Toki Pona

The Language of Good

Sonja Lang

Peer reviewed by Christopher Huff (jon Kowisi) , Matthew Chisholm (jan Matejo) , Joop Kiefte (jan Mimoku) , Michael Everson, Aaron Chapman (jan Alono) , John Clifford (jan Kipo) , Matthew Martin (jan Mato) , Bryant J. Knight (jan Pije) , Robert Warnke (jan Lope) , Sam Brenner (jan San) , Kobi Kai Calev (jan Ka) , Nizar Habash (jan Nisa) , and Paul Swift (jan Po).

Comics by Russ Williams. Hand shape illustrations by Yara Hindawi. Calligraphy in sitelen sitelen by Jonathan Gabel.

Copyright © 2014 Sonja Lang (jan Sonja)

Lesson 1 to Lesson 3 and Part 3: Dictionaries are licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International Licence: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/4.0/

Sample template you can use:

This creative work by [your name] is based on the official Toki Pona book and website: http://tokipona.org

The Official Toki Pona Dictionary is in the public domain.

ISBN: 978-0-9782923-4-8 (first English Kindle edition)

in memory of
Rick Miller
(jan Wiko)

Contents

Preface
What is Toki Pona?

Part 1: Lessons
1. Letters and Sounds
2. Words and Sentences
3. Nouns and Adjectives
4. You and I
5. Verbs
6. More Adjectives
7. Questions and Answers
8. Prepositions
9. Proper Names
10. Greetings and Feelings
11. pi
12. Numbers
13. Pre-Verbs
14. Colours and la
15. Spatial Nouns
16. Particles and Perspective
17. Hunting Adventure
18. Cooking Adventure
19. The Frontier
Answers

Part 2: Texts
Comics by Russ Williams
Toki Pona Proverbs
Famous Quotations
The Torah
The Gospel
The Qur’án
Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Part 3: Dictionaries
Sign Language
Hieroglyphs
Place Names
Language Names
Phrase Book
Official Toki Pona Dictionary

Preface

I begin with the name of the Divine.
mi open lon nimi sewi.

You’re holding the Toki Pona book!
sina pu a!

Toki Pona was my philosophical attempt to understand the meaning of life in 120 words.
toki pona li tan seme? tenpo pini la mi wile sona e kon ale kepeken nimi lili.

Through a process of soulsearching, comparative linguistics and playfulness, I designed a simple communication system to simplify my thoughts.
mi lukin e kon mi. mi kama sona e toki mute. mi musi. mi pali e nasin toki lili. ona li pona e toki insa mi.

I first published my micro-language on the Web in 2001. A small community of Toki Pona fans emerged.
mi pana e toki lili mi tawa jan ale lon ilo lipu lon tenpo pini. kulupu lili li kama. ona li olin e toki pona.

In this book, I hope to present the language in its completed form. This is the way I use Toki Pona.
pu la mi wile pana e selo pini pi toki pona. nasin ni la mi kepeken toki pona.

Sonja
jan Sonja

What is Toki Pona?

Simple and Natural

Modern languages are cluttered with complex ways to express the simplest things. What is a geologist but a ‘person of earth knowledge’? Is there any useful difference between the words ‘big’, ‘large’ and ‘huge’?

Toki Pona is a language that breaks down advanced ideas to their most basic elements. If you are hungry, you ‘want eat’. To teach is to ‘give knowledge’. This allows us to drastically reduce the vocabulary and grammatical structures needed to say what we have to say.

Simplify your thoughts. Less is more.

Design

Toki Pona is semantically, lexically, and phonetically minimalist. The simplest and fewest parts are used to create the maximum effect. The entire language uses only 120 words and 14 letters of the alphabet.

Each word has been carefully selected to cover a broad range of meanings. For example, kili means any fruit or vegetable, which includes turnips, kumquats and even lingonberries. A lipu is any document, whether a printed book, postcard or clay tablet. A jan (pronounced ‘yan’) is any human being, regardless of whether they are Muslim or atheist, black or white, rich or poor.

In many ways, Toki Pona resembles a pidgin. When people from different cultures need to communicate, they must focus on the elements that are most universal to our human experience.

Toki Pona offers a path for semantic reduction. Just as we can rewrite a mathematical fraction like ⁴ /₈ as ¹ /₂ , we can distill our thoughts to their most fundamental units to discover what things really mean. We can understand complex ideas in terms of their smaller parts.

An inherent idea of goodness is transparent throughout the language. The expression for friend literally means ‘good person’. Happiness is ‘feel good’. Toki Pona itself means ‘good language’ or ‘simple language’.

Although the vocabulary and grammar are very simple, the language does contain a few essential syntax rules to keep a sentence together. For example, the particle li separates the subject from the verb.

Limitations

By being so general and vague, Toki Pona often lacks the ability to distinguish finer shades of meaning. For example, by grouping every possible bird species into the single word waso , we eliminate the need to learn hundreds of vocabulary items. However, we are also left incapable of distinguishing between eagles and chickens. The closest translations might be ‘strong bird’ (waso wawa) and ‘stupid bird’ (waso nasa) .

Toki Pona has a rather narrow range of functions. Although it is very easy to meditate and communicate honest thoughts and everyday activities in Toki Pona, it is impossible to translate a chemical textbook or legal document in the language without significant losses. Such texts are products of the complex, modern civilization we live in and are not suited for a cute, little language like Toki Pona.

As an artistic language with limited means of expression, Toki Pona does not strive to convey every single facet and nuance of human communication. Nevertheless, the results we can achieve with so few elements prove to be very interesting, if not spiritually insightful.

If English is a thick novel, then Toki Pona is a haiku.

Benefits

Training your mind to think in Toki Pona can lead to deeper insights. If many of life’s problems are created by our excess thoughts, then Toki Pona filters out the noise and points to the centre of things. Many of these principles were inspired by the Dao De Jing , which teaches, “Can you coax your mind from its wandering and keep to the original Oneness?”

For example, what is a ‘bad friend’? The Toki Pona expression for friend is jan pona , or literally ‘good person’. You quickly realize that a bad friend is a contradiction in itself. In another example, the word wile means both ‘to need’ and ‘to want’. This helps us bring our desires in alignment with our actual needs.

Toki Pona has a strong focus on context. From the perspective of a passenger, a car might be tomo tawa (an indoor compartment that moves). The driver might see it as ilo tawa (machine for going). If you’re crossing the street and — bam! — a car hits you, then it might be a kiwen tawa (hard object that moves).

The speaker and listener understand the meaning of a word through its context. Toki Pona promotes mindfulness. Become fully aware of the present moment.

Part 1
Lessons

Lesson 1: Letters and Sounds

Toki Pona uses only 14 letters of the alphabet.

a e i j k l m n o p s t u w

Vowels

There are five vowels, similar to those of Spanish, Japanese or Esperanto.

how it’s written | how it sounds
a | ‘ah’ as in the word ‘fa ther’ or ‘bra ’
e | ‘eh’ as in ‘be d’ or ‘hea d’
i | ‘ee’ as in ‘dee p’ or ‘machi ne’
o | ‘oh’ as in ‘po ny’ or ‘go ’
u | ‘oo’ as in ‘foo d’ or ‘moo se’

Consonants

Toki Pona has nine consonants. The letters p t k m n s l w sound exactly as in English. The Toki Pona letter j sounds like an English ‘y’. For example, the word jelo sounds like ‘yellow’.

Toki Pona is a forgiving language. Because it has so few sounds, your tongue enjoys more freedom. For example, if you say dogi instead of toki , your pronunciation would still be acceptable.

Stress falls on the first syllable of a word. Pronounce it a bit louder, longer or higher-pitched. For example, the word toki is pronounced ‘TO-kee’ and not ‘to-KEE’.

Toki Pona words are written in lowercase, even at the beginning of a sentence.

Practise

Read these words aloud. They should sound like English words.

jelo

jaki

ken

mu!

mun

open

mani

wan

Go to answers .

Lesson 2: Words and Sentences

Words

NOUNS
| ijo |  | thing, something, being
| jan |  | person, human
| kili |  | fruit, vegetable
| lipu |  | document
| meli |  | woman, female
| ni |  | this, that
| soweli |  | animal, land mammal

Grammar

A noun is a word for a person, place or thing.

To build a simple sentence in Toki Pona, follow this model:

NOUN + li + NOUN.
ijo li ijo.
Something is something.

By themselves, nouns are not singular or plural. The word meli can mean either ‘woman’ or ‘women’.

Toki Pona doesn’t use articles like ‘a’ or ‘the’. The word jan can mean ‘a person’ or ‘the person’, depending on the situation.

