ko

ko
Pronunciation	/ko/ (listen)
Usage	2023: Core (99% ↗ ) 2022: Core (98%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱤜 U+F191C

ko is a core content word relating to semi-solid objects.

Etymology

The word ko is derived from Cantonese 膏 (Jyutping: gou¹), meaning "paste; cream".

Semantic space

The semantic space of ko includes semi-solid objects, such as pastes and powders. These are combined because whether something is ko is independent of how much moisture it has; dry soil is still ko if it becomes mud.

pu

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

NOUN  clay, clinging form, dough, semi-solid, paste, powder

ku

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

goo⁵81–100% of respondents, semisolid⁵81–100% of respondents, paste⁴61–80% of respondents, powder⁴61–80% of respondents, clay³41–60% of respondents, sand²21–40% of respondents, dust²21–40% of respondents, substance²21–40% of respondents, cream²21–40% of respondents, dough²21–40% of respondents, mud²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for ko represents a closed, blobby shape, roughly in the shape of a five-pointed star. It may be drawn in any way as long as it is recognizable. Several fonts have support for multiple alternative versions of the glyph. The following example is from linja lipamanka:

ko ko1 ko2 ko3 ko4 ko5 ko6 koDittoko ko1 ko2 ko3 ko4 ko5 ko6 koDitto

sitelen sitelen

The sitelen sitelen glyph for ko is the same as the syllable glyph for "ko".