Our Language

Helmut Voigt
© Helmut Voigt, June 2019

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Contents

Preface 4
1 toki mi Basics 5
1.1 Phonetics, Pronunciation and Script 5
1.1.1 Phonetics 5
1.1.2 Pronunciation 5
1.1.3 Script 5
1.1.4 Complete Syllabary 6
2 toki mi Rules 6
2.1 Basic Words and Word Combinations 6
2.2 Syntax 7
2.2.1 Main Clauses 7
2.2.2 Subordinate Clauses 8
2.2.2.1 Temporal Clauses 8
2.2.2.2 Final Clauses 8
2.2.2.3 Causal Clauses 8
2.2.2.4 Conditional Clauses 8
2.2.2.5 Concessive Clauses 8
2.2.2.6 Relative Clauses 8
2.2.2.7 "Whether" Clauses 8
2.2.2.8 "That" Clauses 8
2.3 Interrogative Clauses 9
2.4 Imperative Clauses 9
2.5 Direct Speech 9
2.6 Word Modifiers 9
2.6.1 Negation/Inversion 9
2.6.2 Comparative Forms of Descriptors 9
2.6.3 Subjunctive Mode 9
2.6.4 Modal Particles 10
2.6.5 Multiple Subjects in a Single Sentence 10
2.6.6 Multiple Predicates in a Single Sentence 10
2.6.7 Multiple Direct Objects in a Single Sentence 10
2.6.8 Multiple Time Indicators in a Single Sentence 10
2.7 The Difference Between "o" Phrases and Descriptors 10
2.8 Usage of "sa" 10
2.9 Introductory Phrases 10
2.10 Headlines and Titles 10
2.11 Numbers 11
2.11.1 List of Numerals 11
2.11.2 Multi-digit Numbers and Decimals 11
2.11.3 Ordinal Numbers 11
2.11.4 Fractions 11
2.11.5 Multiples 11
2.11.6 Approximate Numbers 11
2.11.7 Basic Calculations 11
2.11.8 Date and Time 11
2.12 Proper Names and Geographical Names 12
3 Examples of Designation 12
3.1 Parts of the Human Body 12
3.2 Family Members 14
3.3 Different Ways of Expressing sth. 14
3.4 Positional Examples 14
4 Textual Examples 15
4.1 Proverbs, Quotations 15
4.2 The Lord's Prayer 15
4.3 Fairy Tale: Little Red Riding Hood 16
5 Advantages of toki mi Compared with Esperanto/Toki Pona 17
5.1 toki mi vs. Esperanto 17
5.2 toki mi vs. Toki Pona 17
6 Alphabetic toki mi Vocabulary Including Meanings, Examples and Word Origin 18
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Preface

After having dealt with Bislama, Tok Pisin, conlangs like Lojban, Sona, Esperanto and Toki Pona, and
encouraged by Robert Warnke's ideas, I decided to create a conlang which combines the advantages
of these languages (simple pronunciation and writing, clear rules with few exceptions, limited
vocabulary, ease of expression, etc.) while being easy to learn and use.

The words of toki mi are in part derivates from other natural and constructed languages and in part my
own inventions.

As not all possible syllable combinations are used so far, new words may be added later in case of
urgent necessity.

Many people are interested in conlangs. So I hope that they will find pleasure in studying this booklet
and using this new conlang "toki mi".

Author:

Helmut Voigt
Graduated translator and interpreter (German-Arabic-English)

Berlin, Germany
September 2020

tokipóla

tikóna, a mi pisa kami toki Pisama mo Toki Pisin, mo tokimáti pali Losipan mo Sona mo Epelanto mo
toki pona. mo, a mi pika kapi e kapa pi si Lope Vanke. mi ja-lapo e tokimáti, a ta i jo e pitakúto pi toki
ni (nositóki mo nosisóki no-kaja mo tisatóki kuto pi no-tisa poko mo talanámi poko mo ke-toki pi tema
pilo mo nala). tipéli, a mi salo e ni: kapi mo kamo e toki mi i no-kaja.

nami pi toki mi i komo min toki samo mo min tokimáti nala mo min kapa mi.

ti ni, a mi no-kamo e tomanámi pán pi ke-kamo liso ni: lo a mi moli e nami moki ti komo, a mi ke-lapo e
ni.

si pilo i pisa kami tokimáti. Mi salo e ni: na pilo i laki liso ni: na pilo i luki e mapa ni mo i kamo e „toki
mi“.

silápo:

Helmut Voigt
sikápi pi kasotóki (toki Tosi Inli mo Alapi)

kanitomo Pelin in kani Tosi

mona sima pi jala tuso tuso

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1 toki mi Basics

1.1 Phonetics, Pronunciation and Script

1.1.1 Phonetics

toki mi uses five vowels (a, e, i, o, u) and nine consonants (j, k, l, m, n, p, s, t, v). There are no
diphthongs or consonant clusters.

1.1.2 Pronunciation

Vowels are pronounced as in German.

English complements:

a as in father
e as in may or fiancée
i as in bee
o as in hole or more
u as in pool

You may pronounce vowels long or short ad libitum.

Consonants can be pronounced similar to your native language. Please keep in mind that "j" is always
pronounced as in German, i.e. like English "y" in "yes".
toki mi allows much freedom in pronouncing consonants. As long as they remain distinctive, they may
be pronounced voiced or voiceless, aspirated or non-aspirated, emphatic, explosive or implosive.
The same holds true of letter names. The names of consonants may be pronounced as in the
respective native language of the speaker, while the vowels should be pronounced as their toki mi
pronunciation.

Stress:

Stress may be implemented by speaking the respective syllable a bit louder or with a slightly higher
pitch or both.

The slot particles ("separators") a, e, i, o, in, ti are always unstressed.

In two-syllable words, the first syllable is stressed.

In case of fixed word combinations, the first syllable of the descriptor (the second part of a compound
word) is somewhat more stressed than the first syllable of the basic word, and the break between the
two components is shorter than that between separate words.
jàmikúto a good meal, kùtojámi delicious (“good to eat”), tokúto good feeling, wellness.
For beginners, an acute can be used to mark the stressed vowel in a combined three-syllable word:
túsoka the second, takopán always.