Examples

ni li jan.
This is a person.

ni li kili.
This is a banana.

lipu li ijo.
A book is a thing.

jan li meli.
The person is a woman.

soweli li ijo.
Animals are things.

meli li jan.
Women are people.

Translate

Something is something.

This is a book.

The woman is a person.

Humans are beings.

The bear is female.

Blueberries are things.

This is a piece of paper.

Go to answers .

Lesson 3: Nouns and Adjectives

Words

NOUNS
| telo |  | water, liquid
| tomo |  | house, building, room
ADJECTIVES
| lili |  | little
| pona |  | good, simple, friendly
| suli |  | big

Grammar

An adjective is a word that describes a noun. This can be a complete sentence:

NOUN + li + ADJECTIVE.
ijo li pona.
Something is good.

An adjective can also be added after a noun to describe it. In Toki Pona, the noun comes first: it’s the thing we are talking about. The adjective comes second: it gives more specific information about the noun.

NOUN + ADJECTIVE

tomo suli
‘large building’
palace

jan pona
‘good person’
friend

meli lili
‘little woman’
girl

telo suli
‘big water’
sea

Note that this is the opposite order from English. Often two Toki Pona words can be translated as a single English word.

A second noun can also fill the role of the adjective. This is similar to using the word ‘of’ in English.

NOUN + NOUN

lipu soweli
‘book of animals’

tomo meli
‘home of a woman’

Examples

telo li pona.
Water is good.

telo kili li suli.
The juice (‘water of fruit’) is large.

meli li lili.
The woman is little.

soweli lili li pona.
The small animal is friendly.

jan ni li suli.
This person is tall.

Translate

The female animal is friendly.

This is a friend.

The bathroom (‘room of water’) is small.

This is a kitten (‘small animal’).

The baby (‘little human’) is female.

The large books are good.

The fruit is a watermelon.

Go to answers .

Lesson 4: You and I

Words

NOUNS

mi

I, me, we

mije

man, male

sina

you

kulupu

community

ADJECTIVES

sin

new, another, fresh

wawa

strong, confident, dependable

Grammar

The words mi (‘me, we’) and sina (‘you’) are special. When mi or sina is used alone as the subject, no li is used after it.

mi mije.
I’m a man.

sina sin.
You’re new.

They can be used as adjectives to give information about a noun:

tomo mi
my home

kulupu sina
your community

Examples

tomo sina li sin.
Your home is new.

mije li jan pona.
The man is a friend.

tomo soweli li lili.
The doghouse is small.

sina mije wawa.
You’re a confident man.

kulupu sin li wawa.
The new community is strong.

ni li lipu sina.
This is your book.

Translate

You are strong.

This is my kiwi.

Fresh water is a good thing.

The library (‘book room’) is new.

My community is large.

My husband (‘man’) is strong.

You are a tall woman.

Go to answers .

Lesson 5: Verbs

Words

VERBS
| jo |  | to have, contain, carry
| kute |  | to listen to, obey
| moku |  | to eat, drink
| pali |  | to make, do, work on
| sona |  | to know
| toki |  | to talk, speak, communicate

Grammar

A verb is a word that expresses an action being done to a noun. To form a sentence with a verb, follow this model:

NOUN + li + VERB + e + NOUN.
ijo li pali e ijo.
Something does something.

In Toki Pona, verbs do not indicate any specific time. The action can happen in the past, present or future.

mi moku e telo.
I drank water. I drink water. I will drink water.

You can omit the object of a verb or use ijo as a filler object.

mije li sona.
The man knows.

mije li sona e ijo.
The man knows things.

You can convert any verb into a noun:

toki

VERB

to speak

NOUN

something that you speak, i.e. a language;
the act of speaking, i.e. speech

moku

VERB

to eat

NOUN

something that you eat, i.e. food;
the act of eating

You can also use any verb as an adjective. For example, jan sona is a person who knows, a knowledgeable person. A room for eating is tomo moku .

Examples

mi sona e toki pona.
I know a simple language.

mije ni li jan toki.
That man is a messenger.

soweli suli li moku e sina.
A large animal is eating you.

lipu kulupu li wawa.
The community’s book is reliable.

sina pali e moku sin.
You made new food.

jan sona li kute.
A person of knowledge listens.

tomo sona li jo e lipu.
The school has books.

Translate

I will listen to you.

The orange contains liquid.

The community is building an eating hall.

The worker has a bit of knowledge.

The friends ate meat.

The woman obeyed the man.

The little group has a new language.

Go to answers .

Lesson 6: More Adjectives

Words

ADJECTIVES
| ala |  | not, no, zero
| ike |  | bad, negative
| mute |  | many, very
| pu |  | interacting with the official Toki Pona book
| sewi |  | sacred, divine
| wan |  | one, united

NOUN

mama

parent

Grammar

An adjective can also be used directly after a verb to modify it.

mi moku ala e soweli.
I don’t eat animals.

mi toki pona e ijo.
We communicate things well.

An adjective can also modify another adjective.

pona mute
very good

wawa lili
a bit strong

You can convert any adjective into a noun:

sewi
| ADJECTIVE |  | sacred, divine
| NOUN |  | that which is divine, i.e. God

ala
| ADJECTIVE |  | not
| NOUN |  | that which is not, i.e. nothingness

You can convert any adjective into a verb:

pona
| ADJECTIVE |  | good
| VERB |  | to make good, improve

suli
| ADJECTIVE |  | large
| VERB |  | to make large, enlarge

Examples

pali sina li pona mute.
Your work is very good.

telo li wawa e mi.
Water strengthens me.

jan sona li pu.
The scholars consult the Toki Pona book.

meli lili li kute ike e mama.
The girls misheard the parent.

sewi li wan.
The Divine is One.

jan ala li ike.
Nobody is bad.

mama mije li pu mute.
Fathers use the Toki Pona book a lot.

Translate

Oneness is good.

I heard the ocean.

I know Toki Pona a bit.

The sacred book contains knowledge.

The large community will be united.

The man doesn’t eat bad fruit.

Eating makes me tall.

Go to answers .

Lesson 7: Questions and Answers

Words

NOUNS

ilo

tool

kala

fish

ona

he, she, it, they

PARTICLES

anu

or

seme

what? which?

Grammar

To ask a ‘what’ question, use a regular sentence. Place the word seme in the position where you want to know information. Do not change the word order.

seme li sin?
What is new?

jan seme li toki?
Which person is speaking?

There are two ways to ask a yes-or-no question. The first is to add the phrase anu seme at the end.

sina pu anu seme?
Have you touched the official Toki Pona book?

The other way is to repeat the word being used as a verb, adding ala in between.

ona li mama ala mama?
Is she a parent?

To reply ‘yes’, repeat the verb.

mama.
Yes.

To reply ‘no’, repeat the verb with ala or use ala alone.

mama ala.
No.

ala.
No.

Examples

ona li jo ala jo e kili mute?
Does he have many vegetables?

jo.
Yes.

mije sona li jo e kala anu seme?
Does the wise man carry a fish?

sina seme e ona?
What are you doing to her?

tomo li jo e ilo toki.
The room has a telephone.

sina kute ala kute e mama sina?
Do you obey your parent?

kala wawa li moku e seme?
What does a shark eat?

Translate

What tools do you have?

Does he listen?

Does the united community read the official Toki Pona book?

What are we doing?

Does a fish drink water?

Is the spoon small?

I hear a man or a woman.

Go to answers .

Lesson 8: Prepositions

Words

VERBS

pana

to give

PREPOSITIONS

tawa

to, for, moving to

lon

at, with, in; to be present

kepeken

using

tan

from, because of

Grammar

Prepositions often introduce a new noun. A preposition can be used at the end of a sentence:

mi pana e kala tawa ona.
I give fish to her.

mi pana e kala lon tomo.
I give fish in the home.

mi pana e kala tawa ona lon tomo.
I give fish to her in the home.

A sentence can also use a preposition without a regular verb:

mi lon tomo.
I am in the house.

mi tawa sina.
I am moving towards you.

Examples

mama mi li tawa telo suli.
My parent is going to the sea.

mi pali mute tan ni.
I work a lot because of this.

mi toki lon toki pona.
I speak in Toki Pona.

soweli lili li pona tawa mi.
Little animals are good to me.

kulupu pali li kepeken seme?
What is the work group using?

mi sona e toki mute tan meli ni.
I know many languages because of this woman.

mije sin li lon tomo telo anu seme?
Is the new man in the washroom?

Translate

I use Toki Pona.

He gives things from his house.

The vegetables are not bad.

The worker uses tools.

I am present.

The speaker gave knowledge to the listener.

Why did you do it?

Go to answers .

