tu

tu is a core content word and number word for the number two.

tu
Pronunciation	/tu/
Usage	2023: Core (100% ↗︎ )2022: Core (99%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Number, content word
Codepoint	󱥮 U+F196E

Etymology

The word tu is derived from English two.

Function and semantic space

The word tu functions primarily as the number word for two. As a modifier, it indicates that the word or phrase it modifies describes two things. As a head, it may be used to mean a pair of things, or the abstract concept of the number two.

mi lukin e waso tu　

mi lukin e waso tu.

I see two birds.

By extension, the semantic space of tu it includes division and separation into two parts, more frequently when used as a transitive verb (see also kipisi). For dividing into more parts, the words mute or kipisi are generally used instead.

mi tu e kili　

mi tu e kili.

I divide the apple (into two parts).

There may be ambiguity when tu is used as a modifier, as it may be confused for the numeral.

ilo tu

ilo tu

(usually) two tools; (in some contexts) cutting tool

pu

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

NUMBER  two

ku

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

two⁵81–100% of respondents, pair⁵81–100% of respondents, double⁴61–80% of respondents, both⁴61–80% of respondents, twice³41–60% of respondents, couple³41–60% of respondents, cut²21–40% of respondents, divide²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for tu (󱥮) consists of two vertical lines. Like the glyph for mute (mutemute), it is probably derived from tally marks (𝍷𝍷) or one or multiple systems based on them, such as counting rods (𝍡), Roman numerals (Ⅱ, ⅱ), or Brahmi (𑁓) or Chinese numerals (二).

sitelen sitelen

The sitelen sitelen word glyph for tu (tutu) is composed of a three-knobbed shape surrounding two knob shapes on a line. The origin of the glyph is unknown, but the knob shapes inside might represent tally marks of some kind. Compare the word glyph for wan (wanwan).

The word glyph can be rotated to face any direction, but it is usually written with the knobs facing away from the word(s) it modifies (facing right in left-to-right direction, and facing down in top-to-bottom direction).

Like with any monosyllabic word, the word wan may also optionally be written with a syllable glyph (TUTU).

Further reading

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