant, tree, wood
ken	can, is able to, is allowed to, may, probable, is possible, maybe, power
kepeken	use, with use of
kili	fruit, vegetable
kin	also, too, even, indeed
ko	paste, substance, powder
kon	air, wind, smell, atmosphere, mood, spirit, soul
kule	colour
kute e	listen, hear
la	(between adverb of context and subject)
lape	rest, sleep
laso	blue, green
lawa	head, main, lead, mind, brain, opinion, thought
leko	block, square object, cube, stairs
len	clothing, cloth
lete	cold, uncooked
li	(separates any subject except mi and sina from its verb)
lili	small, little, a bit, short, few, less, young
linja	line, family, rope, thread, string, cord, chain
lipu	paper, card, ticket, something flat
lape	to sleep, rest
loje	red
lon	to be (located) in/at/on, be there/present/real/true, exist
luka	hand, arm, five, overly complicated number or thing
lukin e	to see, perceive, look at, watch, watch out, pay attention, visit
lupa	hole, loop, window, door, orifice
ma	land, earth, country, outdoor area
mama	father, mother, parent
mani	money, material wealth, treasure, currency, dollar
meli	woman, female, girl, wife
mi	I, me, my
mije	man, male, guy, husband
moku	food, meal
moku e	to eat, drink, swallow
moli	die, death, kill
monsi	back, rear end, behind
mun	moon
musi	to play, have fun
mute	many, several, very, much, quantity, amount, a lot, abundant, numerous, more
nanpa	number, -th
nasa	crazy, silly, foolish, drunk, strange, stupid, strange, weird
nasin	way, manner, custom, road, path
ni	this, that
nimi	name
noka	leg, foot
o	O! (vocative or imperative)
oko	eye
olin e	to love romantically
open e	to open, turn on
pakala e	to screw up, botch, ruin, break, hurt, injure, damage, accident
pali	life, activity, work, deed, doing, project
pali e	to do, make, act, work, function, be alive
palisa	rod, stick, long or pointy thing
pana e	to give, put, send, place, release, emit
pi	of
pilin	feelings, heart, emotion
pimeja	black, dark, darkness, shadows
pini	done, past, ready, end, tip, ago
pini e	finish, close, end, turn off
pipi	bug, insect, spider
po	four
poka	side, hip, neighbouring, next to
poki	container, box, bowl, cup, glass
pona	good, nice, positive, correct, OK, cool, thanks!, simple, sound, right
sama	same, similar, seem, equal, like, as
seli	fire, hot, warm, cooked
selo	outside, surface, skin, shell, bark, shape
seme	what, which, wh-
sewi	high, up, above, top, superior, over, on, elevated, noble, religious, supernatural
sijelo	body, physical, state, health
sike	circle, round, sphere, ball, cycle, year, group, community, company
sin	new, fresh, another, more
sina	you
sinpin	front, chest, wall
sitelen	picture, image, draw, idea
sona	knowledge, science, intelligence, understanding, wisdom, know how to
soweli	land mammal, animal
suli	big, tall, long, important
suno	sun, light
supa	horizontal surface, table, chair, etc.
suwi	sweet, candy, cute
tan	from, by, because of, origin, cause
taso	but, only
tawa	to go to, move, walk, travel, to, in order to, towards, for, until
telo	water, liquid, juice, sauce
tenpo	time, period, if, when
toki	language, talking, speech, communication
tomo	house, room, place, building, constructed space
tu	two
tuli	three
unpa e	have sex with
uta	mouth
utala	fight, hit, strike, war, battle, compete
walo	white
wan	one, a, unit, element, particle, part, piece
waso	bird, flying animal
wawa	strong, energy, hard, fierce, intense, sure
weka	away
wile e	to want, need, wish, have to, must, will

2002

English–Toki Pona dictionary (March 2002)

This dictionary is still under construction. Eventually, thousands of English words will appear here.
You may also want to cross-check individual meanings in the Toki Pona word list.