Lesson 9: Proper Names

Words

NOUNS

ma

land, country

nasin

way, street

nena

hill, bump

nimi

name, word

VERBS

utala

to fight

Grammar

Foreign words, such as the unique names of people and places, are written using the sound rules of Toki Pona:

Each syllable consists of a consonant plus a vowel, plus an optional n .

The first syllable of a word does not need to begin with a consonant.

The syllables ti and tin become si and sin .

The consonant w cannot appear before o or u .

The consonant j cannot appear before i .

Proper names behave as adjectives. Use them after a noun that describes what they are. For example, ma tomo (‘housed land’) is a city, and ma tomo Isanpu is Istanbul. Stress still falls on the first syllable.

Examples

nimi mi li Apu.
My name is Apu.

ma Apika li jo e jan mute.
Africa has many people.

meli Sonko li tawa nasin Kuwin.
The Chinese lady is going to Queen Street.

jan Epawam Linkan li tan ma Mewika.
Abraham Lincoln was from the United States.

ma tomo Pelin li lon ma Tosi.
Berlin is in Germany.

sina sona ala sona e toki Inli?
Do you know English?

nena sewi Kepelitepe li lon ma Tuki.
The hill sanctuary of Göbekli Tepe is in Turkey.

Translate

Mr. Sulu fights a bad guy.

Are you from Germany?

China is very large.

Lake Titicaca is in Peru.

The African community uses many languages.

I am going to England.

What is your name?

Go to answers .

Lesson 10: Greetings and Feelings

Words

PARTICLES

a

emotion word

mu

animal noise

o

call or command

ADJECTIVES

pilin

feeling

Grammar

To greet someone, you can say:

toki!
Hello.

pona tawa sina!
Peace be with you.

kama pona!
Welcome!

seme li sin?
What’s new?

To say ‘good bye’, the person leaving can say:

mi tawa.
I am going.

The person staying can reply:

tawa pona.
Good departure!

Note that these expressions and greetings are often not complete sentences.

The particle a adds emotion or emphasis. It can be used:

alone,

at the end of a sentence, or

at the end of a noun phrase.

The particle o has three uses:

after a noun phrase to show who is being called or addressed,

before a verb to express a command or request,

after the subject (and replacing li ) to express a wish or desire.

Examples

o toki ala. o pali.
Don’t speak. Take action.

jan Mosima o, ni li soweli sina anu seme?
Hey Mortimer, is this your gerbil?

o moku ala e kili mi.
Please don’t eat my turnip.

sina pilin ike tan seme?
Why are you sad?

sewi o pana e pona tawa mi.
O God, give good to me.

o kute e mama sina.
Obey your parents.

sina suli a!
You’re so tall!

pona!
Thank you!

mi o moku e ijo pona.
I should eat good things.

Translate

Lisa is happy.

Ha ha ha!

Meow!

Give the tool to me.

Go to your room.

Canada has a lot of fish, wow!

Hey Ali, be strong.

Go to answers .

Lesson 11: pi

Words

NOUNS

kasi

plant

sijelo

body, physical state

suno

sun, light

tenpo

time

ADJECTIVES

awen

waiting, kept, staying

tawa

moving

PARTICLES

pi

of

Grammar

We already know that in noun phrases, the second word describes or modifies the first one.

jan pona
good person

mije sona
a man of knowledge

When another word is added to a noun phrase, it describes the sum of all previous words.

jan pona mute
many good people

mije sona lili
a short scholar

The particle pi is used to divide a second noun group that describes a first noun group.

jan pi pona mute
a person of much good

mije pi sona lili
a man of little knowledge

Examples

tenpo suno ni li pona mute tawa mi.
Today is excellent for me.

meli lili pi sijelo pona li telo e kasi.
The healthy girl waters the plants.

mije pi pilin pona li pali e ilo tenpo suno.
The happy man builds a sundial.

mama mama mi li lili.
My grandparents are short.

sina mute li jo ala jo e tomo tawa?
Do you people have a vehicle?

o awen lon tenpo pi suli mute.
Wait a very long time.

jan sona pi toki pona li pu lon tenpo mute.
The scholar of Toki Pona consults the official book many times.

Translate

I am happy in her garden.

The Toki Pona community gives many things.

Cock-a-doodle-doo!

This battlefield is small.

Men with strong bodies were waiting.

The sun gives benefit to the plants.

Don’t use bad tools.

Go to answers .

Lesson 12: Numbers

Grammar

The simplest number system in Toki Pona uses five basic adjectives. Here they are, along with examples.

| 0 |  | ala
| 1 |  | wan
| 2 |  | tu
| 3+ |  | mute
| ∞ |  | ale

| kili ala |  | no mangoes
| mije wan |  | one man
| tomo tu |  | two homes
| soweli mute |  | six badgers, many badgers
| jan ale |  | countless people, everyone

If you need a more complex and precise counting system, use these number words as particles:

| 1 |  | wan
| 2 |  | tu
| 5 |  | luka
| 20 |  | mute
| 100 |  | ale

Add them one after another.

| 1 |  | wan
| 2 |  | tu
| 3 |  | tu wan
| 4 |  | tu tu
| 5 |  | luka
| 6 |  | luka wan
| 7 |  | luka tu
| 8 |  | luka tu wan
| 9 |  | luka tu tu
| 10 |  | luka luka
| 13 |  | luka luka tu wan
| 78 |  | mute mute mute luka luka luka tu wan
| 102 |  | ale tu

For ordinal numbers, add the particle nanpa before the number.

toki nanpa wan
first language

tomo nanpa mute tu wan
23rd house

Translate

You’re #1!

This is the fourth day.

The two boys kept eleven plants.

The new house of the short warrior is excellent.

What is the fifth thing?

I know four languages.

Everybody listens to her.

Go to answers .

Lesson 13: Pre-Verbs

Words

PRE-VERBS

kama

to become, manage to

ken

can, may

wile

to want, need, must, should

lukin

to seek to, try to

sona

to know how to

ADJECTIVES

kama

arriving, coming

VERBS

lukin

to see, look at

Grammar

Every sentence has a ‘main verb’. This is the verb or another word used in that position, such as an adjective, noun or preposition. The main verb is normally the word that comes after the particle li .

A pre-verb can be added before this main verb:

NOUN + li + PRE-VERB + VERB…
jan li wile pali…
Somebody wants to do…

Some pre-verbs have a slightly different meaning when they are used as an adjective or verb. For example, compare the many meanings of kama and lukin . To know all the meanings of a word, consult the official dictionary at the end of this book.

Examples

ma tomo li kama suli.
The city is becoming big.

mi kama sona e toki pona.
I am learning Toki Pona.

mije wawa li lukin jo e meli pona.
The strong man is seeking a good woman.

mi mute li kama awen lon ma tomo Towano.
We settled in Toronto.

jan lili mi o, sina wile moku e kala anu seme?
My children, do you want to eat some fish?

jan mute li sona ala tawa lon telo.
Many people don’t know how to swim.

sina ken ala ken kama?
Are you able to come?

Translate

The fruit became bad.

I want to be in my motherland.

The warrior knows how to make good food.

The path becomes narrow.

The plants received water.

You may keep your name.

The woman’s health improved. Yay!

Go to answers .

Lesson 14: Colours and la

Words

ADJECTIVES

jelo

yellow

laso

blue, green

loje

red

pimeja

black, dark

walo

white, pale

PARTICLE

la

(separates context from main sentence)

Grammar

The particle la is very powerful. It allows you to link two sentences, or link a fragment to a sentence.

A la B.
In the context of A, B.
If A, then B.

The words after the preposition lon can be placed before la with the same meaning.

ona li kama lon tenpo pimeja ni.
He is coming tonight.

tenpo pimeja ni la ona li kama.
Tonight, he is coming.

Examples

mi pona tawa jan, la jan li pona tawa mi.
When I am good to people, people are good to me.

sina kama lon tomo mi, la mi pana e moku.
If you come to my home, I will serve food.

sina lukin e telo jelo, la o moku ala e ona.
If you see a yellow liquid, don’t drink it.

ilo pi laso pimeja li lon tomo walo.
The dark green tool is in the white shed.

suno li loje, la tenpo pona li lon.
When the sun is red, it is the right time.

tan seme la soweli wawa pimeja li moku e ona?
Why did the black bear eat it?

sewi li wile, la mi pali e ona lon tenpo suno kama.
If God wills it, I will do it tomorrow.

Translate

If your body is blue, that is bad.

During bad times, a person needs to talk to friends.

In a group, we are strong.

When I consult the official Toki Pona book, I feel good.

What time are your parents coming?

If we don’t have any meat, we will eat vegetables.

I feel bad because of the large battle.

Go to answers .