The interrogative particle ka is only stressed when used as a placeholder. If placed at the end of the
sentence, it is unstressed (as in Japanese).

Proper names and geographical names may be used unchanged or be adapted to the phonetics of
toki mi (like in Toki Pona).

A comma denotes a short break in speaking.

1.1.3 Script

The letters of the Latin alphabet are used.

Syllabic or hieroglyphic scripts may be invented and used ad libitum.

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All toki mi words are uncapitalized – even at the beginning of a sentence. Only the first letter of proper
names and geographical names is capitalized in order to be distinct from original toki mi words.
The number of closely linked words which may be written as one word is restricted to two (normally
the basic word and the first descriptor) with the exception of multi-digit numbers. Any additional
descriptors are written separately (cf. the wordlist and chapters 4 and 5).

Slot particles ("separators") are always written separately. The “modifiers” mo, ki, kali and kasa are
directly linked with the respective basic word: meka – mekamo, mekaki, mekakali, mekakasa. For
clarity reasons, the “opposite” modifier no- (always hyphenated) precedes the respective nami: liki, no-
liki.

A hyphen is also used between a pre-verb and its main verb.

1.1.4 Complete Syllabary

1st A+n E+n I+n O+n U+n

syllable
- a e i o u
j ja je - jo ju
k ka ke ki ko ku
l la le li lo lu
m ma me mi mo mu
n na ne ni no nu
p pa pe pi po pu
s sa se si so su
t ta te ti to tu
v va ve vi vo -
2nd
syllable
j ja je - jo ju not after a j syllable
k ka ke ki ko ku not after a k syllable
l la le li lo lu not after a l syllable
m ma me mi mo mu not after a m syllable
n na ne ni no nu not after a n syllable
p pa pe pi po pu not after a p syllable
s sa se si so su not after a s syllable
t ta te ti to tu not after a t syllable
v va ve vi vo - not after a v syllable

All syllables (except the separators a, i, e, o) are of the CV type (consonant-vowel).

Additional mono-syllabic words are formed by adding n.

Most of the basic words consist of two syllables only. There are no multi-syllabic basic words in toki mi.

There are no words with duplicated syllables (such as lala or kiki). The consonant of the second
syllable must always be different from the consonant of the first syllable.

2 toki mi Rules

2.1 Basic Words and Word Combinations

As a principle, all basic words (except the particles a, e, i, o, la, pi, ta) can represent any word
category, i.e. noun, verb, pre-verb, descriptor (adjective, adverb), preposition, conjunction.

Whether a word is looked at as noun, verb or the like depends on the slot separators, the position of
the word in the sentence and the logical context: a jami food, meal; i jami eat/drink; jami edible, having
to do with meals and eating; (a) sijami a person who eats; ti jami time of eating, at dinner.

If necessary, the plural of a word can be expressed by adding pilo (several, many) or pan (all).

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If the subject is the very first word in a sentence, the slot #1 particle a is omitted because no
separation is needed in this case.

The tense of the predicate is derived from the context and/or time indicators.

In contrast with English, descriptors (words describing or specifying the basic word) do not precede
but follow the basic word directly and without a particle.
tomomeka large building ("house+big"), laposato ("do+ready") completed.

If a basic word is followed by several descriptors, numeric and possessive descriptors come last, but
before pi phrases.
ni (i) son pikameka tu mi. ("This + omitted predicate slot separator + descendant + becoming + big +
two + my." These are my two adolescent children.

Combined descriptors consisting of several words are separated from the basic word they relate to by
the separator pi.
Ni tomo pi seni mi. This is the house of my parents (mi "my" is related to seni "parents", not to tomo
"house"). The suiffixes mo (comparative), ki (superlative), kasa (very) and kali (almost, nearly, about),
are part of the descriptor so that no pi is required before them: tomo mekakasa instead of tomo pi
mekakasa.

It is possible to use two pi phrases after one basic word.

If both pi phrases relate to the first basic word, they are combined by mo.
tomo pi tomomini pilo mo pi siseti mi my neighbour's multi-room house (tomomini pilo "many rooms"
and pi siseti mi "my side-person" both relate to the first word tomo ("house").

If the second pi phrase relates to the basic word of the first pi phrase, it is placed after the first pi
phrase without mo.
man pi pamalava pi kani Inli Prince Philip ("man of reigning woman of Britain"; pi #1 relates to man, pi
#2 relates to pama).

It is recommended to better avoid pi phrase sequences in order to keep the sentence clear and simple.

2.2 Syntax

toki mi uses main and subordinate clauses. The latter may be placed at different positions in the main
clause.

2.2.1 Main Clauses

Phrases are arranged according to the slot principle. The sequence of the slots remains always the
same, but not all slots need to be filled.
Except slot #7 (end-of-sentence slot), all slots are separated from the others by a preceding particle
(please note the remarks of slots #1 and #2).

Slot #1 Slot #2 Slot #3 Slot #4 Slot #5 Slot #6 Slot #7

subject predicate direct manner place time end of
object sentence
Sep. a* i** e o in ti ./!/ka?/nuli./a!
1 mi ja-jami .
2 mi ja-jami e puto .
3 mi ja-jami e puto o laki .
4 mi ja-jami e puto o laki in tomojami .
5 mi ja-jami e puto o laki in tomojami ti polatako .
6 mi ja-jami e puto o laki in tomojami ti polatako pan .
7 ju ja-jami e puto ka?
8 mi ja-jami e puto nuli.
9 (Name) a, i jami e puto !
10 puto i kutojami a!
* a as subject separator is omitted when the subject is the very first word of the sentence.
** i as predicate separator is omitted when the complete subject is one of the following pronouns: mi, ju, na, ni, pa, ta. If a
pronoun is further described by pilo, pan, or a number word, i is NOT omitted.