English	toki pona
a, an	(no translation)
a man	jan
aardvark	soweli (li moku e pipi)
aback:he was taken aback	ijo li utala e pilin iki
abacus	ilo nanpa
abandon	(leave) tawa weka tan; (get rid of) weka e; (give up something begun) kama pini ala e
abandoned	(deserted, forsaken) li jo ala e jan; (uninhibited) nasa
abase	anpa e
abashed	(ill at ease, ashamed) (kan jan) pilin ike; (confused) pilin nasa
abattoir	tomo pi moli soweli
abbess	jan sewi (meli)
abbey	tomo pi nasin sewi
abbot	jan sewi
abbreviate	lili e
abbreviation	wan toki lili
abdicate	pana weka e (wawa)
abdomen	insa
abduct	li kama jo e jan li kepeken e wawa
aberrant	nasa
abet	pali/toki pona tawa (ijo ike)
abhor:I abhor it	iki li ike/jaki mute (tawa mi)
abhorrent	jaki mute
abide	(stay) awen (kan);
abide by the law	pali lon nasin wile pi sike jan
ability	ken
abject	ike (mute)
ablaze:to be ablaze	seli li lon iki
able	ken;
able-bodied	(sijelo li) wawa
ablution(s)	(tomo) telo
abnormal	nasa
aboard	lon tomo (tawa)
abode	tomo
abolish	weka e
abominable	ike (mute)
abominate:I abominate it	iki li ike (mute) (tawa mi)
aboriginal	tenpo nanpa wan la iki li lon ma
abortion	moli e jan lili lon insa
abound	mute
about	(pertaining to) pi;
a story about women	toki meli; (approximately)
there were about three	tuli li ken lon; (in the field, subject of) lon;
let's talk about food	o mi toki lon moku; (in circles) lon sike;
what about the dog?	kin soweli (li kama ala kama)?
above	sewi
abrasion	pakala selo
abreast	lon poka
abridge	lili e
abroad	(in another country) lon ma ante; (to another country) tawa ma ante
abrupt	tenpo lili ike la iki li kama
abscess	telo ike lon lupa sijelo
absence	(away) weka; (not there) lon ala
absent-minded	(not paying attention) lukin ala; (thinking about something else) lawa li toki lon ante
absentee	jan weka
absinthe	telo nasa laso
absolute	(complete) ale;
an absolute idiot	jan nasa suli
absolutely	(very) mute
absorb	kama jo e (telo)
abstain	pali ala;(from drink) moku ala e telo nasa; (from sex) unpa ala
abstract	(not concrete) lon lawa taso; (to summarize) lili e toki; (extract) kama jo e ijo tan ijo
absurd	nasa
abundant	mute
abuse	(person) pali ike tawa; (misuse) kepeken ike e; (insult) toki ike tawa jan
abysmal	suli; ike mute
abyss	lupa suli/pimeja
acacia	kasi
academic	sona
academy	(school) tomo sona; (society) sike sona
acanthus	kasi
accelerate	(go faster) tenpo lili la iki li pali/tawa mute
accent	(pronunciation) kalama; (written mark) wan pi toki sitelen; (stress, emphasis) wawa; suli
accentuate	wawa e; suli e; toki wawa lon
accept	kama jo pona e
access	ken tawa/kepeken/jo
accessory	ijo (lili)
accident	(mishap) pakala; (chance event) kama
accomodate	pana e tomo tawa
accommodation	tomo
accompany	kan
accomplice	jan li pali ike kan jan
accomplish	kama pali e
accord	(agreement) lawa sama; (give) pana;
of my own accord	mi wile
according:according to her	iki li toki/pilin e ni:
accordingly	(appropriately) nasin pona; (consequently) tan ni
accordion	ilo pi kalama pona
accountable	wile lawa e
accountant	jan pi nanpa mani
accoutrement(s)	(equipment) ilo; (clothing) len
accumulate	(gather) kama jo e ijo mute; (become gathered) kama mute
accuse	toki e ni: jan li pali e ijo ike
ace	(cards) lipu nanpa wan; (expert) jan ken
ache	pilin ike;(desire) wile mute
achieve	kama pali e
achievement	pali suli
achromatic	jo ala e kule
acid	telo pakala
acknowledge	(admit, know) (toki) sona e;
he didn't even acknowledge me	iki li kin lukin ala e mi;
I acknowledged his letter	mi toki e ni: mi kama jo e lipu toki iki; (gift) toki pona tan
acne	kapa lili en loje lon lawa
acolyte	jan (pali) lili
aconite	kasi (pi sijelo ike)
acorn	sike lili kasi
acoutsic(al)	kalama
acoustics	sona/nasin kalama
acquaint:be acquainted with	sona e
acquaintance:he's an acquaintance	mi sona e iki
acquire	kama jo e
acre	ma;
he owns many acres	iki li jo e ma mute/suli
acreage	suli ma
acrid	(smell) kon ike; (remark, style) utala
acrimonious	pilin ike
acrobat	jan ken pi tawa pona
acronym	wan toki lili
acropolis	tomo mute wawa
across	(on the other side) lon poka ante; (to the other side) tawa poka ante
acrylic	len
act	pali
action	pali;(legal, military) utala
activate	open e
active	pali
activity	pali
actor, actress	jan pi pali pona
actual	lon
actually	kin
acupuncture	palisa pi sijelo pona
acute	(good perception) lukin pona; (intense) wawa; (insight) sona
adapt	kama ante pona; ante pona e
add	(put more) pana e (ijo sin); (increase in number) mute e; (increase in size) suli e
adder	akesi (palisa)
addiction	kepeken/moku ike
addition:in addition	kin
additional	sin
address	(location) tomo; (talk to) toki (tawa)
adequate	pona;(enough) mute pona
adjacent	lon poka
adjective	wan toki nasin
adjourn	pini e
agree	toki lon lawa sama
and	en;
a blue and white dress	len laso en walo;
you and me	sina en mi;
he approached and looked at me	iki li kama li lukin e mi;
I eat meat and vegetables	mi moku e soweli e kili;
my parents and friends are arriving tomorrow	tenpo suno kama la mama mi la jan pona mi li kama
are:	see be
as	(comparison)
as strong as me	wawa sama mi; (while)
as war approaches	tenpo la utala li kama; (being)
as a friend, I can help you	mi jan pona. mi ken pali pona tawa sina
at	(location) lon; (time) tenpo... la;
they came at night	tenpo pimeja la ale li kama; (activity)
at work	pali, lon tomo pali; (towards) tawa;
angry at you	pilin ike tawa sina; (state)
I'm good at languages	mi sona pona e toki
be	(copulative verb has no equivalent)
I am happy	mi pilin pona;
the bird is black	waso li pimeja;
the water is fresh	telo li sin; (location, time) lon;
she is in the bathroom	iki li lon tomo telo;
the feast is tomorrow	moku suli li lon tenpo suno kama; (exist, be there) lon; (feel) pilin;
are you OK?	sina pilin pona ala pona?;
I am cold	mi pilin lete; (progressive verb)
I am eating	mi moku; (passive voice)
the cat was fed	jan li pana e moku tawa soweli;
your bicycle has been damaged	sike tu sina li pakala; (in questions)
is it new?	iki li sin ala sin?; (can)
few birds were to be seen	jan li ken lukin e waso lili; (cost)
how much is it?	iki li sama mani seme?
but	taso;
I would like to do it, but I have no money	mi wile pali e iki. taso mi jo ala e mani; (contradicting)
that's not blue, but red	iki li laso ala. iki li loje; (only)
she is but a child	iki li jan lili taso; (except)
no one but him	iki taso
by	(close to) lon (loka); (using)
by hand	kepeken e luka; (passive agent)
he was killed by a bear	soweli wawa li moli e iki;
who's it by?	jan seme li pali e iki?
bye	(said when leaving) mi tawa; (in reply) tawa pona
can	(possibility, ability, right) ken; (know how to) sona
can	(container) poki
for	tawa;
for you	tawa sina;
what's this knife for?	ilo pakala ni li tawa seme?;
time for dinner	tenpo moku; (because of)
for this reason	tan ni; (duration)
we've been here for three days	tenpo suno tuli la mi mute li lon ni
forever	(always) tenpo ale; (a long time) tenpo suli
from	tan
had	see have
have	jo e;(must)
have to	wile;
you don't have to work	sina wile ala pali; (eat, drink)
they had some juice	ale li moku e telo; (questions)
has he arrived?	iki li kama ala kama?
he	iki;(male also) mije
his	iki
hot	seli;
I am hot	mi pilin seli; (intense) wawa; (spicy) moku wawa; (beautiful) pona lukin
I	mi
in	(location) lon;
in bed	lon supa lape;
in the darkness	lon pimeja; (state)
she was in a deep sleep	iki li lape wawa; (future time)
I'll do it in two days	tenpo suno tu kama la mi pali e iki; (language)
in English	lon toki Inli
is:	see be
it	iki; (impersonal verbs)
it is raining	telo li kama
law	nasin wile pi sike jan
life	(everything around us) ale; (activity) pali; (vitality) wawa
of	pi;
house of my sister	tomo pi meli sama mi; (often not translated)
the end of the branch	pini palisa;
a man of wisdom	mije wawa;
Republic of Turkey	ma Tuki;
all of my children	jan lili mi ale(from, because of) tan;
die of hunger	moli tan moku ala
on	(location) lon; (about) a lecture on this subject; (take, use) kepeken, moku; (functioning) pali;
one	wan;
one carrot	kili wan; (indefinite)
one day	tenpo suno wan; (sole)
the one and only person	jan wan taso; (pronoun)
this one	ni;
would you like one?	sina wile ala wile jo e iki?;
the blue one	ijo laso ni
other	ante
some	(no translation)
some water	telo;
some guy	jan; (indefinite also)
some woman	meli wan; (part)
do you want some (food)?	sina wile ala wile moku e iki?
steep	tenpo lili ike la iki li kama
that	ni;(conjunction) e ni:
he said that he had seen a woman	iki li toki e ni: iki li lukin e meli; (very)
it's that good	iki li pona mute
the	(no translation)
the animal	soweli
they	ale;(people in general) jan
this	ni;
what's this?	ni li seme?
to	tawa(infinitive verb)
they want to come	ale li wile kama
was:	see be
we	mi;(plural also) mi mute; (you and I also) sina en mi; (s/he and I also) mi en iki
weaken	(become weak) kama wawa ala; (make weak) wawa ala e
were:	see be
what	(question word) seme;
what am I eating?	mi moku e seme?;
what colour is that?	ni li kule seme?; (all)
I gave him what money I had	mi pana e mani ale mi tawa iki; (exclamations)
what an idiot!	iki li nasa!
with	(in the company of) kan;
I am with my dog	mi jan soweli mi;
I stay with you	mi awen kan sina; (by using) kepeken e;
I opened it with my hand	mi open e iki. mi kepeken e luka; (having)
a boy with brown eyes	mije lili li jo e oko kapesi
word	wan toki
you	sina;(plural also) sina mute; (one, anyone) jan;
fresh air does you good	kon sin li pona (tawa jan)

Word list (June 2002)

This word list is 98% complete. Total 120 words. One or two new minor words may be added later on, however the odds are becoming unlikely.

Parts of Speech

abbrev.	meaning
n	head noun
mod	modifier
sep	separator
vt	verb, transitive (normally used with e)
vi	verb, intransitive
interj	interjection
prep	quasi-preposition
conj	conjuncion
cont	context word used before la
conj	conjuncion
qw	question word
oth	special, other word