Lesson 15: Spatial Nouns

Words

NOUNS
| insa |  | inside, between, internal organ
| monsi |  | area behind, back
| noka |  | area below or under, lower part, leg
| poka |  | side, area beside, hip
| sewi |  | area above, highest part, sky
| sinpin |  | area in front, face, chest

Grammar

Spatial nouns represent locations. We often use them with the preposition lon .

Examples

mi lon poka sina.
I am at your side.

noka tomo li wawa.
The foundation of the building is stable.

jan lili li lon insa pi mama meli.
The baby is in the mother’s womb.

ilo suli li tawa lon sewi.
A large machine is moving in the sky.

kala laso mute li lon noka pi telo suli.
Many green sea creatures are at the bottom of the ocean.

tomo sona ni la jan lili li wile kepeken toki Inli.
In this school, the children must use English.

Translate

Water is coming from the sky.

The document is under the cat.

What did you put the red clock next to?

I see a black lady in front of the building.

Protect your back.

Light is next to darkness.

Go to answers .

Lesson 16: Particles and Perspective

Words

anpa

ADJECTIVE lowly, bowing down

ante

ADJECTIVE different

en

PARTICLE and

lete

ADJECTIVE cold

lupa

NOUN door, hole

open

VERB open

sama

ADJECTIVE same, similar; sibling

suwi

ADJECTIVE sweet

taso

PARTICLE but; ADJECTIVE only

tawa

PREPOSITION from the perspective of

Grammar

Is something true from your point of view? To show perspective, use the preposition tawa.

There are many ways to translate ‘and’:

Join multiple subjects with en .

Join multiple verbs by repeating li . In the case of mi or sina , start a new sentence.

Join multiple direct objects by repeating e .

Examples

suwi li pona tawa mi.
I like sweets.

sina en mi li anpa tawa sewi.
You and I are lowly from the perspective of God.

ma mama li lili li lete.
The fatherland is small and cold.

taso mije en meli li pali li pilin pona.
But men and women are working and are happy.

meli sama mi li open e lupa nanpa wan e lupa nanpa tu.
My sister opened the first door and the second door.

tomo sina taso li pimeja.
Only your house is black.

Lesson 17: Hunting Adventure

Words

| alasa |  | VERB hunt, forage
| lawa |  | NOUN head
| len |  | NOUN clothing
| linja |  | NOUN long flexible thing
| pakala |  | ADJECTIVE broken
| palisa |  | NOUN long hard thing
| pipi |  | NOUN insect
| waso |  | NOUN bird
| weka |  | ADJECTIVE away

Grammar

Sometimes we must simplify a complex idea into two sentences.

mi wile e ni: jan Melani li kama tawa tomo mi.
I want the following: Mélanie will come to my home.
I want Mélanie to visit me.

Story

mama sama Mawijo li jo e tomo lili lon ma kasi. ona li wile alasa li kama jo e ilo alasa e len loje. tenpo suno nanpa wan la ona li lukin e waso laso taso. waso li moku e pipi lili.

tenpo suno nanpa tu la ona li kute e mu wawa. jan Mawijo li awen. ona li lukin e soweli suli. lawa soweli li jo e palisa. jan Mawijo li kepeken ilo alasa, taso linja li pakala. soweli suli li tawa weka.

Uncle Mawijo has a small house in the forest. He wants to go hunting and gets a bow and orange vest. On the first day, he only sees a blue bird. The bird is eating little insects.

On the second day, he hears the loud call of an animal. Mawijo waits. He sees a large moose. The moose’s head has antlers. Mawijo uses the bow, but the string breaks. The moose runs away.

Lesson 18: Cooking Adventure

Words

| lape |  | VERB to sleep
| olin |  | VERB to love
| pan |  | NOUN cereal, grain
| pini |  | ADJECTIVE finished, past
| seli |  | NOUN fire
| supa |  | NOUN horizontal surface
| uta |  | NOUN mouth

Grammar

You can convert a noun into a verb.

telo

NOUN

water

VERB

to use water on, to wash

seli

NOUN

fire

VERB

to use fire on, to cook

Story

jan Mawijo li jo e meli olin. nimi ona li Sili. jan Sili li lape lili lon supa. tenpo suno pini la jan Sili li pona e tomo, li telo e len. jan Mawijo li kama lon tenpo seme?

kalama a! tenpo ni la jan Mawijo li kama lon lupa, li jo e soweli lili tu. jan Sili li pilin pona, li uta e jan Mawijo. ona li seli e soweli e pan.

moku pona!

Mawijo has a beloved wife. Her name is Sili. Sili is napping on the sofa. Yesterday, Sili tidied up the house and washed the clothing. When is Mawijo arriving?

A noise. Now Mawijo arrives at the door, carrying two hares. Sili is happy and kisses Mawijo. She cooks the hares and some rice.

Bon appétit!

Lesson 19: The Frontier

These lessons have equipped you with basic guidance of how the language works.

The texts in Part 2 of this book provide more examples. The official Toki Pona Dictionary can be found at the back. It contains all the words and their meanings.

Now the rest depends on you. Go enjoy yourself. Create, play, and be pona !

Answers

Lesson 1

yellow

yucky

can

moo!

moon

open

money

one

Back to Lesson 1 .

Lesson 2

ijo li ijo.

ni li lipu.

meli li jan.

jan li ijo.

soweli li meli.

kili li ijo.

ni li lipu.

Back to Lesson 2 .

Lesson 3

soweli meli li pona.

ni li jan pona.

tomo telo li lili.

ni li soweli lili.

jan lili li meli.

lipu suli li pona.

kili li kili telo.

Back to Lesson 3 .

Lesson 4

sina wawa.

ni li kili mi.

telo sin li ijo pona.

tomo lipu li sin.

kulupu mi li suli.

mije mi li wawa.

sina meli suli.

Back to Lesson 4 .

Lesson 5

mi kute e sina.

kili li jo e telo.

kulupu li pali e tomo moku.

jan pali li jo e sona lili.

jan pona li moku e soweli.

meli li kute e mije.

kulupu lili li jo e toki sin.

Back to Lesson 5 .

Lesson 6

wan li pona.

mi kute e telo suli.

mi sona lili e toki pona.

lipu sewi li jo e sona.

kulupu suli li wan.

mije li moku ala e kili ike.

moku li suli e mi.

Back to Lesson 6 .

Lesson 7

sina jo e ilo seme?

ona li kute ala kute? ona li kute anu seme?

kulupu wan li pu ala pu? kulupu wan li pu anu seme?

mi pali e seme? mi mute li pali e seme?

kala li moku ala moku e telo? kala li moku e telo anu seme?

ilo moku li lili ala lili? ilo moku li lili anu seme?

mi kute e mije anu meli.

Back to Lesson 7 .

Lesson 8

mi kepeken toki pona.

ona li pana e ijo tan tomo ona.

kili li ike ala.

jan pali li kepeken ilo.

mi lon.

jan toki li pana e sona tawa jan kute.

sina pali e ona tan seme?

Back to Lesson 8 .

Lesson 9

jan Sulu li utala e jan ike.

sina tan ala tan ma Tosi? sina tan ma Tosi anu seme?

ma Sonko li suli mute.

telo Sisikaka li lon ma Pelu.

kulupu Apika li kepeken toki mute.

mi tawa ma Inli.

nimi sina li seme?

Back to Lesson 9 .

Lesson 10

jan Lisa li pilin pona.

a a a!

mu!

o pana e ilo tawa mi.

o tawa tomo sina.

ma Kanata li jo e kala mute a!

jan Ali o wawa.

Back to Lesson 10 .

Lesson 11

mi pilin pona lon ma kasi ona.

kulupu pi toki pona li pona e ijo mute.

mu!

ma utala ni li lili.

mije pi sijelo wawa li awen.

suno li pana e pona tawa kasi.

o kepeken ala ilo ike.

Back to Lesson 11 .

Lesson 12

sina nanpa wan!

ni li tenpo suno nanpa tu tu.

mije lili tu li awen e kasi mute. mije lili tu li awen e kasi luka luka wan.

tomo sin pi jan utala lili li pona mute.

ijo nanpa luka li seme?

mi sona e toki mute. mi sona e toki tu tu.

jan ale li kute e ona.

Back to Lesson 12 .

Lesson 13

kili li kama ike.

mi wile lon ma mama mi.

jan utala li sona pali e moku pona.

nasin li kama lili.

kasi li kama jo e telo.

sina ken awen e nimi sina.

sijelo meli li kama pona a!

Back to Lesson 13 .

Lesson 14

sijelo sina li laso, la ni li ike.

tenpo ike la jan li wile toki tawa jan pona.

kulupu la mi wawa.

mi pu, la mi pilin pona.

tenpo seme la mama sina li kama? mama sina li kama lon tenpo seme?

mi jo ala e soweli, la mi moku e kili.

mi pilin ike tan utala suli.