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Translation:
1. I want to eat. / I'm hungry.
2. I want to eat an apple.
3. I'd like to eat an apple.
4. I'd like to eat an apple in the kitchen.
5. I'd like to eat an apple in the kitchen in the morning.
6. I'd like to eat an apple in the kitchen every morning.
7. Do you want to eat an apple?
8. I only want to eat an apple. ("I want to eat one apple only." would be mi ja-jami e puto van nuli.)
9. (Name,) eat an apple!
10. The apple is really delicious!

2.2.2 Subordinate Clauses

In contrast to Toki Pona, toki mi allows the use of subordinate clauses. They start with one of the
following words and end with a comma if placed before the main clause. At the final position, they are
preceded by a comma and completed with a full stop.

2.2.2.1 Temporal Clauses ("ti") (when, while):

ti a na komo lon mi, a mi tu i ko lon tomo pi makomoto.

When she came to me, we both went to the cinema.

ti a vatamito i lapa, a mi veta in tomo mi.

When rain falls, I stay at home.
Or: ti vatamito, a mi veta in tomo mi.
When it rains, I stay at home.

ti a vatamito i kolalapa, a mi no-sapo e sinsola.

As long as it rains, I'm not going to clean the windows.
ti kona pi vatamito, a mi sapo e sinsola.
As soon as it stops raining, I'll clean the windows.

2.2.2.2 Final Clauses ("lan") (for, in order to):

mi ko lon kanitomo Lanten, lan a mi pimi e lapo or lan a mi pimi e lapo, mi ko lon kanitomo Lanten.
I go to London in order to look for a job.

2.2.2.3 Causal Clauses ("liso") (because):

liso a vatamito i lapa, a mi veta in tomo mi. or a mi veta in tomo mi, liso vatamito i lapa.
I stay at home because it's raining.

2.2.2.4 Conditional Clauses ("lo") (if, in case):

lo a ju no-komo lon mi, a mi no-ke-molo e tomomoki mi la ju.
If you don't come to me, I can't show you my new flat.
Or mi ke-molo e tomomoki mi la ju, lo a ju komo lon mi.
I can show you my new flat if you come to me.

For comparison:
ti a na komo lon mi, a mi molo e tomomoki mi la na.
When she came to me, I showed her my new flat.

2.2.2.5 Concessive Clauses ("kan") (although):

kan a vatamito i lapa, a mi ko lon kaniví. Or mi ko lon kaniví, kan a vatamito i lapa.
Although it was raining, we went to the park.

2.2.2.6 Relative Clauses ("ta"): They always follow the related word!
sikúto mi, a ta mitiveta e pama Susan ti vokakona, i to sa o lakikasa.
My friend, who married Susan last week, feels full of joy.
lapo, a mi sato e ta ti jalakona, i lota.
The work, which we accomplished last year, has borne fruit.
simán mini ni, a ta sikúto mi ti tomokápi, i pika e sikúsa pi namiméka ti ní.
This boy who was my school pal, is a famous artist now.
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2.2.2.7 "Whether" Clauses ("ka"):
mi no-kapi, ka a masi ju i samo. Or: ka a masi ju i samo, a mi no-kapi.
I don't know whether your view is correct.
mi no-kapi e ni: masi ju i samo ka?
This construction (as in Toki Pona) is possible as well.

2.2.2.8 "That" Clauses ("e ni: …"): They always follow the main clause! After ni:, no a is necessary
because the colon is a separator.
mi kapi e ni: vatamito i lapa ti takokómo.
I know that it will rain tomorrow.

2.3 Interrogative Clauses:

ka (what?), ni ka (which), si ka (who?), in ka (where?), ti ka (when?), liso ka (why?) and o ka (how?)

may be positioned in place of the phrase asked for or at the beginning of the sentence.

Interrogative clauses are finished by a question mark.

Question tags ("isn't it?", "or what?") are expressed by …, ja?".

In these cases, the question particle ka is stressed (marked here by an acute for clarity) .

ni ká? What's this?

si i ká? Who is this? (na si ka? is possible as well.)
ju lapo e ká? What are you doing? Or: What did you do?
mi mu-lapo e ni o ká? How shall I do this?
ju in ká? Where are you? (The predicate slot separator i is not necessary before in, as in begins with
an i, and the meaning is clear anyway.)
If the question relates to the entire sentence, -ka is attached to the stressed verb, or an unstressed ka
is placed at the end of the sentence.
ju kómo ka? Do you come?
ju kapi e ni ka? or ju kápi-ka e ni? Do you understand this?

2.4 Imperative Clauses

They start with the predicate slot i and are closed by an exclamation mark.

As a polite request, the name of the person + the exclamatory particle a can be placed before the
imperative clause and finished with a comma denoting a short break in speech.
Robert a, i luki e tipo pan ni! Robert, please read these hints!

2.5 Direct Speech

Direct speech phrases are preceded by : " and finished by ". After toki ("said"), e ni can often be
omitted, because the colon+quotation marks are sufficient.
na toki la mi: "ju komi." She said to me, "You're crazy."

There is no indirect speech in toki mi.

2.6 Word Modifiers

2.6.1 Negation/Inversion

Depending upon the sense, any basic word can be inverted to its opposite by affixing no- to it.
tama > no-tama important > unimportant
taki > no-taki take > reject

Such inverted words are treated as one single word.

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2.6.2 Comparative Forms of Descriptors (using descriptor modifiers)

mo comparative, ki superlative (without stress shift): "meka" big, mékamo bigger, mékaki biggest.
Comparison: "tomo ju i mekamo lika tomo mi." Your house is bigger than mine.
"tomo ju i mekapali lika tomo mi." Your house is as big as mine.
“tomo ju i mekakali lika tomo mi.” Your house is almost as big as mine.
"too" (e.g. too big): kasa is attached to the descriptor: minikasa too small. Context makes clear
whether minikasa is meant to be “very small” or “too small”.

2.6.3 Subjunctive Mode

tomasi, a vatamito i lapa ti takokomo. Suppose it would rain tomorrow…

lo a ju jo e mani pilo, a ju lapo e ká? What would you do if you had lots of money?

2.6.4 Modal Particles

toki mi has four modal particles:

ja- want
ke- can
mu- must, have to, need to
su- should, ought to

Except ja, which as an independent word means “yes, to agree, affirmation”, they cannot stand alone,
but are connected to the predicate by a hyphen.
mi mu-lapo. I have to work.
The negation is placed before the modal particle, not between the modal particle and the main
predicate.