Toki Pona Word List

word	POS	meaning
a	interj	ah! ha! oh! ooh! aw! (emotion word)
akesi	n	reptile, amphibian
ala	n	nothingness, negation, zero
	interj	no!
ale	n	everything, anything, life
	mod	all, every, complete, whole
anpa	n	bottom, down, under, below, floor, beneath
	mod	low, lower, bottom
ante	n	difference
	mod	different, other
	cont	otherwise
	vt	change, alter, modify
anu	conj	or
awen	vi	stay, wait, reside
	vt	keep
e	sep	(introduces a direct object)
en	conj	and
ijo	n	thing, something, stuff, anything, object
	mod	physical
	vt	objectify
ike	mod	bad, evil, wrong
	interj	oh dear! woe! alas!
iki	(archaic for ona)
ilo	n	tool, device, machine, thing used for a specific purpose
insa	n	between, middle, centre, inside, stomach
jaki	mod	disgusting, dirty, filthy
	n	pollution, dirt, filth
	vt	pollute, dirty
	interj	ew! yuck!
jan	n	person, people, human, being, somebody, anybody
	mod	personal, human, somebody's, of people
jelo	mod	yellow, light green
jo	vt	have, contain, possess
kala	n	fish, sea creature
kalama	n	sound, noise, voice
kama	n	event, happening, chance
	mod	coming, future
	cont	then
	vi	come, become, appear, arrive, happen, succeed, manage
	vt	cause, bring about, summon
kan	prep	with, accompany, among
kasi	n	plant, tree, wood, herb
ken	n	possibility, ability, power to do things, permission
	vi	can, is able to, is allowed to, may, is possible
	vt	make possible, enable, allow, permit
	mod	probable, possible
	cont	maybe, perhaps, possibly
kepeken	vt	use, with
kili	n	fruit, vegetable
kin	oth	also, too, even, indeed
kiwen	n	rock, stone, metal, mineral, clay
ko	n	semi-solid substance (paste, powder, gum, etc.)
kon	n	air, wind, smell, soul
kule	n	colour
kute	vt	listen, hear
	mod	auditory, hearing
kulupu	n	group, community, society, company
	mod	communal, shared
la	sep	(between adverb of context and sentence)
lape	n, vi	sleep, rest
	mod	sleeping, of sleep
laso	mod	blue
lawa	n	head, mind
	mod	main, leading, in charge
	vt	lead, control, rule, steer
leko	n	block, square object, cube, stairs
len	n	clothing, cloth, fabric
lete	n	cold
	mod	cold, uncooked
	vt	cool down, chill, freeze
li	sep	(between any subject except mi and sina and its verb)
lili	mod	small, little, a bit, short, few, less, young
	vt	reduce, shorten, shrink, lessen
linja	n	line, family, rope, thread, string, cord, chain, hair
lipu	n	paper, card, ticket, something flat
loje	mod	red
lon	prep	(locative) in/at/on
	vi	be there, be present in the now, be real/true, exist, be ready, be awake
luka	n	hand, arm, element of an overly complicated number or thing
	mod	five, relating to the hand or arm
lukin	vt	see, look at, watch, visit
	vi	look, watch out, pay attention
	mod	visual, seeing
lupa	n	hole, orifice, window, door
ma	n	land, earth, country, outdoor area
mama	n	parent, mother, father
	mod	parental, maternal, fatherly
mani	n	money, material wealth, treasure, currency, dollar
meli	n	woman, female, girl, wife
	mod	female, feminine, womanly
mi	n	I, we
	mod	my, our
mije	n	man, male, guy, husband
	mod	male, masculine, manly
moku	n	food, meal
	vt	eat, drink, swallow
moli	n	death
	mod	dead, deadly, fatal
	vt	kill
	vi	die, be dead
monsi	n	back, rear end, behind
	mod	back, rear
mu	interj	woof! meow! moo! etc. (cute animal noise)
mun	n	moon
	mod	lunar
musi	n	fun, playing, game, recreation, art, entertainment
	mod	artful, fun, recreational
	vi	play, have fun
mute	mod	many, several, very, much, a lot, abundant, numerous, more
	n	amount, quantity
	vt	multiply, increase the number of, make copies of, augment, intensify
nanpa	n	number
	oth	-th (ordinal numbers)
nasa	mod	silly, crazy, foolish, drunk, strange, stupid, weird
	n	silliness, strangeness, insanity, folly, stupidity, drunkenness
nasin	n	way, manner, custom, road, path, doctrine, system
nena	n	bump, hill, button
ni	mod	this, that
nimi	n	word, name
noka	n	leg, foot
o	sep	O (vocative or imperative)
	interj	hey! (calling somebody's attention)
oko	n	eye
olin	n	affectionate love
ona	n	he, she, it, they
	mod	his, her, its, their
open	vt	open, turn on
pakala	n	blunder, accident, mistake, destruction, damage, breaking
	vt	screw up, fuck up, botch, ruin, break, hurt, injure, damage, bungle, spoil, ruin, destroy
	vi	fall apart, break
	interj	damn! fuck!
pali	n	activity, work, deed, project
	mod	active, operating, working, alive
	vt	do, make, build
	vi	act, work, function, be alive
palisa	n	rod, stick, long or pointy thing
pana	vt	give, put, send, place, release, emit
	n	giving, transfer
pi	sep	of
pilin	n	feelings, emotion, heart
	vi	feel
	vt	feel, think, sense
pimeja	mod	black, dark
	n	darkness, shadows
	vt	darken
pini	n	end, tip
	mod	finished, past, done, ago
	vt	finish, close, end, turn off
pipi	n	bug, insect, spider
poka	n	side, hip, next to
	mod	neighbouring
poki	n	container, box, bowl, cup, glass
pona	n	good, simplicity, positivity
	mod	good, simple, positive, nice, correct, right
	interj	great! good! thanks! OK! cool! yay!
	vt	improve, fix, repair
sama	mod	same, similar, equal, of equal status or generation
	prep	like, as, seem
	cont	similarly, in the same way that
seli	n	fire, warmth, heat
	mod	hot, warm, cooked
	vt	heat, warm up, cook
selo	n	outside, surface, skin, shell, bark, shape
seme	oth	what, which, wh- (question word)
sewi	n	high, up, above, top, over, on,
	mod	superior, elevated, noble, religious, supernatural
sijelo	n	body, physical, state
sike	n	circle, sphere, ball, cycle
	mod	round, cyclical
sin	mod	new, fresh, another, more
	vt	renew, renovate, freshen
sina	n	you
	mod	your
sinpin	n	front, chest, torso, wall
sitelen	n	picture, image
	vt	draw, write
sona	n	knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, understanding
	vt	know, understand, know how to
	vi	know, understand
soweli	n	land mammal, lovable animal, red meat
suli	mod	big, tall, long, important
	vt	enlarge, lengthen, give importance to
suno	n	sun, light
supa	n	horizontal surface, table, chair, etc.
suwi	n	candy
	mod	sweet, cute
	vt	sweeten
tan	prep	from, by, because of, since
	n	origin, cause
taso	mod	only, sole
	conj	but
tawa	conj	to go to, to, in order to, towards, for, until
	n	movement, transportation
	mod	moving, mobile
	vi	go, leave, walk, travel, move
	vt	move, displace
telo	n	water, liquid, juice, sauce
	vt	wash with water
tenpo	n	time, period, situation
	cont	if, when
toki	n	language, talking, speech, communication
	mod	talking, verbal
	vt	say
	vi	talk, chat
	interj	hello! hi!
tomo	n	house, home, room, indoor place, building, constructed space
	mod	domestic, urban
tu	mod	two
	n	duo, pair
unpa	n	sex, sexuality
	mod	erotic, sexual
	vt	have sex with
	vi	have sex
uta	n	mouth
	mod	oral
utala	n	conflict, competition, fight, war, battle, attack, blow, argument
	vt	hit, strike, attack, compete against
walo	mod	white, light
	n	white thing/part, whiteness
wan	mod	one, a, indefitine
	n	unit, element, particle, part, piece
	vt	unite
waso	n	bird, flying animal
wawa	n	energy, strength, power
	mod	strong, hard, fierce, intense, sure
	vt	strengthen, energize, empower, harden
weka	mod	away, absent
	n	absence
	vt	remove, get rid of, eliminate
wile	vt	to want, need, wish, have to, must, will
	n	desire, need
	mod	necessary

Word origins (August 2002)

A note on etymologies
In most regards, Toki Pona is an a priori language. Its various words describe concepts that are unique to Toki Pona. Just because a word was taken from another language, for example, does not in any way imply that its meaning matches the meaning of word in the source language.
This etymological dictionary was developed for curiosity purposes only. For the actual meanings of Toki Pona words, please consult the official Toki Pona word list.

abbrev.	language
CPE	Tok Pisin
CY	Welsh
EN	English
EO	Esperanto
FI	Finnish
FR-NB	Acadian French
HR	Croatian
JA	Japanese
KA	Georgian
LOJ	Lojban
NL	Dutch
SS	Sound symbolism or onomatopeia
TM	Trademark
TO	Tongan
ZH	Chinese (Mandarin), pinyin
ZH-HK	Chinese (Cantonese)

word	language	notes
a	SS
akesi	NL	hagedis
ala	KA	არა [ara]
ale	NL	al(le)
anpa	FR-NB	en bas
ante	NL	ander
anu	KA	?
awen	NL	houden
e	a	priori
en	NL	en
ijo	EO	io
ike	FI	ilkeä
iki	KA	იბი [igi]
ilo	EO	ilo
insa	CPE	insait (EN inside)
jaki	EN	yucky
jan	ZH-HK	人 [jan]
jelo	EN	yellow
jo	ZH	有 yǒu
kala	FI	kala
kalama	HR	galáma
kama	CPE	kamap (EN come up)
kan	?
kasi	FI	kasvi
ken	CPE	ken EN can
kepeken	NL	gebruiken
kili	KA	ხილი [xili]
kin	FI	-kin
kiwen	FI	kivi, kiven
ko	ZH-HK	[kou]
kon	ZH	空氣 kōngqì
kule	FR-NB	couleur
kulupu	TO	kulupu (EN group)
kute	FR-NB	(é)couter
la	EO	la
lape	NL	slapen
laso	CY	glas
lawa	?
leko	TM	Lego
len	FR-NB	linge
lete	FR-NB	frette
li	EO	li
lili	CPE	liklik
linja	FI	linja
lipu	FI	lippu
loje	NL	rooie
lon	CPE	long
luka	HR	rúka
lukin	CPE	lukim (EN look him)
lupa	LOJ	clupa
ma	FI	maa
mama	KA	მამა [mama]
mani	EN	money
meli	CPE	meri (EN Mary)
mi	EO	mi EN me
mije	FI	mies
moku	JA	SS モグモグ [mogu mogu]
moli	FR-NB	mourir
monsi	FR-NB	mon chu (cul)
mu	SS	SS
mun	EN	moon
musi	EO	amuzi
mute	EO	multe
nanpa	CPE	namba (EN number)
nasa	CPE	nasau
nasin	HR	náčin
nena	FI	nenä
ni	ZH-HK	[ni]
nimi	FI	nimi
noka	HR	nòga
o	KA	-ო [o] EO ho EN O
oko	HR	òko
olin	HR	volim
open	CPE	open EN open
pakala	CPE	bagarap (EN bugger up)
pali	EO	fari
palisa	HR	pàlica
pana	?
pi	CPE	bilong
pilin	CPE	pilim (EN feel him) EN feeling
pimeja	FI	pimeä
pini	FR-NB	fini
pipi	FR-NB	bibitte
poka	HR	bòk(a)
poki	CPE	bokis (EN box)
pona	EO	bona
sama	FI	sama EO sama
seli	KA	ცხელი [tsxeli]
selo	EO	ŝelo
seme	ZH	shénme
sewi	KA	შეკით [sevit]
sijelo	HR	tìjelo
sike	EN	circle
sin	ZH	新 xīn
sina	FI	sinä
sinpin	?
sitelen	NL	schilderen
sona	KA	ცოდნა [tsodna]
soweli	KA	ცხოკელი [tsxoveli]
suli	FI	suuri
suno	EO	suno
supa	FR	surface EO surfaco EN surface
suwi	CPE	swit (EN sweet)
tan	?
taso	CPE	tasol (EN that's all)
tawa	EN	towards
telo	FR-NB	de l'eau
tenpo	EO	tempo
toki	CPE	tok (EN talk)
tomo	EO	domo
tu	EN	two
unpa	SS
uta	HR	ústa
utala	HR	ùdarati
walo	FI	valko(inen)
wan	EN	one
waso	FR-NB	oiseau
wawa	FI	vahva
weka	NL	weg
wile	NL	willen