Back to Lesson 14 .

Lesson 15

telo li kama tan sewi.

lipu li lon noka soweli.

sina pana e ilo tenpo loje lon poka seme?

mi lukin e meli pimeja lon sinpin tomo.

o awen e monsi sina.

suno li lon poka pimeja.

Back to Lesson 15 .

Part 2
Texts

Comics by Russ Williams

Toki Pona Proverbs

The translations are not literal. They reflect the spirit of the meaning. The calligraphy is in the sitelen sitelen non-linear writing system by Jonathan Gabel.

ale li jo e tenpo.
Everything has a time. There is a time and place for everything. Everything in its right context.

ale li pona.
All is good. Life is great. Life is beautiful. Everything will be OK.

toki pona li toki pona.
Toki Pona is a good language.

ante li kama.
Change comes. Times change.

ike li kama.
Bad things will happen.

jan li suli mute. mani li suli lili.
People are more important than money.

jan sona li jan nasa.
A sage is a fool. A genius thinks unconventionally.

lupa meli li mama pi ijo ale.
A woman’s womb is the mother of all things.

mi pona e ale mi, la mi pona e mi.
When I improve all areas of my life, I improve myself.

nasin pona li mute.
The good ways are many. There are many right ways of doing things. All roads lead to Rome.

o olin e jan poka.
Love thy neighbour.

o sona e sina!
Know thyself!

pali li pana e sona.
Actions give knowledge. One learns by experience.

pilin pona li pana e sijelo pona.
Positive feelings grant good health. Mind over matter.

sina pana e ike, la sina kama jo e ike.
If you give evil, you will receive evil. What negativity you send out will return to you.

wawa li lon insa.
Energy is within.

weka lili li pona tawa lawa.
Temporary isolation is good for guidance. It is good for the mind to remove itself momentarily from something.

wile sona li mute e sona.
Curiosity multiplies wisdom. One learns by asking questions.

jan lili li sona ala e ike.
Children do not know evil.

meli li nasa e mije.
Women will make men crazy.

mi weka e ike jan, la mi weka e ike mi.
When I erase somebody’s faults, I cleanse myself of negativity.

nasin ante li pona tawa jan ante.
Different ways are good for different people. Different strokes for different folks.

telo li pona.
Water is beneficial.

lape li pona.
Sleep is good.

toki li pona.
Communication is good.

o pana e pona tawa ma.
Love the earth. Take care of the planet.

utala li ike.
Fighting is harmful.

Famous Quotations

o weka e nimi ike.
Omit needless words. (William Strunk)

sina sona e toki wan taso, la sina sona ala e toki ni.
The person who knows only one language does not truly know that language. (Goethe)

toki sina en pali sina li sama, la sina pilin pona.
Happiness is when what you think, what you say, and what you do are in harmony. (Mahatma Gandhi)

sewi li lon ala, li lon ale.
God is the tangential point between zero and infinity. (Alfred Jarry)

sina wile ante e ale, la o ante e sina.
Be the change you want to see in the world. (Mahatma Gandhi)

wile sona nanpa wan li ni: ale li pona anu ike?
The most fundamental question we can ever ask ourselves is whether or not the universe we live in is friendly or hostile. (Albert Einstein)

sona pona li ni: o weka e ike.
The wisdom of life consists in the elimination of nonessentials. (Lin Yutang)

nasin pona li pona nanpa wan.
Simplicity is the ultimate sophistication. (Leonardo da Vinci)

sina ken ala toki e ijo lon toki pona, la sina sona pona ala e ona. If you can’t explain something simply, you don’t understand it well. (Albert Einstein)

The Torah

Jews, Christians, Muslims and Bahá’ís believe that God revealed the Torah to the prophet Moses (peace be upon him) .

Shema Yiśera’el YHWH Eloheynu YHWH eh ad

kulupu Isale o kute e ni.
sewi li sewi mi.
sewi li wan.

Hear, O Israel.
The Lord is our God.
The Lord is One.

The Gospel

Matthew 26:39

Jesus (peace be upon him) worshipped God by prostrating himself to the ground.

και προελθων μικρον επεσεν επι προσωπον αυτου προσευχομενος και λεγων πατερ μου ει δυνατον εστιν παρελθετω απ εμου το ποτηριον τουτο πλην ουχ ως εγω θελω αλλ ως συ

jan Isa li tawa lili, li kama anpa, li toki e ni tawa sewi: “mama mi o! ken la o weka e pilin ike mi. wile mi o lon ala. taso wile sina o lon.”

[Jesus] went on a little farther and bowed with his face to the ground, praying, “My Father! If it is possible, let this cup of suffering be taken away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.”

Luke 18:18–19

και επηρωτησεν τις αυτον αρχων λεγων διδασκαλε αγαθε τι ποιησας ζωην αιωνιον κληρονομησω
ειπεν δε αυτω ο ιησους τι με λεγεις αγαθον ουδεις αγαθος ει μη εις ο θεος

jan lawa li wile sona e ni tan jan Isa: “jan sona pona o! mi pali e seme, la mi kama lon tenpo sewi?” jan Isa li toki e ni: “tan seme la sina pana e nimi pona tawa mi? jan ala li pona. sewi wan taso li pona.”

A certain ruler asked [Jesus], “Good teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?” Jesus said to him, “Why do you call me good? No one is good, except One — God.”

The Qur’án

al-Qur’án literally means ‘the Recital’ (kalama sewi) . The scripture also calls itself the Book, the Guidance, and the Reminder.

Chapter of Sincerity

Súrat al-Ikhlás , worth one third of the Qur’án, offers a simple definition of the Divine:

qul huwa Alláhu ah ad
Alláhu s -s amad
lam yalid wa-lam yúlad
wa-lam yakun lahu kufuwan ah ad

o toki e ni: “sewi li wan.
sewi li wawa ale.
ona li mama ala, li jo ala e mama. ijo ala li sama ona.”

Say: God is One.
God is Independent of all.
Doesn’t give birth, wasn’t born.
Nothing is like [God].

Chapter of the Ants

In Súrat al-Naml , a bird reports to Solomon (peace be upon him) about the Queen of Sheba. This paragraph can be translated by a single word in Toki Pona:

mu!

I have learned something you did not know. I come to you from Sheba with firm news. I found a woman ruling over the people, who has been given a share of everything, and she has a magnificent throne. I found that she and her people bow down in submission to the sun instead of God. The Evil One has made their deeds seem attractive to them and has kept them away from the Path, so they would not be guided. Should they not bow down in submission to God, who brings forth what is hidden in the skies and earth and who knows what you all conceal and reveal? It is God. There is no god but [God], Master of the magnificent throne.

Writings of Bahá’u’lláh

Bahá’ís believe in the unity of world religions. Luminary figures, such as Adam, Noah, Abraham, Krishna, Zoroaster, Moses, Buddha, Jesus, Muh ammad and Bahá’u’lláh (peace be upon them all) were inspired from the same One Source.

Kitáb al-Aqdas

lá tah sabanna anná nazzalná lakumu l-ah káma. bal fatah aná khatim arrah íqi l-makhtúm bi-as ábi‘i l-qudrati wa-l-iqtidár. yash′hadu bi-dhálika má nuzzila min qalami l-wah y. tafakkarú yá úlí l-áfkár.

o pilin ala e ni: sewi li pana e nasin lawa taso. a! sewi li open e telo suwi kepeken luka wawa. ilo sitelen pi toki sewi li wawa e ni. jan sona o kepeken sona a!

Think not that We have revealed unto you a mere code of laws. No, rather, We have unsealed the choice Wine with the fingers of might and power. To this bears witness that which the Pen of Revelation has revealed. Meditate upon this, O people of insight!

Short Obligatory Prayer

After washing his or her hands and face, a Bahá’í recites this short prayer every day at noon, while he or she stands facing the Point of Adoration.

ash′hadu yá iláhí bi-annaka khalaqtaní li-‘irfánika wa‘ibádatika.
ash′hadu fí hádhá l-h ín bi-‘ajzí wa-qúwatika wa-d a‘afí waiqtadárika wa-faqrí wa ghaná’ika.
lá iláha illa anta l-muhayminu l-qayyúm.

I bear witness, O my God, that You have created me to know You and to worship You.
I testify, at this moment, to my powerlessness and to Your might, to my poverty and to Your wealth.
There is no other god but You, the Help in Peril, the Self-Subsisting.

sewi mi o! mi toki wawa e ni: sina pali e mi tawa seme? mi o sona e sina. mi o olin e sina.
tenpo ni la mi sona e ni: mi anpa. sina wawa. mi jo lili. sina jo mute.
sina sewi wan. sina awen e ale. lon la sina lon.