2.6.5 Multiple Subjects in a Single Sentence

They are queued by mo.

siman mo sipama i pali o lava. Men and women are legally equal.

2.6.6 Multiple Predicates in a Single Sentence

Successive activities of the same subject:

The first predicate is preceded by i, while the subsequent predicates are added by mo.
mi (i) komo mo luki mo lota. Veni, vidi, vici.
If the first predicate is followed by several direct objects or a prepositional phrase, the following
predicate is preceded by mo i to make clear that another predicate follows.
mi jami e pani e vata pava mo i sapo e tolojami. I had bread and coffee and then washed the cutlery.

Simultaneous activities of the same subject:

Each predicate is preceded by i.
mi sati i luki. I was sitting there reading. na jami i toki. He talked while eating.

2.6.7 Multiple Direct Objects in a Single Sentence

Each direct object is preceded by e, so there is no need of using a word for "and" here.
mi kopataki e puto e pani e vataputo. I'm buying fruit, bread and juice.

2.6.8 Multiple Time Indicators in a Single Sentence

As there is only one time slot in the main clause, a second time indicator is placed at the beginning of
the sentence.

ti tako van, a mi lapo ti sava san. I work three hours a day.

ti voka tu, a mi koluki e sikuto mi ti sava tu. Every two weeks, I meet my friend for two hours.

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2.7 The Difference Between o Phrases and Adverbial Phrases

kaja ni i moli e lapopava. This task requires hard work (pava relates to work).
mi lapo o pava. I work hard (pava relates to me, not to the work).
mi lapopava o laki. I perform the hard work joyfully (pava relates to the work, o laki relates to me).

2.8 Usage of sa

In 3rd person phrases, na may sometimes be misunderstood if used as a possessive or direct object.
na luki e mota na. He is looking at his car (his own car or someone else's car?).
sa instead of na makes the sentence clear: na luki e mota sa. He is looking at his own car.

2.9 Introductory Phrases

Introductory phrases like tipo mo (by the way), mo ni (furthermore), mapo (maybe), nuli (however),
masi mi (in my view), pali (for example) are placed at the beginning of the sentence and finished with a
comma.
tipo mo, a mapa i sato. By the way, the book is ready.

2.10 Headlines and Titles

In most cases, these are incomplete sentences. Therefore, the subject slot separator a is omitted.
si Ense mo si Kete Hansel and Gretel

2.11 Numbers

2.11.1 Numerals

0 so
1 van
2 tu
3 san
4 sapa
5 sali
6 sita
7 sipo
8 siko
9 sima

2.11.2 Multi-digit Numbers and Decimals

Multi-digit numbers are formed by queuing their numerals:

12 = vantu, 104 = vansosapa.

In very large numbers, hyphens may be used for better clarity.

sansapasali-sapatusali 345,425

In decimals, koma denotes the period.

van koma sali 1.5.

Multi-digit numbers and decimals are treated as one single descriptor.

2.11.3 Ordinal Numbers

soka is attached directly to the last digit:

vánsoka the first
tusánsoka the 23rd

2.11.4 Fractions

Numerator mito denominator: van mito sapa a quarter, tu mito san two thirds, tu mito van double, van
mito tu half, puto van mito tu half an apple, vanso mito pan 10%.
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2.11.5 Multiples

mon is attached directly to the last digit:

sanmon three times
tumon twice
pílomon many times

2.11.6 Approximate Numbers

kali is attached directly to the last digit:

sípokali around seven
sípokalimon around seven times

2.11.7 Basic Calculations

sita mo sipo i sato vansán. 6+7=13
sipo veka van i sato sita. 7-1=6
sipomon san i sato tuván. 7x3=21
tusípo mito sima i sato san. 27:9=3

2.11.8 Date and Time

tako túsoka pi mona vánsoka pi jala tusotúsosoka Jan 2nd, 2020 (the 2nd day of the 1st month of the
2020th year).
mino vánsosoka pi sava sánsoka pi tipáka 03:10 a.m. (the 10th minute of the 3rd hour of time-dark),
mino vansosoka pi sava sansoka pi tisóla 03:10 p.m.

2.12 Proper Names and Geographical Names

Proper names and geographical names are descriptors. Therefore, they are preceded by a toki mi
word, e.g. kani (country), kanitomo (city) or si (person).

For reasons of clarity, the original names can be retained. You may as well adapt them according to
the transformation rules used in Toki Pona.

Syllable stress follows the original name. Optionally, an acute may be used to denote the stressed
syllable.

Those who do not know the Toki Pona list of country names will find it difficult to understand kani
Sonko (from Chinese zhōngguó) or kani Sipe (from Albanian Shqiptar), but kani Kina and kani Apánija
or even kani China and kani Albania are clear to everybody.

Examples:

kani Tosi Germany

kanitomo Pelín Berlin
si Losi Russian person
nema Manépele Mount Everest
vatameka Alánsi Atlantic Ocean

In contrast to Toki Pona, names of animals or plants can also be formed this way: livaso Tukan (a bird
species), puto Panana (banana).

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3 Examples of Designation

These examples demonstrate how things can be designated with somewhat of precision in toki mi.

