uta

uta
Pronunciation	/ˈu.ta/ (listen)
Usage	2023: Core (99% ↗ ) 2022: Core (98%)
Book and era	nimi pu
Part of speech	Content word
Codepoint	󱥰 U+F1970

uta is a core content word relating to the mouth and jaw.

Etymology

The word uta is derived from Crotian usta, meaning "mouth".

Semantic space

The semantic space of uta includes any and all parts of the mouth and jaw, such as the lips, teeth, tongue, and throat. As a transitive verb, it may refer to the act of interacting with something using the mouth, such as placing one's mouth, kissing, licking, biting, or chewing.

It may be used to indicate verbal communication (toki uta), instead of written (toki sitelen) or signed (toki luka).

pu

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

NOUN  mouth, lips, oral cavity, jaw

ku

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

mouth⁵81–100% of respondents, lip³41–60% of respondents, kiss³41–60% of respondents, jaw³41–60% of respondents, bite²21–40% of respondents, chew²21–40% of respondents

sitelen pona

The sitelen pona glyph for uta represents an open mouth. The dot placed below, sometimes omitted by speakers, is to help distinguish glpyhs derived from the mouth radical, such as moku (mokumoku), from compound glyphs, luka uta (luka+utaluka+uta). Derived glyphs include kalama, loje, and moku.