Part 3
Dictionaries

Sign Language

Signed Toki Pona (toki pona luka) is a silent version of Toki Pona that uses hand gestures. This can be useful, for example:

in a quiet library or house of worship,

during covert ninja operations,

diving underwater for treasure, or

while taunting rival Lojbanists with gang signs.

Each word and letter has its own sign. To form a sentence, perform each sign, one after an other, using the same grammar and word order you already know.

Elements of a Sign

Each sign can be described using four elements:

hand shape

location on the body

palm orientation

whether one hand or both hands

Hand Shapes

There are nine basic hand shapes used in Signed Toki Pona. These describe the right hand.

flat hand

thumb-fist

bent hand

O hand

1 hand

2 hand

wiggling hand
(fingers moving)

L hand

F hand

Locations on the Body

For each sign, the right hand goes to a particular location.

in front of chest

at side of forehead

at side of chin

at left shoulder

at left elbow

on top of left fist

on stomach

under left slanted forearm

Orientations

Most signs are described by the direction that the palm of the right hand faces. A few signs are described by the orientation that a particular finger points.

left

up

down

forward

back

One Hand or Both Hands

By default, perform a sign by placing your right hand in the given shape, location and palm orientation.

When a sign is described as “both hands”, place your right hand as described. Then mirror the same gesture with your left hand.

Examples

kasi
F hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

o (letter)
O hand under left slanted forearm, palm facing down

la
bent hand in front of chest, palm facing left

tomo
bent hand in front of chest, palm facing left (both hands)

suli
2 hand at side of forehead, palm facing forward

Descriptions of Signs

a

flat hand at side of chin, palm facing left

akesi

2 hand at left elbow, palm facing back

ala

flat hand at left shoulder, palm facing down

alasa

1 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back

ale

wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing forward (both hands)

anpa

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing down

ante

bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

anu

L hand in front of chest, palm facing down

awen

L hand at left shoulder, palm facing back

e

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing down

en

L hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

esun

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing up (both hands)

ijo

thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing down, thumb pointing left

ike

thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing forward

ilo

thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing up

insa

L hand on stomach, palm facing back

jaki

thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing forward

jan

2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing back

jelo

F hand on stomach, palm facing down

jo

bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing up

kala

flat hand at left elbow, palm facing back

kalama

wiggling hand at side of chin, palm facing left

kama

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing back

kasi

F hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

ken

thumb-fist at left shoulder, palm facing back

kepeken

L hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

kili

thumb-fist at side of chin, palm facing left

kiwen

thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing down

ko

bent hand on stomach, palm facing down

kon

wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing left

kule

F hand in front of chest, palm facing left

kulupu

2 hand at left shoulder, palm facing down

kute

thumb-fist at side of forehead, palm facing left

la

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing left

lape

flat hand at side of forehead, palm facing left

laso

F hand at left elbow, palm facing down

lawa

flat hand at side of forehead, palm facing forward

len

bent hand at left shoulder, palm facing back

lete

wiggling hand at left elbow, palm facing down

li

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing left

lili

2 hand at side of chin, palm facing forward

linja

1 hand at side of forehead, palm facing left

lipu

flat hand on top of left fist, palm facing up

loje

F hand at side of chin, palm facing left

lon

1 hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

luka

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing forward

lukin

2 hand in front of chest, palm facing down

lupa

O hand in front of chest, palm facing left

ma

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing down (both hands)

mama

2 hand on stomach, palm facing down

mani

thumb-fist at left elbow, palm facing back

meli

2 hand on stomach, palm facing back

mi

thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing down, thumb pointing back

mije

2 hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

moku

O hand at side of chin, palm facing back

moli

L hand at side of forehead, palm facing back

monsi

L hand in front of chest, palm facing forward

mu

wiggling hand at side of chin, palm facing down

mun

O hand at side of forehead, palm facing left

musi

wiggling hand at side of forehead, palm facing left

mute

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing forward (both hands)

nanpa

2 hand in front of chest, palm facing back

nasa

thumb-fist at side of forehead, palm facing forward

nasin

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing left (both hands)

nena

bent hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

ni

L hand at side of chin, palm facing back

nimi

nothing under left slanted forearm

noka

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing back

o

wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing down

olin

wiggling hand on stomach, palm facing back

ona

1 hand in front of chest, index finger pointing left

open

O hand at left shoulder, palm facing down

pakala

thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing forward

pali

thumb-fist on top of left fist, palm facing left

palisa

O hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

pan

F hand at side of chin, palm facing back

pana

wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing up

pi

O hand in front of chest, palm facing forward

pilin

F hand on stomach, palm facing back

pimeja

F hand at left shoulder, palm facing down

pini

O hand at left shoulder, palm facing up

pipi

1 hand at left elbow, palm facing back

poka

L hand at left elbow, palm facing back

poki

O hand in front of chest, palm facing down

pona

thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing left, thumb pointing up

pu

wiggling hand on top of left fist, palm facing up

sama

thumb-fist in front of chest, palm facing down (both hands)

seli

wiggling hand at left shoulder, palm facing down

selo

F hand at left elbow, palm facing back

seme

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing up

sewi

1 hand in front of chest, palm facing left, index finger pointing up

sijelo

flat hand on stomach, palm facing back

sike

O hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

sin

wiggling hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

sina

1 hand in front of chest, index finger pointing forward

sinpin

L hand in front of chest, palm facing back (both hands)

sitelen

F hand in front of chest, palm facing left (both hands)

sona

bent hand at side of forehead, palm facing left

soweli

flat hand at left elbow, palm facing down

suli

2 hand at side of forehead, palm facing forward

suno

bent hand at side of forehead, palm facing forward

supa

flat hand in front of chest, palm facing up (both hands)

suwi

2 hand at side of chin, palm facing left

tan

bent hand at left elbow, palm facing back

taso

L hand in front of chest, palm facing down (both hands)

tawa

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing forward

telo

wiggling hand in front of chest, palm facing down (both hands)

tenpo

F hand on top of left fist, palm facing left

toki

bent hand at side of chin, palm facing left

tomo

bent hand in front of chest, palm facing left (both hands)

tu

2 hand in front of chest, palm facing forward

unpa

2 hand on top of left fist, palm facing down

uta

1 hand at side of chin, palm facing back

utala

thumb-fist at left shoulder, palm facing forward

walo

F hand at side of forehead, palm facing down

wan

1 hand in front of chest, palm facing forward, index finger pointing up

waso

O hand at side of chin, palm facing forward

wawa

thumb-fist on stomach, palm facing back

weka

O hand at left elbow, palm facing down

wile

O hand on stomach, palm facing up

Alphabet

To spell out a proper name, use these letters. All letter signs are performed under the left slanted forearm.

a

thumb-fist, palm facing back

e

flat hand, palm facing back

i and j

1 hand, palm facing down

k

bent hand, palm facing down

l

L hand, palm facing back

m

wiggling hand, palm facing back

n

wiggling hand, palm facing down

o

O hand, palm facing down

p

F hand, palm facing down

s

thumb-fist, palm facing down

t

flat hand, palm facing down

u and w

2 hand, palm facing back

Hieroglyphs

The letters of the Latin alphabet (presented in Lesson 1 ) are the most common and convenient way to write Toki Pona. There is also the ornamental sitelen sitelen system invented by Jonathan Gabel. (Examples of it are in Toki Pona Proverbs .)

This section presents a simple hieroglyphic system called sitelen pona . Each Toki Pona word is represented by a unique logogram or symbol.

a

akesi

ala

alasa

ale

anpa

ante

anu

awen

e

en

esun

ijo

ike

ilo

insa

jaki

jan

jelo

jo

kala

kalama

kama

kasi

ken

kepeken

kili

kiwen

ko

kon

kule

kulupu

kute

la

lape

laso

lawa

len

lete

li

lili

linja

lipu

loje

lon

luka

lukin

lupa

ma

mama

mani

meli

mi

mije

moku

moli

monsi

mu

mun

musi

mute

nanpa

nasa

nasin

nena

ni

nimi

noka

o

olin

ona

open

pakala

pali

palisa

pan

pana

pi

pilin

pimeja

pini

pipi

poka

poki

pona

pu

sama

seli

selo

seme

sewi

sijelo

sike

sin

sina

sinpin

sitelen

sona

soweli

suli

suno

supa

suwi

tan

taso

tawa

telo

tenpo

toki

tomo

tu

unpa

uta

utala

walo

wan

waso

wawa

weka

wile

Combined Glyphs

A single adjective can be written inside or above the word it modifies.

pilin ike

telo lete

kala lili

toki pona

Proper Names

Proper names are written inside a cartouche. Inside this oval shape, each glyph only represents the first letter of its word.