3.1 Parts of the Human Body

human being si
man, woman, child, adolescent simán, siméli, simini, si pikameka
human body somasí
head lava
hair, beard, bald lamilava, lamipesi, no-lamilava
face pesi
forehead latilava
cheek setipesi
chin lapapesi
eye kololuki
eyebrow lamimito pi kololuki
eyelid kipa pi kololuki
pupil sinlúki
iris lanopave pi kololuki
nose tilapesi
nasal root pola pi tilapesi
nasal bridge mito pi tilapesi
nasal wing seti pi tilapesi
nostril sin pi tilapesi
nasal tip piki pi tilapesi
ear kololisi
auricle pila pi kololisi
earlobe lapa pi kololisi
ear canal patolisi
eardrum lasilisi
mouth lipa
upper lip mitolipa
lower lip lapalipa
oral cavity matolipa
tongue kolotoki
uvula tila pi matolipa
tooth, teeth taka, takapán
palate mito pi matolipa
neck, throat penolava
neck lomi pi penolava
larynx nema pi penolava
vocal chords lasimola tu
trachea patokima
esophagus patojami
shoulder polanato
back somalomi
scapula pililati pi polanato
clavicle pilisana
torso somamito
buttocks kolopava sati
arm natokato
upper arm natomito
elbow mitinato
lower arm natolapa
wrist miti pi natotaki
hand natotaki
palm latinato
back of the hand lominato
fist natolano or natopava
finger kolotaki
finger tip piki pi kolotaki
thumb kolotaki tiki
index finger kolotaki molo
middle finger kolotaki ton
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ring finger kolotaki lano
little Finger kolotaki mini
chest lati pi somamito
breasts nema tu pi somamito pama; nemavata tu
belly somatón
abdomen somalapa
navel pin pi somaton
genitals kolopiko
penis, phallus kolopiko man, misipiko man
glans lava pi kolopiko man
foreskin lasi pi kolopiko man
scrotum saka pi lano man
vulva kolopiko pama
clitoris nema pi tililaki
vulvar lipa pi kolopiko pama
hymen lasi pi kolopiko pama
vagina pato pi kolopiko pama
womb sakasón
ovary saka pi losasón
sperm vatasón
hip seti pi somatón
leg penokato
hip joint polapeno
thigh penomito
knee mitipeno
kneecap lano pi mitipeno
hollow of the knee no-tila pi mitipeno
lower leg penolapa
shinbone pili pi penolapa
calf lomi pi penolapa
ankle mitipeno lapa
foot penokó
heel lomi pi penoko
instep mito pi penoko
sole lati pi penoko
toe kolotaki peno
internal organs kolotón
brain kolokapa
heart kolotó or kololama (organ of emotion/life)
lung kolokima
diaphragm kolopava kima
stomach kolojami
intestine lasikato jami
pancreas kolosuvi
liver kololoti
gall bladder saka pi vatamasa
kidney kolo pi vatatilo
bladder saka pi vatatilo
urethra pato pi vatatilo
skeleton pilipán
bone pili
cartilage pilipoma
spine lin pi pilisami
blood vessel pato pi vataloti
muscle kolopava
sinew linlópa
nerve lintó
cell losasoma

3.2 Family Members

family, relatives sipa

parents seni
expeclisot parents senikomo
descendants son
14
siblings pata
father senimán
mother senipama
son sonmán
daughter sonpama
twins sisáma
grandfather senimeka man
grandmother senimeka pama
grandchild sonsúli
uncle pataseni
nephew sonpáta
cousin son pi pataseni
stepmother senipama no-samo
natural child sonsámo
adoptee sontáki
couple simíti
young generation (si pi) ti són

3.3 Different Ways of Expressing sth.

This is very imporlisot for me. kosa ni i tamakasa la mi.

mi tamakasa e kosa ni.
mi kapa e ni: kosa ni i tamakasa.
masi mi, a kosa ni i tamakasa.

3.4 Positional Examples

There's a tree in front of the house. visami in loma tomo.

Come to the front! i komo lon loma!
The car parks at the roadside. mota in limipato.
The car parks in the middle of the road. mota in ton pato
The open book is on the table. mapa sin in mopi.
I'm lying on the bed. mi sana in suputima.
The cat is sitting under the cupboard. lilami suvi i sati in lapa pi mopiveta.
There is a garden behind the house. mavi in lomi tomo.
She's working in the house. na lapo in tomo.
The dining table is placed in the middle of the mopijami in ton tomo.
room.
A bumble-bee is flying through the room. lipiki lami i vaso in tomo.
The mole digs through the soil. lilami kanii moto sa o pava in ton ma.

4 Textual Examples

4.1 Proverbs, Quotations

Need is the mother of invention. no-jo i tali e moki.

Harm set, harm get. si, a ta lapomali la sinála, i lapomali la sá.
Tit for tat. nosikila ju i nosikila mi.
An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure. no-mosi i tali e kapi.
All's well that ends well. lo a kona i kuto, a pan i kuto.
He that will not hear must feel. si no-lisi i to e mali.
Hunger makes hard beans sweet. si ja-jami i jami e pan o laki.
Man forges his own destiny. ju nuli i ke-lapo e laki ju.
Time is money. tiko ti i pali tiko mani.
Better late than never. a sato pi ti no-pola i kutomo lika kona pi no-ti.
Love is blind. sikosi i no-kapi e samo.
Don't always look for the fly in the ointment! i no-kola pimi e malimini in kosakuto!
Hope is the last to die. salo i veta.
Heaven helps those who help themselves. lo a ju pimo la sa, a mito i pimo la ju.
Ceterum censeo Carthaginem esse delendam. masi mi mo, a kanitomo Katáko i mu-pika e
maso.
Seeing once is better than reading twice. luki van i kútomo lika lisi pilo.
Let's wait and see! mi a, i veta i luki!

15
4.2 The Lord's Prayer toki pami tama la Mita

Our Father who art in heaven, seni mi in mito,

Hallowed be thy name. nami ju i kuto tama.
Thy kingdom come. kaniláva ju i mu-komo.
Thy will be done ja ju i mu-pika
on earth as it is in heaven. in mito mo in kanipán.
Give us this day our daily bread, i tali e pani la mi ti takopán.
and forgive us our trespasses, i kilapóna e mali mi,
as we forgive those who trespass against us, pali a mi kilapóna e mali pi si nala.
and lead us not into temptation, i no-lopa e mi lon mali.
but deliver us from evil. nuli, i vekasáto e mali min mi.
For thine is the kingdom, ju nuli i jo e kaniláva
and the power, and the glory, e pava e kutokása
for ever and ever ti pán.
Amen. satokúto.