2003

Word list (March 2003)

This word list is 98% complete. Total 119 words. One or two new minor words may be added later on, however the odds are becoming unlikely.

word	POS	meaning
a	interj	ah! ha! oh! ooh! aw! (emotion word)
akesi	n	reptile, amphibian
ala	mod	no, not, none, un-
	n	nothingness, negation, zero
	interj	no!
ale or ali	n	everything, anything, life
	mod	all, every, complete, whole
anpa	n	bottom, down, under, below, floor, beneath
	mod	low, lower, bottom
	vt	lower, down, defeat, overcome
ante	n	difference
	mod	different, other
	cont	otherwise
	vt	change, alter, modify
awen	vi	stay, wait, reside, remain
	vt	keep
	mod	remaining, stationary, permanent, sedentary
e	sep	(introduces a direct object)
en	conj	and (used to coordinate head nouns)
	prep	with, accompany, among
ijo	n	thing, something, stuff, anything, object
	vt	objectify
ike	mod	bad, evil, wrong
	interj	oh dear! woe! alas!
	n	evil, badness
	vt	to make bad, to worsen, to have a negative effect upon
iki	(archaic for ona)
ilo	n	tool, device, machine, thing used for a specific purpose
	mod	instrumental
insa	n	between, middle, centre, inside, stomach
	mod	internal, central
jaki	mod	disgusting, dirty, filthy
	n	dirt, pollution, filth
	vt	pollute, dirty, soil
	interj	ew! yuck!
jan	n	person, people, human, being, somebody, anybody, individual
	mod	personal, human, somebody's, of people
	vt	personify, humanize, personalize
jelo	mod	green, yellow
jo	vt	have, contain, possess
	n	posession, ownership
kala	n	fish, sea creature
kalama	n	sound, noise, voice
	vi	make noise
	vt	sound, ring, play (an instrument)
kama	n	event, happening, chance, arrival, beginning
	mod	coming, future
	cont	in the future
	vi	come, become, appear, arrive, happen, succeed, manage
	vt	cause, bring about, summon
kasi	n	plant, leaf, herb, tree, wood
ken	n	possibility, ability, power to do things, permission
	vi	can, is able to, is allowed to, may, is possible
	vt	make possible, enable, allow, permit
	conj	or
	cont	maybe, perhaps, possibly
kepeken	vt	use
	prep	with
kili	n	fruit, pulpy vegetable, mushroom
kin	oth	also, too, even, indeed (emphasizes the word that follows)
kiwen	n	hard thing, rock, stone, metal, mineral, clay
	mod	hard, stone, stone-like
ko	n	semi-solid substance (paste, powder, gum, etc.)
kon	n	air, wind, odour, soul
	mod	air-like, ethereal, gaseous
kule	n	colour, paint, pigment
	vt	colour, paint
kute	vt	listen, hear
	mod	auditory, hearing
kulupu	n	group, community, society, company
	mod	communal, shared, public, of the society
la	sep	(between adverb of context and sentence)
lape	n, vi sleep, rest
	mod	sleeping, of sleep
laso	mod	blue
lawa	n	head, mind
	mod	main, leading, in charge
	vt	lead, control, rule, steer
leko	n	block, square object, cube, stairs
len	n	clothing, cloth, fabric
lete	n	cold
	mod	cold, uncooked
	vt	cool down, chill, freeze
li	sep	(between any subject except mi and sina and its verb; also used to introduce a new verb for the same subject)
lili	mod	small, little, a bit, short, few, less, young
	vt	reduce, shorten, shrink, lessen
linja	n	line, rope, hair, thread, string, cord, chain
lipu	n	paper, card, ticket, something flat and bendable
loje	mod	red
lon	prep	be located in/at/on
	vi	be there, be present in the now, be real/true, exist, be ready, be awake
luka	n	hand, arm, element of an overly complicated number or thing
	mod	five, relating to the hand or arm
lukin	vt	see, look at, watch, read
	vi	look, watch out, pay attention
	mod	visual, seeing
lupa	n	hole, orifice, window, door
ma	n	land, earth, country, outdoor area
mama	n	parent, mother, father
	mod	of the parent, parental, maternal, fatherly
mani	n	money, material wealth, treasure, currency, dollar, capital
meli	n	woman, female, girl, wife
	mod	female, feminine, womanly
mi	n	I, we
	mod	my, our
mije	n	man, male, husband
	mod	male, masculine, manly
moku	n	food, meal
	vt	eat, drink, swallow
moli	n	death
	mod	dead, deadly, fatal
	vt	kill
	vi	die, be dead
monsi	n	back, rear end, behind
	mod	back, rear
mu	interj	woof! meow! moo! etc. (cute animal noise)
mun	n	moon
	mod	lunar
musi	n	fun, playing, game, recreation, art, entertainment
	mod	artful, fun, recreational
	vi	play, have fun
	vt	amuse, entertain
mute	mod	many, several, very, much, a lot, abundant, numerous, more
	n	amount, quantity
	vt	multiply, increase the number of, make copies of, augment, divide into many parts
nanpa	n	number
	oth	-th (ordinal numbers)
nasa	mod	silly, crazy, foolish, drunk, strange, stupid, weird
	vt	drive crazy, make weird
nasin	n	way, manner, custom, road, path, doctrine, system, method
nena	n	bump, hill, mountain, button, nose
ni	mod	this, that
nimi	n	word, name
noka	n	leg, foot
o	sep	O (vocative or imperative)
	interj	hey! (calling somebody's attention)
oko	n	eye
olin	n	affectionate love
	mod	love
	vt	to love affectionately
ona	n	he, she, it, they
	mod	his, her, its, their
open	vt	open, turn on
pakala	n	blunder, accident, mistake, destruction, damage, breaking
	vt	screw up, fuck up, botch, ruin, break, hurt, injure, damage, bungle, spoil, ruin
	vi	fall apart, break
	interj	damn! fuck!
pali	n	activity, work, deed, project
	mod	active, operating, working
	vt	do, make, build
	vi	act, work, function, be alive
palisa	n	rod, stick, hard long thing
pana	vt	give, put, send, place, release, emit, yield, cause
	n	giving, transfer
pata	n	sibling, brother, sister, cousin
pi	sep	of
pilin	n	feelings, emotion, heart
	vi	feel
	vt	feel, think, sense
pimeja	mod	black, dark
	n	darkness, shadows vt darken
pini	n	end, tip
	mod	completed, finished, past, done, ago
	vt	finish, close, end, turn off
	cont	in the past
pipi	n	bug, insect, spider
poka	n	side, hip, next to
	mod	neighbouring
poki	n	container, box, bowl, cup, glass
pona	n	good, simplicity, positivity
	mod	good, simple, positive, nice, correct, right
	interj	great! good! thanks! OK! cool! yay!
	vt	improve, fix, repair, make good
sama	mod	same, similar, equal, of equal status
	prep	like, as, seem
	cont	similarly, in the same way that
seli	n	fire, warmth, heat
	mod	hot, warm, cooked
	vt	heat, warm up, cook
selo	n	outside, surface, skin, shell, bark, shape, peel
seme	oth	what, which, wh- (question word)
sewi	n	high, up, above, top, over, on,
	mod	superior, elevated, noble, religious, supernatural
sijelo	n	body, physical state
sike	n	circle, wheel, sphere, ball, cycle
	mod	round, cyclical
sin	mod	new, fresh, another, more
	vt	renew, renovate, freshen
sina	n	you
	mod	your
sinpin	n	front, chest, torso, wall
sitelen	n	picture, image
	vt	draw, write
sona	n	knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, understanding
	vt	know, understand, know how to
	vi	know, understand
soweli	n	land mammal, lovable animal, red meat
suli	mod	big, tall, long, important, old
	vt	enlarge, lengthen, give importance to
suno	n	sun, light
supa	n	horizontal surface, floor, furniture, table, chair, pillow, etc.
suwi	n	candy
	mod	sweet, cute
	vt	sweeten
tan	prep	from, by, because of, since
	n	origin, cause
taso	mod	only, sole
	conj	but
tawa	prep	to go to, to, in order to, towards, for, until
	n	movement, transportation
	mod	moving, mobile
	vi	go, leave, walk, travel, move
	vt	move, displace
telo	n	water, liquid, juice, sauce
	vt	wash with water
tenpo	n	time, period, situation
toki	n	language, talking, speech, communication
	mod	talking, verbal
	vt	say
	vi	talk, chat
	interj	hello! hi!
tomo	n	house, home, room, indoor place, building, constructed space
	mod	domestic, urban
tu	mod	two
	n	duo, pair
	vt	double, separate/cut/divide in two
unpa	n	sex, sexuality
	mod	erotic, sexual
	vt	have sex with
	vi	have sex
uta	n	mouth
	mod	oral
utala	n	conflict, competition, fight, war, battle, attack, blow, argument
	vt	hit, strike, attack, compete against
walo	mod	white, light (colour)
	n	white thing/part, whiteness
wan	mod	one, a, indefitine
	n	unit, element, particle, part, piece
	vt	unite, make one
waso	n	bird, flying animal
wawa	n	energy, strength, power
	mod	strong, fierce, intense, sure
	vt	strengthen, energize, empower
weka	mod	away, absent
	n	absence
	vt	remove, get rid of, eliminate
wile	vt	to want, need, wish, have to, must, will
	n	desire, need
	mod	necessary

English–Toki Pona dictionary (October 2003)

This dictionary is still under construction. Eventually, hundreds of English words will appear here, as I am in the process of adding translations for the most common words.
You may also want to cross-check individual meanings in the official Toki Pona word list.