When writing these proper names, you may creatively choose whichever glyphs you feel are appropriate. For example, to write the letter w in your name, you might use waso if you like birds, or wawa if you value your strength.

This sentence shows one way to write Canada:

ma Kanata li suli
Canada is large.

Place Names

These suggestions are generally based on how the words are pronounced in the local language.

Continents

A continent can also be called ma suli .

ma Amelika

Americas

ma Antasika

Antarctica

ma Apika

Africa

ma Asija

Asia

ma Elopa

Europe

ma Osejanija

Oceania

Africa

ma Ankola

Angola

ma Eliteja

Eritrea

ma Isijopija

Ethiopia

ma Kamelun

Cameroon

ma Kana

Ghana

ma Kanpija

Gambia

ma Kapon

Gabon

ma Kenja

Kenya

ma Kine

Guinea

ma Kinejekatolija

Equatorial Guinea

ma Kinepisa

Guinea-Bissau

ma Komo

Comoros

ma Konko

Congo

ma Kosiwa

Côte d’Ivoire

ma Lapewija

Liberia

ma Lesoto

Lesotho

ma Lipija

Libya

ma Luwanta

Rwanda

ma Malakasi

Madagascar

ma Malawi

Malawi

ma Mali

Mali

ma Malipe

Morocco

ma Masu

Egypt

ma Mosanpi

Mozambique

ma Mowisi

Mauritius

ma Mulitanija

Mauritania

ma Namipija

Namibia

ma Naselija

Nigeria

ma Nise

Niger

ma Penen

Benin

ma Posuwana

Botswana

ma Pukinapaso

Burkina Faso

ma Sanpija

Zambia

ma Santapiken

Central African Republic

ma Sasali

Algeria

ma Sate

Chad

ma Sawasi

Swaziland

ma Seneka

Senegal

ma Setapika

South Africa

ma Sijelalijon

Sierra Leone

ma Sinpapuwe

Zimbabwe

ma Sipusi

Djibouti

ma Somalija

Somalia

ma Sutan

Sudan

ma Tansanija

Tanzania

ma Toko

Togo

ma Tunisi

Tunisia

ma Ukanta

Uganda

Americas

ma Alensina

Argentina

ma Awisi

Haiti

ma Ekato

Ecuador

ma Kalalinuna

Greenland

ma Kanata

Canada

ma Katemala

Guatemala

ma Kenata

Grenada

ma Kosalika

Costa Rica

ma Kupa

Cuba

ma Mesiko

Mexico

ma Mewika

United States

ma Ontula

Honduras

ma Palakawi

Paraguay

ma Panama

Panama

ma Papeto

Barbados

ma Pasila

Brasil

ma Pawama

Bahamas

ma Pelu

Peru

ma Pemuta

Bermuda

ma Penesuwela

Venezuela

ma Sameka

Jamaica

ma Sile

Chile

ma Sinita

Trinidad and Tobago

ma Tominika

Dominican Republic

ma Ulukawi

Uruguay

Asia

ma Aja

Armenia

ma Akanisan

Afghanistan

ma Anku

South Korea

ma Ilakija

Iraq

ma Ilan

Iran

ma Intonesija

Indonesia

ma Isale

Israel

ma Jamanija

Yemen

ma Kanpusi

Cambodia

ma Katelo

Georgia

ma Kuli

Kurdistan

ma Kusala

Gujarat

ma Kuwasi

Kuwait

ma Lanka

Sri Lanka

ma Losi

Russia

ma Lunpan

Lebanon

ma Malasija

Malaysia

ma Masu

Egypt

ma Mijama

Myanmar

ma Nijon

Japan

ma Pakisan

Pakistan

ma Palani

Bahrain

ma Palata

India

ma Panla

Bangladesh

ma Pilipina

Philippines

ma Pilisin

Palestine

ma Po

Tibet

ma Sawusi

Saudi Arabia

ma Sinkapo

Singapore

ma Sonko

China

ma Sulija

Syria

ma Tawi

Thailand

ma Tuki

Turkey

ma Uman

Oman

ma Utun

Jordan

ma Wije

Vietnam

Europe

ma Alan

Ireland

ma Antola

Andorra

ma Elena

Greece

ma Epanja

Spain

ma Esalasi

Austria

ma Esi

Estonia

ma Esuka

Basque Country

ma Inli

England

ma Isilan

Iceland

ma Italija

Italy

ma Juke

United Kingdom

ma Kalalinuna

Greenland

ma Kanse

France

ma Katala

Catalan Countries

ma Katelo

Georgia

ma Kinla

Wales

ma Kiposi

Cyprus

ma Lawi

Latvia

ma Lijatuwa

Lithuania

ma Lisensan

Liechtenstein

ma Lomani

Romania

ma Losi

Russia

ma Lowasi

Croatia

ma Lowenki

Slovakia

ma Lowensina

Slovenia

ma Lusepu

Luxembourg

ma Maketonija

Macedonia

ma Mosijo

Hungary

ma Motowa

Moldova

ma Netelan

Netherlands

ma Nosiki

Norway

ma Pelalusi

Belarus

ma Pesije

Belgium

ma Peson

Brittany

ma Pokasi

Bulgaria

ma Posan

Bosnia

ma Posuka

Poland

ma Potuke

Portugal

ma Samalino

San Marino

ma Seki

Czech Republic

ma Sipe

Albania

ma Sopisi

Serbia

ma Sukosi

Scotland

ma Sumi

Finland

ma Suwasi

Switzerland

ma Tansi

Denmark

ma Tosi

Germany

ma Tuki

Turkey

ma Ukawina

Ukraine

ma Wasikano

Vatican

ma Wensa

Sweden

Oceania

ma Intonesija

Indonesia

ma Kilipasi

Kiribati

ma Nusilan

New Zealand

ma Oselija

Australia

ma Papuwanijukini

Papua New Guinea

ma Pisi

Fiji

ma Samowa

Samoa

ma Tona

Tonga

ma Tuwalu

Tuvalu

ma Wanuwatu

Vanuatu

Language Names

toki Alapi

Arabic

toki Apikan

Afrikaans

toki Awasa

Hausa

toki Awisi

Haitian Creole

toki Elena

Greek

toki Epanja

Spanish

toki Esi

Estonian

toki Esuka

Basque

toki Inli

English

toki Insi

Hindi

toki Intonesija

Indonesian

toki Inu

Inuit languages

toki Ipo

Igbo

toki Isilan

Icelandic

toki Italija

Italian

toki Iwisi

Hebrew

toki Jolupa

Yoruba

toki Kalike

Scottish Gaelic

toki Kanse

French

toki Kantun

Cantonese

toki Kinla

Welsh

toki Lasina

Latin

toki Lomani

Romanian

toki Losi

Russian

toki Lowasi

Croatian

toki Mosijo

Hungarian

toki Netelan

Dutch

toki Nijon

Japanese

toki Nosiki

Norwegian (Bokmål)

toki Nosiki sin

Norwegian Nynorsk

toki Panla

Bengali

toki Peson

Breton

toki Pokasi

Bulgarian

toki Posan

Bosnian

toki Potuke

Portuguese

toki Sameka

Jamaican Patois

toki Seki

Czech

toki Sesi

Tsez

toki Sikipe

Albanian

toki Sonko

Chinese

toki Sopisi

Serbian

toki Sumi

Finnish

toki Tansi

Danish

toki Topisin

Tok Pisin

toki Tosi

German

Sign Languages

The linguistic publication Ethnologue lists 121 Deaf sign languages used worldwide. To name a sign language in Toki Pona, simply add the country or region name after toki luka (hand language). Here is an incomplete list:

toki luka

sign language

toki luka Kanse

French Sign Language

toki luka Kepeka

Quebec Sign Language

toki luka Mewika

American Sign Language

toki luka Oselija

Australian Sign Language

toki luka Piten

British Sign Language

toki luka Sonko

Chinese Sign Language

toki luka Tosi

German Sign Language

toki Inli luka

Manually Coded English

toki pona luka

Signed Toki Pona

Constructed Languages

Of course, Toki Pona is not the only constructed language. Other creations include:

toki sin

conlang

toki Apiwili

Afrihili

toki Elepen

Lingua Franca Nova

toki Epelanto

Esperanto

toki Inli pona

Basic English

toki Inota

Lingua Ignota

toki Intelinwa

Interlingua

toki Ito

Ido

toki Kuwenja

Quenya

toki Latan

Láadan

toki Litepa

Lingwa de Planeta

toki Losupan

Lojban

toki Mansi

Mänti

toki Nawi

Na’vi

toki Nejo

Neo

toki Olapi

Volapük

toki Palepelen

Bâleybelen

toki Pasiki

Fyksian

toki pona

Toki Pona

toki Sanpasa

Sambahsa

toki Selen

Seren

toki Semisi

Semitish

toki Sinan

Klingon

toki Sintalin

Sindarin

toki sitelen Anlasi

Unker Non-Linear Writing System

toki sitelen Pisinpo

Blissymbols

toki Soleso

Solresol

toki Soma

Somish

toki Tolome

Traumae

toki Tosulaki

Dothraki

Phrase Book

toki

hello!

pona

great, thanks, OK

pona tawa sina

peace be with you

mi tawa

bye (said by person leaving)

tawa pona

bye (said by person staying)

mi wile (e ni)

please, I would like

ale li pona

all is well, life is good, don’t worry

ike a

oh dear, oh my

lape pona

good night

kama pona

welcome

moku pona

enjoy your meal

seme li sin?

what’s new?

sina pilin seme?

how are you feeling?

a a a!

ha ha ha!

mi kama sona e toki pona

I’m learning Toki Pona

sina pona

you’re cool, I like you

mi olin e sina

I love you

tomo telo li lon seme?

where is the washroom?