16
4.3 Fairy Tale: Little Red Riding Hood

pamamini pi sakolava loti Salalo

tikato kona, pamamini i lama. sipan i liki e na. senimeka pama na i kositama e na i tali e sakolava loti
la na. pamamini i ja-kamo e sakolava ni tipan. liso ni, sipan i nami e na "Salalo" (SAkoLAva Loti). ti
tako van, senipama na i toki la pama Salalo: "mi tali e panisuvi e sakavata pi vataputo peli la ju. i
kotaki e kosa ni la senipama mi! na mala i no-pava. jami ni i mu-pava e na. i ko ti polatako! i ko o pisa
in pato nuli! lo a ju lapa, mapo, a sakavata i maso. ti a ju komo lon tomo na, i toki 'senimeka pama a,
takokuto!' la na!"
pama Salalo i toki: "mi ja-lapokuto e pan." senimeka pama i lama in kani pi visami. ti a pama Salalo i
komo lon kaniví, a na luki e lilami pava. pama Salalo i no-kapi e ni: lilami pava ni i lilami mali. lilami i
toki: "pama Salalo a, takokuto!" "lilami a, takokuto!" "pama Salalo a, a ju ko lonká?" "mi ko lon tomo pi
senimeka pama mi." "ju jo e ká in lomi pi sako ju?" "mi jo e panisuvi e vataputo peli. ti takokona,
senipama mi i sato e panisuvi, lan a senimeka pama i pikapava." "pama Salalo a, senimeka pama ju i
lama in ka?" "ti komo no-kato, mi komo lon tomo na. visami meka san in seti pi tomo na. mapo ju kapi
e pato." lilami pava i kapa sa: 'pamamini ni i pali jami kutokasa. senimeka pama na mo i pali jami kuto.
mi ja-jami e pama tu'. ti mini, na ko seti pi pama Salalo i toki: "pama Salalo a, i luki e vipave liki a! liso
ka, ju no-luki lon setipan? ju lisi e molakuto vaso ka? ju ko pali ni: ju ko lon tomokapi. nuli, a mavi i ma
likikasa a!"
pama Salalo i luki e sola e vipave. na to e ni: mi ja-taki e vipave pilo, an senimeka pama i tokuto. na
taki e vipave in lako min pato. lilami pava i ko palo lon tomo pi senimeka pama mo mola in sintomo. "si
ká i komo?" "mi pama Salalo. mi komotali e panisuvi e vataputo peli la ju." "pama Salalo a, i sin e
sintomo! mi no-pava i no ke-sin e na." lilami pava i sin e sintomo mo i ko in tontomo o no-toki mo i
jamisato e senimeka pama. na kamo e sakosoma na e sakolava na mo i sana in mopinama.
pama Salalo i miti e vipave pilo mo i ko lon tomo pi senimeka pama na. na ja-kapi e ni: liso ká, a
sintomo i sin? na to no-mosikali. na toki: "senimeka pama a, takokuto!" no-si i juma la na. pama Salalo
i ko lon mopinama mo i luki e senimeka pama. nuli, sakolava i kipa e pesi na. na komi lukin.
"senimeka pama a, a kololisi ju i meka liso ka?" "lan a mi lisikuto e toki ju." "senimeka pama a, a
kololuki ju i meka liso ka?" "lan a mi lukikuto e pesi ju." "senimeka pama a, a nato ju i meka liso ka?"
"lan a mi takipava e ju." "senimeka pama a, a lipa ju i mekakasa liso ka?" "lan a mi jamisato e ju!"
lilami i toki e ni mo i sami min mopinama mo i jamisato e pama Salalo. ti konajami, lilami pava i sana in
mopinama mo pola-nama mo kima o molakasa. sitóka i kopása loma tomo mo lisi e molakasa. na i ko
lon tontomo mo luki e lilami pava mo toki: "lilami mali a! ti ni, a mi tokasato e ju!" ti pola, na ja-mata e
lilami o tolotoka. nuli, na kapa e ni: mapo, lilami i jami e senimeka pama. mapo, na lama in ton na." na
sin e soma pi lilami o tolomika. na luki e sakolava loti. na mika mo e soma pi lilami.
pama Salalo i pika min soma pi lilami mo toki: "mi to no-mosi, liso tonsoma pi lilami i pakakasa." ti ni,
senimeka pama i pika mo. pama Salalo i taki e litokilo mo puti e ni lon tonsoma pi lilami. ti a lilami i
konanama, a na ja-koveka. nuli, kilolito i lopalapa e na. na mata.

si san i to lakikasa. sitoka i lopaveka e lasi min lilami pava i ko lon tomo sa. senimeka pama i jami e
panisuvi e vataputo peli mo pika pava. pama Salalo i kapi e ni: ti komo pán, mi no-ja-koveka min pato
in kani pi visami. mo, mi ja-lisi e toki pi senipama mi ti pán.

6 Advantages of toki mi Compared with Esperanto/Toki Pona

6.1 toki mi vs. Esperanto

- The number of toki mi basic words is much smaller.

- Pronunciation is easier (fewer and simpler sounds, no diphthongs, no consonant clusters).
- There are no diacritics except the optional acute accent.
- The only prefix is no-. The only suffixes are mo, ki, kali, kasa, soka and mon.
- There is no verb morphology (-as, -es, is-, -os, us), and there are no suffixes such as -o, -a, -i, -e, -in-,
-ul-, -eg-, etc.

6.2 toki mi vs. Toki Pona

- There are no three-syllable basic words.

- Basic toki mi words are free from internal consonant clusters as in "nanpa" or "tenpo".
- Basic words are not limited to certain word categories. One need not ask, "Can this word be used as
a verb or is it only a preposition?"
- Simple subordinate clauses expand the freedom of expression.
- Comparisons can be expressed in one sentence.
17
- The usage of numbers is simple and not vague.
- toki mi has basic words for "right/left".
- Basic toki mi words are less overloaded with meanings. Remember for instance that the Toki Pona
word "ale" may mean "all, abundant, countless, bountiful, every, plentiful, abundance, everything, life,
universe". In toki mi, these meanings are assigned to several words. Therefore, toki mi is less vague.
- Example: "Does life exist in the universe?"
Toki Pona: ale li lon ala lon ale? toki mi: lama in pankasa ka?
"Little Lily is reading a book."
Toki Pona: meli lili Lili li lukin e poli. toki mi: pamamini Lili i luki e mapa.

