kama
  | |
| Pronunciation | /ˈka |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%) |
| Book and era | nimi pu |
| Part of speech | Preverb, content word |
| Codepoint | U+F1916 |
kama is a content word and preverb whose semantic space includes movement towards a referent (that is, "coming" or "arriving") and change of state ("becoming").
Function
Preverb
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 ponaona 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 suwimi kama lukin e soweli suwi.
I came to see a cute animal.
I spotted a cute animal.
(At first I didn't see a cute animal, and then I did.)
Transitive verb
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 ponaona li kama e pona.
It brought goodness.
o kama e jan sona sijeloo kama e jan sona sijelo.
Make a learned person of the body come.
Call for a doctor.
Phatic expressions
The "Phrase Book" section of the book Toki Pona: The Language of Good recommends the interjection kama pona for "welcome". Word for word, it literally means "come well".
Time
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".