English	toki pona
a, an	(no translation)
an animal	soweli
aardvark	soweli (li moku e pipi)
aback:he was taken aback	ijo li utala e pilin ona
abacus	ilo nanpa
abandon	(leave) tawa weka tan; (get rid of) weka e; (give up something begun) kama pini ala e
abandoned	(deserted, forsaken) li jo ala e jan; (uninhibited) nasa
abashed	(ill at ease, ashamed) pilin ike (kan jan); (confused) pilin nasa
abattoir	tomo pi moli soweli
abbess	jan sewi (meli)
abbey	tomo (pi nasin) sewi
abbot	jan sewi
abbreviate	lili e
abbreviation	nimi lili
abdicate	pana weka e (ken)
abdomen	insa
abduct	li kama jo e jan kepeken wawa
abide	(stay) awen (kan);
abide by the law	pali lon wile kulupu
ability	ken
ablaze:to be ablaze	seli li lon ona
able	ken;
able-bodied	(sijelo li) wawa
abnormal	nasa
aboard	lon tomo (tawa)
abode	tomo
abolish	weka e
abominable	ike mute
aboriginal	tenpo nanpa wan la ona li lon ma
abortion	moli e jan lili lon insa
abound	mute
about	(pertaining to) pi;
a story about women	toki meli;
let's talk about food	mi o toki moku; (approximately)
there were about three people	ken la jan tu wan li lon; (around in circles) lon sike;
what about the dog?	kin soweli (li kama ala kama)?
above	sewi;
above the desk	lon sewi supa
abrasion	pakala selo
abreast	lon poka
abroad	(in another country) lon ma ante; (to another country) tawa ma ante
abrupt	tenpo lili ike la ona li kama
abscess	telo ike lon lupa sijelo
absence	(away) weka
absent-minded	(not paying attention) lukin ala; (thinking about something else) lawa li weka
absentee	jan weka
absinthe	telo nasa jelo
absolute	(complete) ale;
an absolute idiot	jan nasa suli
absolutely	(very) mute
absorb	kama/ken jo e (telo)
abstain	pali ala;(from drink) moku ala e telo nasa; (from sex) unpa ala
absurd	nasa
abundant	mute
abuse	(person) pana e ike tawa; (misuse) kepeken ike e; (insult) toki ike tawa jan
abysmal	suli; ike mute
abyss	lupa pimeja suli
acacia	kasi
academic	sona
academy	(school) tomo sona; (society) kulupu sona
acanthus	kasi
accelerate	(go faster) wawa (e)
accent	(pronunciation) kalama (pi toki ante); (stress, emphasis) wawa; suli
accentuate	wawa e; suli e; toki wawa lon
accept	kama jo e; pona e
access	ken tawa/kepeken/jo
accessory	ijo (lili)
accident	(mishap) pakala; (chance event) kama
accomodate	pana e tomo tawa
accommodation	tomo
accompany	kan
accomplice	jan li pali ike kan jan
accomplish	kama pali e
accord	(agreement) lawa sama; (give) pana;
of my own accord	mi wile
according:according to her	ona li toki/pilin e ni:
accordingly	(appropriately) nasin pona; (consequently) tan ni
accordion	ilo pi kalama musi
account	(bank) poki mani;
on account of	tan;
account for	toki e nasin ijo
accountable	wile lawa e
accountant	jan (pali) pi nanpa mani
accumulate	(gather) kama jo e ijo mute; (become gathered) kama mute
accurate	pi sona pona; wan lili li pona
accuse	toki e ni: jan li pali e ijo ike
ace	(cards) lipu nanpa wan; (expert) jan ken
ache	pilin ike;(desire) wile mute
achieve	kama pali e
achievement	pali suli
achromatic	jo ala e kule, pi kule ala
acid	telo pakala
acknowledge	(admit, know) (toki) sona e;
he didn't even acknowledge me	ona li kin lukin ala e mi;
I acknowledged his letter	mi toki e ni: mi kama jo e lipu toki ona; (gift) toki pona tan
acne	nena lili en loje lon lawa
aconite	kasi (pi sijelo ike)
acorn	sike lili kasi
acoutsic(al)	kalama
acoustics	sona/nasin kalama
acquaint:be acquainted with	sona e
acquaintance:he's an acquaintance	mi sona (lili) e ona
acquire	kama jo e
acre	ma;
he owns many acres	ona li jo e ma mute/suli
acreage	suli ma
acrid	(smell) kon ike; (remark, style) utala
acrimonious	pilin ike
acrobat	jan ken pi tawa musi
acronym	wan toki lili
acropolis	tomo mute wawa
across	(on the other side) lon poka ante; (to the other side) tawa poka ante
acrylic	len
act	pali
action	pali;(legal, military) utala
activate	open e
active	pali
activity	pali
actor, actress	jan pi pali pona
actual	lon
actually	kin
acupuncture	palisa pi sijelo pona
acute	(good perception) lukin pona; (intense) wawa; (insight) sona
adapt	kama ante pona; ante pona e
add	(put more) pana e (ijo sin); (increase in number) mute e; (increase in size) suli e
adder	akesi (palisa)
addiction	kepeken/moku/wile ike
addition:in addition	kin
additional	sin
address	(location) tomo; (talk to) toki (tawa)
adequate	pona;(enough) mute pona
adjacent	lon poka
adjective	wan toki nasin
adjourn	pini e
agree	toki lon lawa sama
and	en;
a blue and white dress	len laso en walo;
you and me	sina en mi;
he approached and looked at me	ona li kama, li lukin e mi;
I eat meat and vegetables	mi moku e soweli e kili;
my parents and friends are arriving tomorrow	tenpo suno kama la mama mi la jan pona mi li kama
are:	see be
as	(comparison)
as strong as me	wawa sama mi; (while)
as war approaches	tenpo la utala li kama; (being)
as a friend, I can help you	mi jan pona. mi ken pali e pona tawa sina
at	(location) lon; (time) tenpo... la;
they came at night	tenpo pimeja la ona li kama; (activity)
at work	pali, lon tomo pali; (towards) tawa;
angry at you	pilin ike tawa sina; (state)
I'm good at languages	mi sona pona e toki
alcohol	telo nasa
ant	pipi
antidepressant	ilo pi pilin ike ala
apple	kili
arm	luka
automobile	tomo tawa
baby	jan lili
bag	poki
ball	like
basket	poki
bathe	lon telo
bathroom	tomo telo
be	(copulative verb has no equivalent)
I am happy	mi pilin pona;
the bird is black	waso li pimeja;
the water is fresh	telo li sin; (location, time) lon;
she is in the bathroom	ona li lon tomo telo;
the feast is tomorrow	moku suli li lon tenpo suno kama; (exist, be there) lon; (feel) pilin;
are you OK?	sina pilin pona ala pona?;
I am cold	mi pilin lete; (progressive verb)
I am eating	mi moku; (passive voice)
the cat was fed	jan li pana e moku tawa soweli;
your bicycle has been damaged	sike tu sina li pakala; (in questions)
is it new?	ona li sin ala sin?; (can)
few birds were to be seen	jan li ken lukin e waso lili; (cost)
how much is it?	ona li sama mani seme?
bed	supa lape
bee	pipi
beautiful	(visually) pona lukin; (music) pona kute; (to the senses) pona pilin
beer	telo nasa
bell	ilo kalama
berry	kili lili
bicycle	sike tu
bike	sike tu
bird	waso
boat	tomo tawa (telo)
book	toki awen
bowl	poki
boot	lon noka
bottle	poki
box	poki
boy	mije lili
boyfriend	mije (olin)
brain	(head) lawa; (knowledge) sona
branch	palisa
brick	leko
bridge	nasin lon sewi telo
bucket	poki
but	taso;
I would like to do it, but I have no money	mi wile pali e ona. taso mi jo ala e mani; (contradicting)
that's not blue, but red	ona li laso ala. (taso) ona li loje; (only)
she is but a child	ona li jan lili taso; (except)
no one but him	ona taso
button	(on machine) nena; (on shirt) sike
by	(close to) lon (loka); (from) tan; (using)
