n

n is an interjection and nimi sin used to represent any filler word or humming sound, like "um", "mmm", or "hmm". It is often used to indicate being absorbed in thoughts, recognition, or agreement. n is frequently written with multiple letters (e.g. "nnn...") to indicate a drawn out sound.

n
Pronunciation	/n/
Usage	2023: Common44-category system, Widespread66-category system (70% ↗︎ )2022: Common (68%)
Book and era	nimi ku suli (post-pu)
Part of speech	Particle
Codepoint	󱦆 U+F1986

Pronunciation

The word n violates Toki Pona's strict phonotactics. Speakers still accept this because they may consider it easy to pronounce or technically not a word in the first place but an onomatopoeia. n does not have to be pronounced /n/ but can stand in for any hum or nasal sound, regardless of phonotactics. Some compare the word n to the coda nasal.

Definitions

ku

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

um³41–60% of respondents, mmm²21–40% of respondents, hmm²21–40% of respondents

Further reading

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