18
6 Alphabetic toki mi Vocabulary Including Meanings, Examples, and Word Origin

The expressions in the second column are to be understood as mere examples and suggestions. They
just show the approach to the creation of terms and sentences. Accents denote stressed syllables.

Basic Meaning Examples, Derivations Origin

word
a subject slot separator only used if the subject is not the first
word of the sentence.
a stressing and ni kuto a! That's really good! Toki Pona
addressing particle ju a i lapo e ká? Hey you, what are
you doing there?
e direct object slot mi taki e tolo min sakaleko. I take the Toki Pona
separator tool out of the toolbox.
i predicate separator
in location slot separator; na in tomo. He is at home.
in, at, on; be located in pán everywhere
at, there is (the in no-pan nowhere
predicate slot i is in ju with you, at your place
omitted because in kajasato i no-in. There is no solution.
starts with an i.)
ja yes, OK, I agree i ja affirm German
a ja affirmation
…, ja? isn't it? or aren't you, etc.
ja- want to, intention mi ja-kó ti ni. I want to go now.
jako enough, sufficient
jala year ti jala vánmon once in a year, annual German Jahr
ti jala pilo for years
jalaméka decade
jalamékaki century
a jalamékaki tuvánsoka the 21st
century
ti jalamekaki tuvánsoka in the 21st
century
jami eat, drink, food jamimini snack English yummy
jamipava spice
jelo yellow jeloloti orange Toki Pona
jo to have, possess, mi no-jo e mani I don't have money. Toki Pona
property a jo property
jopilo rich
jo no-pilo poor
ju you, your, yours Tok Pisin
juma answer, reply i juma e ká mi. Please answer my
question.
ka whether mi no-kapi, ka a na komo. I don't
know whether he will come.
ask, inquire; question
ka question particle and kosa ka what Japanese
placeholder for the ni ka which
word/phrase asked for si ka who
in ka where
liso ka why
ti ka when
ju ka who of you
mi ka who of us
ju lapo e ká? What are you doing?
kaja problem, task, satokaja solution of a problem, resort
challenge; difficult, kaja pi sato tu dilemma
complicated, complex kaja i sato. The problem has been
solved.
ni no-kaja. That's simple.
no-kaja! No problem!
kala degree, measure kalo pi kala-Sesi vansó +10° C German Skala
no-kalo pi kala-Sesi vansó -10° C
19
 kalo pi kala-Sesi van-salisansíko i
vata e kitatolo. Iron melts at a
temperature of 1538 °C.