by hand	kepeken e luka; (passive agent)
he was killed by a bear	soweli wawa li moli e ona;
who's it by?	jan seme li pali e ona?
bye	(said by person leaving) mi tawa; (said by person staying) tawa pona
can	(possibility, ability, right) ken; (know how to) sona
can	(container) poki
cake	moku suwi
camera	ilo sitelen
car	tomo tawa
card	lipu
cat	soweli
cheese	moku (pi telo sinpin pi soweli)
chest	sinpin
church	tomo (pi nasin) sewi
circle	sike
city	ma tomo
clitoris	nena lili unpa meli
clock	ilo tenpo
cloth	len
cloud	kapesi pi sewi kon
coat	sen (sijelo)
cocaine	ko wawa
cord	linja
cow	soweli
cup	poki
curtain	len (lupa)
cushion	supa/leko lape (lawa)
dark	pimeja
dog	soweli
door	lupa (tomo)
dragon	akesi suli
drawer	poki lekoe
ear	lupa kute
eight	mute;(also) luka tu wan
eighteen	mute;(also) luka luka luka tu wan
eleven	mute;(also) luka luka wan
eye	oko
fifteen	mute;(also) luka luka luka
fifty	mute;(also) luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka
finger	palisa luka
first	nanpa wan
fish	kala
five	mute;(also) luka
flag	lipu
floor	anpa
flower	kasi kule
foot	noka
for	tawa;
for you	tawa sina;
what's this knife for?	ilo pakala ni li tawa seme?;
time for dinner	tenpo moku; (because of)
for this reason	tan ni; (duration)
we've been here for many days	tenpo suno mute la mi li lon ni
forever	(always) tenpo ale; (a long time) tenpo suli
fork	ilo moku
four	mute;(also) tu tu
fourteen	mute;(also) luka luka tu tu
fourty	mute;(also) luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka
from	tan
girl	meli lili
girlfriend	(lover) meli (olin); (female friend) jan pona (meli)
glove	len luka
goat	soweli
good bye	(said by person leaving) mi tawa; (said by person staying) tawa pona
green	(yellow-green) jelo; (blue-green) walo
gun	ilo moli
had	see have
have	jo e;(must)
have to	wile;
you don't have to work	sina wile ala pali; (eat, drink)
they had some juice	ona mute li moku e telo; (questions)
has he arrived?	ona li kama ala kama?
hair	linja lawa
hate	pilin ike tawa (jan); wile pana e ike tawa (jan);
I hate it	ona li ike
he	ona;(male also) mije
hello	toki!(good day) suno pona!
hi	toki!(good day) suno pona!
high	(in height) sewi; (in degree or quantity) mute; (in importance) suli; (on drugs) (pilin) nasa
his	ona
hope	wile e;
I hope they can come	mi wile e ni: ona li ken kama
hot	seli;
I am hot	mi pilin seli; (intense) wawa; (spicy) moku wawa; (beautiful) pona lukin
hundred:one hundred	mute; (also) luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka luka
I	mi
in	(location) lon;
in bed	lon supa lape;
in the darkness	lon pimeja; (state)
she was in a deep sleep	ona li lape wawa; (future time)
I'll do it in two days	tenpo suno tu kama la mi pali e ona; (language)
in English	lon toki Inli
is:	see be
it	ona;(impersonal verbs)
it is raining	telo li kama
jacket	len (sinpin)
ketamine	ilo lape soweli
kill	moli e
knife	(for cutting) ilo pakala; (as a weapon) ilo utala; (butter knife, etc.) palisal
last	nanpa pini
law	wile kulupu
letter	(postal) lipu toki; (alphabet) sitelen toki
life	(everything around us) ale; (activity) pali; (vitality) wawa
lighter	ilo seli
marijuana	kasi nasa;(used for meditation or enlightenment) kasi sona
menstruation	telo loje (mun)
month	tenpo mun
moon	mun
music	kalama musi
nine	mute;(also) luka tu tu
nineteen	mute;(also) luka luka luka tu tu
of	pi;
house of my sister	tomo pi meli sama mi; (often not translated)
the end of the branch	pini palisa;
a man of wisdom	mije wawa;
Republic of Turkey	ma Tuki;
all of my children	jan lili mi ale; (from, because of) tan;
die of hunger	moli tan moku ala
on	(location) lon; (about) a lecture on this subjecttoki sona lon ni; (take, use) kepeken, moku; (functioning) pali;
one	wan;
one carrot	kili wan; (indefinite)
one day	tenpo suno wan; (sole)
the one and only person	jan wan taso; (pronoun)
this one	ni;
would you like one?	sina wile ala wile jo e ona?;
the blue one	ijo laso ni
other	ante
or	ken;
one or two people came	jan wan ken tu li kama; (in questions)
do you want red or black?	sina wile ala wile e loje? wile ala wile e pimeja?
out	(outdoors) (tawa) ma; (the outside of) seli
paper	lipu
penis	palisa mije
pill	moku lili
pillow	supa lawa
pot	(container) poki; (marijuana) kasi nasa;(used for meditation or enlightenment) kasi sona
ridiculous	nasa
rip	pakala e
room	tomo
rooster	wase mije
rule	wile nasin; lawa e
seven	mute;(also) luka tu
seventeen	mute;(also) luka luka luka tu
silly	nasa
six	mute;(also) luka wan
sixteen	mute;(also) luka luka luka wan
smoke	kon (kapesi);
she smokes	ona li kepeken e kon jaki
some	(no translation)
some water	telo;
some guy	jan; (indefinite also)
some woman	meli wan; (part)
do you want some?	sina wile ala wile (moku) e ona?
steam	kon telo
steep	tenpo lili ike la ona li kama
take	kama jo e
telephone	ilo toki
ten	mute;(also) luka luka
that	ni;(conjunction) e ni:
he said that he had seen a woman	ona li toki e ni: ona li lukin e meli; (very)
it's that good	ona li pona mute
the	(no translation)
the animal	soweli
they	ona;(plural also) ona mute; (people in general) jan; (everyone) jan ale
think	(opinion)
I think you're silly	mi pilin e ni: sina nasa; (logically reflect) toki lawa
I'll have to think about it	mi wile toki lawa lon ona; (possibility)
I think he is coming	ken la ona li kama; (remember) sona; (imagine) sitelen lawa
thirteen	mute;(also) luka luka tu wan
thirty	mute;(also) luka luka luka luka luka luka
this	ni;
what's this?	ni li seme?
to	tawa(infinitive verb)
they want to come	ona li wile kama
three	mute;(also) tu wan
tobacco	kasi jaki;(tobacco smoke) kon jaki
towel	len
transportation	tawa
twelve	mute;(also) luka luka tu
twenty	mute;(also) luka luka luka luka
two	tu
use	kepeken e
useful	pona kepekenv
vagina	lupa meli
vehicle	ilo tawa;(car) tomo tawa
was:	see be
wash	telo e
washroom	tomo telo
waste	(use thoughtlessly) kepeken mute ike; (fail to take advantage of) kepeken ala; (garbage) ijo/ko jaki
water	telo
we	mi;(plural also) mi mute; (you and I also) sina en mi; (s/he and I also) mi en ona
weaken	(become weak) kama wawa ala; (make weak) wawa ala e
weapon	ilo utala
were:	see be
what	(question word) seme;
what am I eating?	mi moku e seme?;
what colour is that?	ni li kule seme?; (all)
I gave him what money I had	mi pana e mani mi ale tawa ona; (exclamations)
what an idiot!	ona li nasa (ike)!
wine	telo nasa
with	(in the company of) en;
I am with my dog	mi en soweli mi;
I stay with you	mi awen en sina; (by using) kepeken;
I opened it with my hand	mi open e ona kepeken e luka; (having)
a boy with brown eyes	mije lili li jo e oko kapesi
word	wan toki
write	awen e (toki)
you	sina;(plural also) sina mute; (one, anyone) jan;
fresh air does you good	kon sin li pona (tawa jan)

