kama
  | |
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% ↗ ) 2022: Core (99%) |
|---|---|
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Content word, preverb |
| Codepoint | U+F1916 |
kama is a preverb and content word whose semantic space includes "coming", "becoming" and "arriving".
Preverb[edit | edit source]
The main preverb sense of kama is "to become". It can be used when the subject comes to do or be something that it wasn't before.
ona li kama pona.
ona li kama pona.It became good.
She got better.
They improved.
jan [ale luka uta] li wile kama mama.
jan Alu li wile kama mama.Alu wants to become a parent.
mi kama lukin e soweli suwi.
mi kama lukin e soweli suwi.I came to see a cute animal.
I spotted a cute animal.
(First I didn't see a cute animal, and then I did.)
Transitive verb[edit | edit source]
As a transitive verb followed by e, kama generally means to cause the direct object to come or to come about. E.g. to summon, to bring about, to cause to occur, etc.
ona li kama e pona.
ona li kama e pona.It brought goodness.
o kama e jan sona sijelo.
o kama e jan sona sijelo.Make a learned person of the body come.
Call for a doctor.
Phatic expressions[edit | edit source]
The Phrase Book section of Toki Pona: The Language of Good recommends the interjection kama pona for "welcome". Word for word, it literally means "come well". For other options, see Phatic expressions and social conventions § Greeting.
Time[edit | edit source]
kama can be used to talk about the "coming time". The Toki Pona translation of this exact phrase, tenpo kama, is a common lexicalization for "the future". For other options, see Time § Future.