nanpa

See also: Numbers

nanpa
Pronunciation	/ˈnan.pa/ 🔊 🔊
Usage	2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Semiparticle, content word
Codepoint	󱤽 U+F193D

nanpa is a core content word relating to numbers, and a semiparticle that introduces an ordinal number.

Etymology

The word nanpa is derived from Tok Pisin namba, itself from English number.

Semantic space

The semantic space of nanpa includes numbers in general, rather than any specific number, such as wan or tu. It may also refer to calculations and, by extension, computer programs and coding.

ilo nanpa li ken nanpa e tenpo　

ilo nanpa li ken nanpa e tenpo.

The number tool can count time.

ale li nanpa　

ale li nanpa.

Everything is a computer simulation.

Ordinals

As a semiparticle, nanpa introduces and marks a number phrase as an ordinal number, analogous to the English suffix -th. As number phrases are introduced with nanpa, the use of the particle pi is discouraged as it would change the meaning.

waso nanpa tu wan li kute e nimi　

waso nanpa tu wan li kute e nimi.

The third bird heard a word.

Non-numeric ordinals

The subject of this section is an experimental or hypothetical style that is not understood by most speakers, or is used only in specific small communities. Learners should avoid using it.

Some speakers use nanpa with non-number phrases. For example, the issues of lipu tenpo are "numbered" with arbitrary content words (such as lipu tenpo nanpa akesi). Although arbitrary words are used that way far more rarely, using certain words is more common:

nanpa open

nanpa open

first (lit.literal translation 'starting number')

nanpa pini

nanpa pini

last (lit.literal translation 'ending number')

This can describe a being that, of its kind, is uniquely distinguished by the phrase after nanpa. It can also be used similarly to a superlative, such as kiwen nanpa lili for "the smallest rock", equivalent to kiwen pi lili nanpa wan. It might imply a spectrum or an order in the mind of the speaker.

pu

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

PARTICLE  -th (ordinal number)
NOUN  numbers

ku

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

number⁵81–100% of respondents, count⁴61–80% of respondents, score³41–60% of respondents, rating³41–60% of respondents, rank³41–60% of respondents, measurement³41–60% of respondents, ranking³41–60% of respondents, statistical³41–60% of respondents, quantity²21–40% of respondents, calculate²21–40% of respondents, grade²21–40% of respondents, percentage²21–40% of respondents, edition²21–40% of respondents, percent²21–40% of respondents, statistics²21–40% of respondents, version²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for nanpa (󱤽) represents a number sign (#). It is upright and wider, taking on a square shape that more closely resembles the Viewdata square (⌗).

sitelen sitelen

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Further reading

Resources

• nasin nanpa pona: ordinals

Dictionaries

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