Foreign words (December 2003)

Proper nouns refer to specific countries, people, and languages.
These do not belong to the core vocabulary of Toki Pona, however they appear as foreign words. They are derived from their native pronunciation, adapted to the phonology of Toki Pona.
These lists are still under development. I encourage you to suggest any name changes or additions on our discussion group.
For general rules on how to convert a name into Toki Pona, see Tokiponization guidelines
Foreign words are always prefixed with an appropriate category word. For example:

tp-ized	English
ma Inli	the English country, England
toki Inli	the English language
jan Inli	English person
nasin Inli	the English way, customs, culture
jan Puta	Buddha (person)
jan Alison	Allison
ma tomo Lonton	London (city)
ma tomo Sikako	Chicago
kulupu Apijen	IBM (group, company)

Countries and Languages

Countries are prefixed with ma. The asterix (*) means it is also the name of a language, prefixed with toki.

tp-ized	English
Akanisan	Afghanistan
*Alan	Ireland, Irish Gaelic
Alensina	Argentina
*Anku	Korea, Korean
Antola	Andorra
*Awisi	Haiti, Haitian Creole
Ekato	Ecuador
*Elena	Greece, Greek
*Epanja	Spain, Spanish
*Esi	Estonia, Estonian
*Esuka	Basque Country, Basque
Ilakija	Iraq
*Ilan	Iran, Persian
*Inli	England, English
*Intonesija	Indonesia, Indonesian
Isale	Israel
*Isilan	Iceland, Icelandic
*Italija	Italy, Italian
Jamanija	Yemen
*Kalalinuna	Greenland, Greenlandic
Kana	Ghana
Kanata	Canada
*Kanse	France, French
Katala	Qatar
*Katelo	Georgia, Georgian
Katemala	Guatemala
Kenata	Grenada
Kepeka	Quebec
Keposi	Cyprus
Kilipasi	Kiribati
*Kinla	Wales, Welsh
Konko (pi ma tomo Kinsasa)	Congo, Dem. Rep.
Konko (pi ma tomo Pasawi)	Congo, P. Rep.
Kosalika	Costa Rica
Kosiwa	Côte d'Ivoire
Kupa	Cuba
*Kusala	Gujarat, Gujarati
Kuwasi	Kuweit
Lanka	Sri Lanka
*Lesi	Brittany, Breton
Lipija	Libya
Lisensan	Liechtenstein
*Lomani	Romania, Romanian
*Losi	Russia, Russian
*Lowasi	Croatia, Croatian
*Lowenki	Slovakia, Slovak
*Lowensina	Slovenia, Slovenian
Lunpan	Lebanon
*Lusepu	Luxemburg
Luwanta	Rwanda
*Maketonija	Macedonia
*Malakasi	Madagascar, Malagasy
*Malasija	Malaysia, Malay
Malawi	Malawi
Mali	Mali
Malipe	Morocco
*Masija	Hungary, Hungarian
Masu	Egypt
Mesiko	Mexico
Mewika	USA, American
Mijama	Myanmar
Motowa	Moldova
Mulitanija	Mauritania
Namipija	Namibia
Naselija	Nigeria
*Netelan	Netherlands, Dutch
*Nijon	Japan, Japanese
Nise	Niger
*Nosiki	Norway, Norwegian Bokmål
Nusilan	New Zealand
Ontula	Honduras
Osalasi	Austria
Oselija	Australia
Pakisan	Pakistan
Palakawi	Paraguay
Palani	Bahrein
Palata	India
Panama	Panama
*Panla	Bangladesh, Bengali
Papeto	Barbados
Papuwanijukini	Papua New Guinea
Pasila	Brasil
Pawama	Bahamas
*Pelalusi	Belarus, Belarussian
Pelu	Peru
Pemuta	Bermuda
Penesuwela	Venezuela
Penin	Benin
Pesije	Belgium
*Pilipina	Philipines, Tagalog
Pilisin	Palestine
Pisi	Fiji
Piten	Britain, UK
*Pokasi	Bulgaria, Bulgarian
*Posan	Bosnia and Herzegovina, Bosnian
*Posuka	Poland, Polish
*Potuke	Portugal, Portugese
Samalino	San Marino
*Sameka	Jamaica, Jamaican Patois
Samowa	Samoa
Sasali	Algeria
*Sawa	Java, Javanese
*Sawasi	Swaziland
*Seki	Czech (Republic)
Seneka	Senegal
Setapika	South Africa
Sile	Chile
Sinita	Trinidad and Tobago
Sipusi	Djibouti
*Sonko	China, Chinese
*Sopisi	Serbia, Serbian
*Sukosi	Scotland, Scots
Sulija	Syria
*Sumi	Finland, Finnish
Sutan	Sudan
Suwasi	Switzerland, Swiss
*Tansi	Denmark, Danish
*Tawi	Thailand, Thai
Toko	Togo
Tominika	Dominican Republic
*Tona	Tonga, Tongan
*Tosi	Germany, German
*Tuki	Turkey, Turkish
Tunisi	Tunisia
Tuwalu	Tuvalu
Ukanta	Uganda
*Ukawina	Ukraine, Ukrainian
Ulukawi	Uruguay
Uman	Oman
Utun	Jordan
Wanuwatu	Vanuatu
Wasikano	Vatican
*Wensa	Sweden, Swedish
*Wije	Vietnam, Vietnamese

Cities

Only internationally known cities should have a Toki Pona name.

English	tp-ized
Berlin	ma tomo Pelin
Helsinki	ma tomo Lesinki
London	ma tomo Lantan
Montreal	ma tomo Monkela
Ottawa	ma tomo Alawa
Paris	ma tomo Paki
Toronto	ma tomo Towano

Other Languages

Many languages are not named after countries:

tp-ized	English
toki Alapi	Arabic
toki Apikan	Afrikaans
toki Awasa	Hausa
toki Epelanto	Esperanto
toki Ewantalu	Ewantal
toki Inli pona	Basic English
toki Insi	Hindi
toki Intelinka	Interlingua
toki Inu	Inupiaq, Inuktitut, Eskimo
toki Ipo	Igbo
toki Ito	Ido
toki Iwisi	Hebrew
toki Jolupa	Yoruba
toki Kalike	Scots Gaelic
toki Kantun	Cantonese
toki Kisawili	Swahili
toki Kuwenja	Quenya, Elvish
toki Lolan	Loglan
toki Loma	Latin
toki Losupan	Lojban
toki Lunasimi	Quechua
toki Malasi	Marathi
toki Nosiki sin	Norwegian Nynorsk
toki Olapu	Volapük
toki Pansapi	Punjabi
toki Pasiki	Fyksian
toki Pasuto	Pashto
toki pona	Toki Pona
toki Sami	Laplander
toki Sankitu	Sanskrit
toki Sinan	Klingon
toki Tamasiko	Berber, Tamazight
toki Tami	Tamil
toki Teluku	Telugu
toki Utu	Urdu

Continents

tp-ized	English
ma (suli) Amelika	the Americas
ma (suli) Amelika lete	North America
ma (suli) Amelika seli	South America
ma (suli) Antasika	Antarctica
ma (suli) Apika	Africa
ma (suli) Asija	Asia
ma (suli) Elopa	Europe

Religions

tp-ized	English
nasin sewi Jawatu	Judaism
nasin sewi Kolisu	Christianity
nasin pona Latapali	Rastafarianism
nasin pona	Taoism
nasin sewi Puta	Buddhism
nasin sewi Silami	Islam

2005

May 2005 (in German)

This table needs work:

finish the words, when done, finish the table with sentences, also perhaps reformat it. Source: [1]

Beenden Sie die Wörter, wenn Sie fertig sind, beenden Sie die Tabelle mit Sätzen und formatieren Sie sie möglicherweise auch neu (sorry for bad German, i used a translator)

If you know about this topic, you can help us by editing it. (See all)

Toki Pona ist eine von Sonja Kisa geschaffene Kunstsprache, die den Pidgin-Sprachen nachempfunden ist und mit 121 Wörtern auskommt. Klicken Sie irgendein Wort an, die Bedeutung wird angezeigt, es folgen einige Sätze in Toki Pona mit der deutschen Übersetzung. Jedes unbekannte Wort in den Sätzen kann wieder angeklickt werden, und der Prozeß wiederholt sich.

Eine Zusammenfassung der Grammatik gibt es bei Wikipedia. Auf derselben Seite ganz unten sind auch zwei Textbeispiele in Toki Pona mit Audiodatei zum Anhören. Die Aussprache ist nicht schwer, die Buchstaben entsprechen den deutschen Lautwerten und die Betonung und Länge der Silben ist gleichförmig.

Die Beispielsätze stammen aus der alten Version der offiziellen Toki Pona Seite.

Eigene Beiträge können Sie in den Assoziations-Blaster schreiben. Der Blaster ist ein Netzwerk, in das jeder beliebige Texte eintragen kann, wobei die Worte des Eintrags wieder als Links zu anderen Beiträgen dienen.

Diese Site kann auch offline gelesen werden, indem man eine Linktiefe von "1" mitspeichert.

word/sentence	meaning
a	Ah !  Oh ! Ha !
a a a. ni li musi.	Hahaha, das ist lustig.
jan Tomas o a !	Oh Thomas !
a ! - akesi li wile moku e mi !	Ahh! - Das Krokodil will mich fressen !
a! telo sijelo loje li kama tan nena kute mi!	Ah! Blut läuft mir aus dem Ohr!
akesi	Reptil, Amphibie, Frosch, Dinosaurier, Monster
ala	nein, nicht, kein, nichts, Nichts, Verneinung, Null
ali	alle, alles, jede, jedes, das Gesamte, komplett, ganz
anpa	Boden, unten, unter, unterhalb, niedrig, besiegen, bezwingen

2007

Word list (September 2007)

Total 118 words. Click on a blue word to hear it pronounced. Between italicized brackets [ ], you will find mnemonics to help remember a word.

