poka

poka
Pronunciation	/ˈpo.ka/
Usage	2023: Core (99% ↗︎ )2022: Core (98%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱥒 U+F1952

poka is a core content word, used as a spatial word, relating to something physically on the side.

Etymology

The word poka is derived from Croatian bok, meaning "side, flank".

Semantic space

The semantic space of poka includes the sides and vicinity of something. In relation to the human body, it usually refers to the hips.

When used as a spatial word, poka includes things that are physically beside or surrounding (but not enclosing) something, and is extended to refer to anything nearby. This sense is an antonym to weka, which describes the far-removed.

pu

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

NOUN  hip, side; next to, nearby, vicinity

ku

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

side⁵81–100% of respondents, hip⁴61–80% of respondents, beside³41–60% of respondents, aside³41–60% of respondents, closely²21–40% of respondents, left (not right)²21–40% of respondents, sidebar²21–40% of respondents, alongside²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for poka (󱥒) is derived from the open box radical with a location dot placed besides it. Compare the glyphs for anpa, insa, monsi, sinpin, as well as the secular version of sewi.

Further reading

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