Official Toki Pona Dictionary

a or kin

PARTICLE (emphasis, emotion or confirmation)

akesi

NOUN non-cute animal; reptile, amphibian

ala

ADJECTIVE no, not, zero

alasa

VERB to hunt, forage

ale or ali

ADJECTIVE all; abundant, countless, bountiful, every, plentiful
NOUN abundance, everything, life, universe
NUMBER 100

anpa

ADJECTIVE bowing down, downward, humble, lowly, dependent

ante

ADJECTIVE different, altered, changed, other

anu

PARTICLE or

awen

ADJECTIVE enduring, kept, protected, safe, waiting, staying
PRE-VERB to continue to

e

PARTICLE (before the direct object)

en

PARTICLE (between multiple subjects)

esun

NOUN market, shop, fair, bazaar, business transaction

ijo

NOUN thing, phenomenon, object, matter

ike

ADJECTIVE bad, negative; non-essential, irrelevant

ilo

NOUN tool, implement, machine, device

insa

NOUN centre, content, inside, between; internal organ, stomach

jaki

ADJECTIVE disgusting, obscene, sickly, toxic, unclean, unsanitary

jan

NOUN human being, person, somebody

jelo

ADJECTIVE yellow, yellowish

jo

VERB to have, carry, contain, hold

kala

NOUN fish, marine animal, sea creature

kalama

VERB to produce a sound; recite, utter aloud

kama

ADJECTIVE arriving, coming, future, summoned
PRE-VERB to become, manage to, succeed in

kasi

NOUN plant, vegetation; herb, leaf

ken

PRE-VERB to be able to, be allowed to, can, may
ADJECTIVE possible

kepeken

PREPOSITION to use, with, by means of

kili

NOUN fruit, vegetable, mushroom

kiwen

NOUN hard object, metal, rock, stone

ko

NOUN clay, clinging form, dough, semi-solid, paste, powder

kon

NOUN air, breath; essence, spirit; hidden reality, unseen agent

kule

ADJECTIVE colourful, pigmented, painted

kulupu

NOUN community, company, group, nation, society, tribe

kute

NOUN ear
VERB to hear, listen; pay attention to, obey

la

PARTICLE (between the context phrase and the main sentence)

lape

ADJECTIVE sleeping, resting

laso

ADJECTIVE blue, green

lawa

NOUN head, mind
VERB to control, direct, guide, lead, own, plan, regulate, rule

len

NOUN cloth, clothing, fabric, textile; cover, layer of privacy

lete

ADJECTIVE cold, cool; uncooked, raw

li

PARTICLE (between any subject except mi alone or sina alone and its verb; also to introduce a new verb for the same subject)

lili

ADJECTIVE little, small, short; few; a bit; young

linja

NOUN long and flexible thing; cord, hair, rope, thread, yarn

lipu

NOUN flat object; book, document, card, paper, record, website

loje

ADJECTIVE red, reddish

lon

PREPOSITION located at, present at, real, true, existing

luka

NOUN arm, hand, tactile organ
NUMBER five

lukin or oko

NOUN eye
VERB to look at, see, examine, observe, read, watch
PRE-VERB to seek, look for, try to

lupa

NOUN door, hole, orifice, window

ma

NOUN earth, land; outdoors, world; country, territory; soil

mama

NOUN parent, ancestor; creator, originator; caretaker, sustainer

mani

NOUN money, cash, savings, wealth; large domesticated animal

meli

NOUN woman, female, feminine person; wife

mi

NOUN I, me, we, us

mije

NOUN man, male, masculine person; husband

moku

VERB to eat, drink, consume, swallow, ingest

moli

ADJECTIVE dead, dying

monsi

NOUN back, behind, rear

mu

PARTICLE (animal noise or communication)

mun

NOUN moon, night sky object, star

musi

ADJECTIVE artistic, entertaining, frivolous, playful, recreational

mute

ADJECTIVE many, a lot, more, much, several, very
NOUN quantity

nanpa

PARTICLE -th (ordinal number)
NOUN numbers

nasa

ADJECTIVE unusual, strange; foolish, crazy; drunk, intoxicated

nasin

NOUN way, custom, doctrine, method, path, road

nena

NOUN bump, button, hill, mountain, nose, protuberance

ni

ADJECTIVE that, this

nimi

NOUN name, word

noka

NOUN foot, leg, organ of locomotion; bottom, lower part

o

PARTICLE hey! O! (vocative or imperative)

olin

VERB to love, have compassion for, respect, show affection to

ona

NOUN he, she, it, they

open

VERB to begin, start; open; turn on

pakala

ADJECTIVE botched, broken, damaged, harmed, messed up

pali

VERB to do, take action on, work on; build, make, prepare

palisa

NOUN long hard thing; branch, rod, stick

pan

NOUN cereal, grain; barley, corn, oat, rice, wheat; bread, pasta

pana

VERB to give, send, emit, provide, put, release

pi

PARTICLE of

pilin

NOUN heart (physical or emotional)
ADJECTIVE feeling (an emotion, a direct experience)

pimeja

ADJECTIVE black, dark, unlit

pini

ADJECTIVE ago, completed, ended, finished, past

pipi

NOUN bug, insect, ant, spider

poka

NOUN hip, side; next to, nearby, vicinity

poki

NOUN container, bag, bowl, box, cup, cupboard, drawer, vessel

pona

ADJECTIVE good, positive, useful; friendly, peaceful; simple

pu

ADJECTIVE interacting with the official Toki Pona book

sama

ADJECTIVE same, similar; each other; sibling, peer, fellow
PREPOSITION as, like

seli

ADJECTIVE fire; cooking element, chemical reaction, heat source

selo

NOUN outer form, outer layer; bark, peel, shell, skin; boundary

seme

PARTICLE what? which?

sewi

NOUN area above, highest part, something elevated
ADJECTIVE awe-inspiring, divine, sacred, supernatural

sijelo

NOUN body (of person or animal), physical state, torso

sike

NOUN round or circular thing; ball, circle, cycle, sphere, wheel
ADJECTIVE of one year

sin or namako

ADJECTIVE new, fresh; additional, another, extra

sina

NOUN you

sinpin

NOUN face, foremost, front, wall

sitelen

NOUN image, picture, representation, symbol, mark, writing

sona

VERB to know, be skilled in, be wise about, have information on
PRE-VERB to know how to

soweli

NOUN animal, beast, land mammal

suli

ADJECTIVE big, heavy, large, long, tall; important; adult

suno

NOUN sun; light, brightness, glow, radiance, shine; light source

supa

NOUN horizontal surface, thing to put or rest something on

suwi

ADJECTIVE sweet, fragrant; cute, innocent, adorable

tan

PREPOSITION by, from, because of

taso

PARTICLE but, however
ADJECTIVE only

tawa

PREPOSITION going to, toward; for; from the perspective of
ADJECTIVE moving

telo

NOUN water, liquid, fluid, wet substance; beverage

tenpo

NOUN time, duration, moment, occasion, period, situation

toki

VERB to communicate, say, speak, say, talk, use language, think

tomo

NOUN indoor space; building, home, house, room

tu

NUMBER two

unpa

VERB to have sexual or marital relations with

uta

NOUN mouth, lips, oral cavity, jaw

utala

VERB to battle, challenge, compete against, struggle against

walo

ADJECTIVE white, whitish; light-coloured, pale

wan

ADJECTIVE unique, united
NUMBER one

waso

NOUN bird, flying creature, winged animal

wawa

ADJECTIVE strong, powerful; confident, sure; energetic, intense

weka

ADJECTIVE absent, away, ignored

wile

PRE-VERB must, need, require, should, want, wish