Parts of Speech

abbrev.	meaning
n	head noun
mod	modifier (adjective or adverb)
sep	separator
vt	verb, transitive (normally used with e)
vi	verb, intransitive
interj	interjection
prep	quasi-preposition
conj	conjuncion
kama	compound verb preceded by kama
cont	context word used before la
conj	conjuncion
oth	special, other word

Official World List

word	POS	meaning
a	interj	ah, ha, uh, oh, ooh, aw, well (emotion word)
akesi	n	non-cute animal, reptile, amphibia
ala	mod	no, not, none, un-
	n	nothing, negation, zero
	interj	no!
ale, ali		(both variants are correct)
	n	everything, anything, life, the universe
	mod	all, every, complete, whole
anpa	n	bottom, lower part, under, below, floor, beneath
	mod	low, lower, bottom, down
ante	n	difference
	mod	different
	cont	otherwise, or else
	vt	change, alter, modify
anu	conj	or
awen	vi	stay, wait, remain
	vt	keep
	mod	remaining, stationary, permanent, sedentary
e	sep	(introduces a direct object)
en	conj	and (used to coordinate head nouns)
ijo	n	thing, something, stuff, anything, object
	mod	of something
	vt	objectify
ike	mod	bad, negative, wrong, evil, overly complex, (figuratively) unhealthy
	interj	oh dear! woe! alas!
	n	negativity, badness, evil
	vt	to make bad, to worsen, to have a negative effect upon
	vi	to be bad, to suck
		[sounds like icky]
ilo	n	tool, device, machine, thing used for a specific purpose
insa	n	inside, inner world, centre, stomach
	mod	inner, internal
		[inside]
jaki	mod	dirty, gross, filthy
	n	dirt, pollution, garbage, filth
	vt	pollute, dirty
	interj	ew! yuck!
		[yucky]
jan	n	person, people, human, being, somebody, anybody
	mod	human, somebody's, personal, of people
	vt	personify, humanize, personalize
jelo	mod	yellow, light green
		[yellow]
jo	vt	have, contain
	n	having
kala	n	fish, sea creature
kalama	n	sound, noise, voice
	vi	make noise
	vt	sound, ring, play (an instrument)
kama	vi	come, become, arrive, happen, pursue actions to arrive to (a certain state), manage to, start to
	n	event, happening, chance, arrival, beginning
	mod	coming, future
	vt	bring about, summon
		[come up]
kasi	n	plant, leaf, herb, tree, wood
ken	vi	can, is able to, is allowed to, may, is possible
	n	possibility, ability, power to do things, permission
	vt	make possible, enable, allow, permit
	cont	it is possible that
kepeken	vt	use
	prep	with
kili	n	fruit, pulpy vegetable, mushroom
kin	mod	also, too, even, indeed (emphasizes the word(s) before it)
kiwen	mod	hard, solid, stone-like, made of stone or metal
	n	hard thing, rock, stone, metal, mineral, clay
ko	n	semi-solid or squishy substance, e.g. paste, powder, gum
kon	n	air, wind, smell, soul
	mod	air-like, ethereal, gaseous
kule	n	colour, paint
	mod	colourful
	vt	colour, paint
kute	vt	listen, hear
	mod	auditory, hearing
kulupu	n	group, community, society, company, people
	mod	communal, shared, public, of the society
la	sep	(between adverb or phrase of context and sentence)
lape	n,	vi sleep, rest
	mod	sleeping, of sleep
laso	mod	blue, blue-green
lawa	n	head, mind
	mod	main, leading, in charge
	vt	lead, control, rule, steer
len	n	clothing, cloth, fabric
lete	n	cold
	mod	cold, uncooked
	vt	cool down, chill
li	sep	(between any subject except mi and sina and its verb; also used to introduce a new verb for the same subject)
lili	mod	small, little, young, a bit, short, few, less
	vt	reduce, shorten, shrink, lessen
linja	n	long, very thin, floppy thing, e.g. string, rope, hair, thread, cord, chai
lipu	n	flat and bendable thing, e.g. paper, card, ticket
loje	mod	red
lon	prep	be (located) in/at/on
	vi	be there, be present, be real/true, exist, be awake
luka	n	hand, arm
lukin	vt	see, look at, watch, read
	vi	look, watch out, pay attention
	mod	visual(ly)
		[looking]
lupa	n	hole, orifice, window, door
		[sounds like loop]
ma	n	land, earth, country, (outdoor) area
mama	n	parent, mother, father
	mod	of the parent, parental, maternal, fatherly
		[sounds like momma]
mani	n	money, material wealth, currency, dollar, capital
		[money]
meli	n	woman, female, girl, wife, girlfriend
	mod	female, feminine, womanly
		[Mary]
mi	n	I, we
	mod	my, our
		[me]
mije	n	man, male, husband, boyfriend
	mod	male, masculine, manly
moku	n	food, meal
	vt	eat, drink, swallow, ingest, consume
moli	n	death
	vi	die, be dead
	vt	kill
	mod	dead, deadly, fatal
monsi	n	back, rear end, butt, behind
	mod	back, rear
mu	interj	woof! meow! moo! etc. (cute animal noise)
		[moo]
mun	n	moon
	mod	lunar
		[moon]
musi	n	fun, playing, game, recreation, art, entertainment
	mod	artful, fun, recreational
	vi	play, have fun
	vt	amuse, entertain
mute	mod	many, very, much, several, a lot, abundant, numerous, more
	n	amount, quantity
	vt	make many or much
		[multi]
nanpa	n	number
	oth	-th (ordinal numbers)
		[number]
nasa	mod	silly, crazy, foolish, drunk, strange, stupid, weird
	vt	drive crazy, make weird
nasin	n	way, manner, custom, road, path, doctrine, system, method
nena	n	bump, nose, hill, mountain, butto
ni	mod	this, that
nimi	n	word, name
noka	n	leg, foot
o	sep	O (vocative or imperative)
	interj	hey! (calling somebody's attention)
oko	n	eye
		[similar to oculist]
olin	n	love
	mod	love
	vt	to love (a person)
ona	n	she, he, it, they
	mod	her, his, its, their
open	vt	open, turn on
pakala	n	blunder, accident, mistake, destruction, damage, breaking
	vt	screw up, fuck up, botch, ruin, break, hurt, injure, damage, spoil, ruin
	vi	screw up, fall apart, break
	interj	damn! fuck!
pali	n	activity, work, deed, project
	mod	active, work-related, operating, working
	vt	do, make, build, create
	vi	act, work, function
palisa	n	long, mostly hard object, e.g. rod, stick, branch
pana	vt	give, put, send, place, release, emit, cause
	n	giving, transfer, exchange
pi	sep	of, belonging to
pilin	n	feelings, emotion, heart
	vi	feel
	vt	feel, think, sense, touch
		[feeling]
pimeja	mod	black, dark
	n	darkness, shadows
	vt	darken
pini	n	end, tip
	mod	completed, finished, past, done, ago
	vt	finish, close, end, turn off
pipi	n	bug, insect, spider
poka	n	side, hip, next to
	prep	in the accompaniment of, with
	mod	neighbouring
poki	n	container, box, bowl, cup, glass
		[box]
pona	n	good, simplicity, positivity
	mod	good, simple, positive, nice, correct, right
	interj	great! good! thanks! OK! cool! yay!
	vt	improve, fix, repair, make good
		[bonus]
sama	mod	same, similar, equal, of equal status or position
	prep	like, as, seem
seli	n	fire, warmth, heat
	mod	hot, warm, cooked
	vt	heat, warm up, cook
selo	n	outside, surface, skin, shell, bark, shape, peel
seme	oth	what, which, wh- (question word)
sewi	n	high, up, above, top, over, on
	mod	superior, elevated, religious, formal
sijelo	n	body, physical state
sike	n	circle, wheel, sphere, ball, cycle
	mod	round, cyclical
sin	mod	new, fresh, another, more
	vt	renew, renovate, freshen
sina	n	you
	mod	your
sinpin	n	front, chest, torso, face, wall
sitelen	n	picture, image
	vt	draw, write
sona	n	knowledge, wisdom, intelligence, understanding
	vt	know, understand, know how to
	vi	know, understand
	kama	learn, study
soweli	n	animal, especially land mammal, lovable animal
suli	mod	big, tall, long, adult, important
	vt	enlarge, lengthen
	n	size
suno	n	sun, light
supa	n	horizontal surface, e.g furniture, table, chair, pillow, floor
suwi	n	candy, sweet food
	mod	sweet, cute
	vt	sweeten
		[sweet]
tan	prep	from, by, because of, since
	n	origin, cause
taso	mod	only, sole
	conj	but
		[that's all]
tawa	prep	to, in order to, towards, for, until
	vi	go to, walk, travel, move, leave
	n	movement, transportation
	mod	moving, mobile
	vt	move, displace
		[towards]
telo	n	water, liquid, juice, sauce
	vt	water, wash with water
tenpo	n	time, period of time, moment, duration, situatio
toki	n	language, talking, speech, communication
	mod	talking, verbal
	vt	say
	vi	talk, chat, communicate
	interj	hello! hi!
tomo	n	indoor constructed space, e.g. house, home, room, building
	mod	urban, domestic, household
tu	mod	two
	n	duo, pair
	vt	double, separate/cut/divide in two
		[two]
unpa	n	sex, sexuality
	mod	erotic, sexual
	vt	have sex with, sleep with, fuck
	vi	have sex
uta	n	mouth
	mod	oral
utala	n	conflict, disharmony, competition, fight, war, battle, attack, blow, argument, physical or verbal violence
	vt	hit, strike, attack, compete against
walo	mod	white, light (colour)
	n	white thing or part, whiteness, lightness
		[sounds like wall, which is often white]
wan	mod	one, a
	n	unit, element, particle, part, piece
	vt	unite, make one
		[one]
waso	n	bird, winged animal
wawa	n	energy, strength, power
	mod	energetic, strong, fierce, intense, sure, confident
	vt	strengthen, energize, empower
weka	mod	away, absent, missing
	n	absence
	vt	throw away, remove, get rid of
wile	vt	to want, need, wish, have to, must, will, should
	n	desire, need, will
	mod	necessary