su (particle)

For the content word, see su.

The subject of this article 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.

su
Pronunciation	/su/
Usage	2023: N/ANot applicable This word has not been surveyed for. Most speakers likely don't understand it.
Book and era	No book
Part of speech	Particle

su is a nonstandard question-marking particle.

Etymology

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The particle su is derived from the Esperanto interrogative particle ĉu /t͡ʃu/.^{[citation needed]}This claim needs references to reliable sources. (Feb 2024)

This word was coined^{[by whom?]} before those reserved for future use by jan Sonja,^{[citation needed]}This claim needs references to reliable sources. (Jan 2024) of which su was one. Combined with the fact that it is nonstandard and absent from Linku, the particle su is likely to fall out of use after the release of the book series su. Similar, though less severe, conflicts apply to lu (conflicting with a synonym of lo) and nu (conflicting with a synonym of sin).

Function

su is used in place of li (or o) to mark the sentence as a yes–no question. Thus, each of these sentences denote the same meaning:

sina moku alamoku

sina moku ala moku?

sina moku anu seme

sina moku anu seme?

sinasu2moku

sina su moku?

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for su (su2su2) is derived from that of anu, with the dot from seme (semeseme), itself depicting a question mark.