insa

insa
Pronunciation	/ˈin.sa/ (listen)
Usage	2023: Core (100% ↗ ) 2022: Core (99%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱤏 U+F190F

insa is a core content word, used as a spatial word, relating to something physically inside or in between.

Etymology

The word insa is derived from Tok Pisin insait, itself from English inside.

Semantic space

The semantic space of insa, when used as a spatial word, includes inwards and things physically inside something, as well as the space in between two other things, which are not contained completely. In relation the human body, it usually refers to the guts and other internal organs.

Figuratively, it refers to anything being framed as inside of something else. For example, a mind is the inside of a head, neutral (in comparison to good and bad; see also meso).

pu

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

NOUN  centre, content, inside, between; internal organ, stomach

ku

For Toki Pona Dictionary, respondents in ma pona pi toki pona translated these English words as insa:

internal⁵81–100% of respondents, inner⁵81–100% of respondents, interior⁵81–100% of respondents, centre⁵81–100% of respondents, guts⁴61–80% of respondents, core⁴61–80% of respondents, central³41–60% of respondents, inside³41–60% of respondents, middle³41–60% of respondents, belly³41–60% of respondents, stomach³41–60% of respondents, internal organ²21–40% of respondents, within²21–40% of respondents, insert²21–40% of respondents, content²21–40% of respondents, amid²21–40% of respondents, between²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for insa is derived from the open box radical with a location dot placed inside it. Compare the glyphs for anpa, monsi, poka, sinpin, as well as the secular version of sewi.

Further reading

• "insa" on lipu Linku
• "insa" on lipu Wikipesija
• "insa" on English Wiktionary