n
n is an interjection and nimi ku suli used to represent any filler word or humming sound, such as "um", "mmm", or "hmm".
  | |
| Pronunciation | /n/ |
|---|---|
| Usage | 2023: Common4, Widespread6 (70% ↗︎ )2022: Common (68%) |
| Book and era | nimi ku suli (post-pu) |
| Part of speech | Particle |
| Codepoint | U+F1986 |
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.
Etymology
The word n was coined by kala kala.[1][citation needed…]
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:[2]
um3, mmm2, hmm2
sitelen pona
The sitelen pona glyph for n () is composed of the punctuation stem and the lowercase Latin letter N. The punctuation stem can be drawn upright (n) or at a diagonal (n). Compare the glyphs for a, kin, and o.
References
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 24.
- ↑ Lang, Sonja. (18 July 2021). Toki Pona Dictionary. Illustrated by Vacon Sartirani. Tawhid. ISBN 978-0978292362. p. 292.
Further reading
- "n" on lipu Linku
- "n" on lipu Wikipesija
- "n" on English Wiktionary