supa

supa is a core content word relating horizontal or supporting surfaces.

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

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 rest or place something upon, such as platforms and furniture. A specific type of supa can be defined by what it is expected to support. supa can also refer to the horizontal flatness of an object, overlapping with the semantic space of lipu.

mi lape lon supa　

mi lape lon supa.

I sleep on my bed.

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

The semantic space supa has been contrasted with poki, an object that holds other objects by enclosing them. 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.

sitelen sitelen

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Further reading

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