supa

supa
Pronunciation	/ˈsu.pa/ (listen)
Usage	2023: Core (99% ↗ ) 2022: Core (98%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱥥 U+F1965

supa is a core content word that describes horizontal or supporting surfaces.

Etymology

The word supa is derived from Acadian French and English surface and Esperanto surfaco, all of which are cognates.

Semantic space

Object words, such as linja, lipu, palisa, supa, and sinpin

The semantic space of supa includes horizontal surfaces to put or rest something upon, such as tables, chairs, and platforms. Seats in particular are often phrased as supa monsi, a surface to rest the rear (of the body), so a specific supa can be defined by what it is expected to support. supa can also refer to the horizontal flatness of an object, overlapping with lipu.

Some speakers define supa as referring to furniture in general. It is not clear how far this extends to furniture that cannot support other objects.

supa has been contrasted with poki, something that holds an object by enclosing it. This creates the question of whether to refer to convex holding objects, such as hooks, as supa, poki, luka, or simply ilo jo.

pu

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

NOUN  horizontal surface, thing to put or rest something on

ku

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

platform⁵81–100% of respondents, table⁵81–100% of respondents, shelf⁴61–80% of respondents, board⁴61–80% of respondents, furniture³41–60% of respondents, flat³41–60% of respondents, lie (be in flat position)³41–60% of respondents, level³41–60% of respondents, desk³41–60% of respondents, deck²21–40% of respondents, couch²21–40% of respondents, stage²21–40% of respondents, seat²21–40% of respondents, bench²21–40% of respondents, tablet²21–40% of respondents, surface²21–40% of respondents, chair²21–40% of respondents, counter²21–40% of respondents, pad²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for supa represents a table, backless bench, or similar piece of furniture.