kali (descriptor suffix) mekakali fairly big

rather, fairly, almost, sánkali about three
approximately satokali almost ready
kalo warm, hot no-kalo cold Latin calor
a kalo heat, warmth
kalosola fire
i kalo to heat
i kalovata cook, boil
i kalokasa roast, fry
kami about (sth.), concern, ni kami ju. It's about you.
relate to ni kami kosa ká? What is it all about?
mi toki kami lapo. I'm talking about
the work.
kamo to use, wear (clothes) na kamo e tolo. He is using a tool.
kutokamo useful
satokamo ready-to-use
kamosato second-hand
kan although mi no-kapi e ni, kan a mi luki e ni. I
don't understand it although I see it.
kani country, land,region, kanivi park, forest, meadow
area, soil kanimeka continent
kanivata island
losa pi kanivata archipelago
kapa think, consider, mi kapa kami lama. I'm pondering
cogitate about life.
kapa Tosi German mindset
kapi know, understand ju kapi ka? Do you understand? German kapieren
mi no-kapi. I don't know.
kapimeka clever, intelligent, wise,
educated
si kapimoki newbie, beginner
i kapiveta to learn
kapo substance, matter, ni kapo ka? What does it consist of? German Kapok
material kapomoto propellant, fuel
kapokalo combustible, fuel
kapokalo paka coal
kasa (descriptor suffix) very, mekakasa giant, enormous
entirely, extreme; too si pavakasa the Hulk
(big/small) sakosoma ni i mekakasa. This frock
is too large.
kaso cause, turn to mi kaso e ju lon silava. I appoint you English to cause
to be the leader.
kata hard, firm, solid i kata solidify German hart
kapo no-kata rubber, gum
kato long a kato length
i kato to lengthen, stretch
no-kato short
i pika no-kato shrink
ke- can, may, be allowed ju ke-kó. You may go.
to; possible no-ke prohibit, impossibility
keno exact, precise, distinct kosakeno sth. particular German genau
ti ní keno immediately
in ní keno exactly here
i keno specify, be more precise
ki superlative suffix mékaki biggest, kútoki best
kila treat sb./sth. na kilamali e mi. He's mistreating me.
kila no-pali discrimination
kilakuto la ju! Here you are! You're
welcome!
kilo weight, heavy i kilo weigh German
i kilo e … weigh sth.
20
 mi ja-mini e kilo mi. I want to lose
weight.
kima gas, air, blow, breathe kimamoto wind
kimamoto pava tempest
i kimalón inhale, suck
i kimamín exhale, blow away
kimapala smoke
i kimapala to smoke
kimavata steam
kimi play, game kosakimi toy
kimipiko petting
kimo fix, mount tolokimo clip, strap
kimosako button
pikikimo nail
kipa lid, seal, cork i kipa to lock Hebrew Kippa
i moto e kipa pi kololuki twinkle
kipo tilt, topple, turn over, kipopán revolution German kippen
reverse mi kipo e mite in sakajami laka.
I turn the meat in the pan.
kisa just, already na komo ti kisa. He's just arrived.
kisi star, celestial body kisilako star
kisisola mekakasa supernova
kisimati space probe, sputnik
kisimini asteroid, meteorite
kita metal kitajelo gold
kitaloti copper
kitapala silver
kitakilo lead
kitatolo iron
kitakata steel
kitavata quicksilver
manikita coin
kito wood kitokala ruler
ko go, walk, depart mi kopálo lon tomo. I hurried home. English go
i ko lon tomo ju! Go home!
i kovéka! Go away!
kopálo mota car race
kokúto! Farewell! Goodbye!
koséti e x accompany x
kó seti x walk at x’s side
mi koseti e ju lon sisáni.
I accompany you to the doctor
(because you are ill).
mi ko seti ju lon sisáni. I visit the
doctor together with you (because I
am ill).
kola continue, go on mi mu-kola lapo. We have to
continue our work.
kola i komo to be continued
koli pain kolilava pava migraine German Kolik
kolo organ kolojami mi i mali. I have a stomach med. colon
ache.
kolotón inner organ
koma comma period (in decimals) German Komma
komi strange, weird, crazy sikómi freak, weird person German komisch
komo come, arrive; bring, mi komo lon ju. I come to you. German kommen
fetch i komo e sakomeka lon mi. Please
bring me the coat.
kon (together) with i komo kon mi! Come with me! Spanish, Italian con
vatapava kon vatapala cappuccino
kona stop, finish, gone Russian kon‘ez
kono economy konotón middle class English economy
kono pi vi mo li agriculture
kono pi takikíta mining
konokopa market economy
21
 konokopa la si social market
economy
kopa trade i kopataki buy (e sth. min sb.) German kaufen
i kopatali sell (e sth. la to sb.)
kopa pi takitali trade
kosakopa product, goods
jo pi kosakopa range of products
kosa thing, something kosa no-keno miscellaneous, stuff Italian cosa
affair no-kosa abstract
i no-kosa to abstract
kosi love no-kosi hate German kosen
sikósi-sa egoist, egomaniac,
narcissist
kota plastic material sakakota plastic bag
kusa art kusamako painting German Kunst
kusasoki calligraphy
kusamola music
kusalapo visual art
kusatoki rhetoric
kusamolo performing art
kuto good, well, suitable; kútomo better German gut
prefer kútoki best
i tokuto feel good
la for, (indirect object mi lapo e ni la ju. I did it for you. Arabic colloquial
separator) kosa ni i tamakasa la mi. It's very
important for me.
no-la against
laka laugh, joke, mock laka laughter German lachen
mi toki e laka. I'm telling a joke.
laki joy, happiness no-laki sadness, grief, pity English lucky
siláki lucky devil
si no-laki unlucky fellow
lako far, dislisoce no-lako near
i koláko to make a journey
lama life, existence lama mi i malikasa. My life is hell.
lami hair, fur, furry posalami hairstyle
lilami mammal
lamo cross patolamo crossroads
mi lamo e pato. I cross the street.
sako pi linlamo pilo checkered cloth
lan for, in order to, mi ja-pava, an a mi lapo e toki mi o
purpose kuto. I will make efforts to create toki
mi in high quality.
lano circle, circular, wheel, lanopimo spare wheel
round somalano bowl, sphere
lano van mito tu semicircle
lanosani pill
lanolosa cell nucleus
lapa deep, down, to lower, latilapa bottom, underground French là-bas
to fall; beneath, under ni lapa lon lati. It fell on the ground.
lapo do, make, work, lapomali crime
produce si pi lapomali criminal
silava pi lapomali ringleader
lapomoka voluntary work
lasa glossy, slippery no-lasa rough
lasi skin, envelope, cover i lasi wrap, dress
lasi no-kata tube
lasikima balloon
lasikato hose
lasipiko condom
lasilín net
lata broad, comprehensive, patolata avenue Latin latus
exhaustive pato no-lata lane
i lata broaden, spread, propagate
o lata large-scale
22
lati flat, floor, area, latilava forehead German Platte
stratum o latilava limo with a frown
latisami wall
latitomo storey, floor
latisoki keyboard
latiluki mirror
lava head, main; rule siláva chief, leader Toki Pona, English law
tokilava order, command
lavatoki linguistic rules
leko cubic, cuboid litoleko brick Lego
kitajelo leko gold ingot
li animal lipiki insect, invertebrate
livata fish
lilasa amphibium, reptile
livaso bird
lilami mammal
li-sí ape (li-sí mini monkey)
limala bacterium, virus
litomo domestic animal, pet
lilami vaso bat
lilasa pi tikóna dinosaur
lika vis-à-vis, compared tomo lika the house across the street
with, than ju mékamo lika mi. You are taller
than me.
liki beautiful, pretty pesi na i no-liki. She's ugly. English to like
i liki embellish
to-liki like, favoured
liko right nato no-liko mi i kuto. I'm a left-
hander.
limi edge, rim, border limivata kiso sandy beach German Limit
limo channel, fold, wrinkle pesi pi siseni i limo. Old-aged people
have wrinkled faces.
lin line, sequence, queue, lintó nerve German Linie
thread, dash linmóta convoy
linmota pi no-moto traffic jam
lipa mouth nemalipa corner of the mouth German Lippe
lisi hear kololisi ear
to-lisi hearing, auditory sense
mi to-lisi e na. I think I've heard him.
liso because (of), reason, lisopási occasion English reason
cause; lisopási no-samo pretext
introduces causal
clauses
lito stone Greek lithos
lo if, in case lo a vata i lapa ti takokomo, a mi veta Arabic lau
kutomo in tomo mi. If it rained
tomorrow, I prefer to stay at home.
loko place, location, spot Latin locus
loma front, front side
lomi back, back side
lon (up) to, until i ko lon tomo ju! Go home!
i sato e lapo ni lon ti takokómo!
Please finish this work until
tomorrow!
lopa draw, derive (min no-lopa pressure
from) motalopa tractor
losa rest, remaining, jamilosa food leftovers German lose
component, crumb, losajami ingredients
cell (biol.); token
lota success, victory no-lota failure, defeat, in vain German Lotto
i no-lota fail
loti red German rot
luki see, look, watch, read lukisato detect English to look
pimoluki eyeglasses, goggles

23
 tololuki telescope, microscope,
magnifying glass
luna moon lunamati satellite Latin
maki device, machine, makipava generator Arabic makina
engine makimoto motor
makisoki typewriter
makipimi browser
makikapi computer
mako image, picture, look, makopave painting English make-up
appearance makolín drawing, diagram
makosola photography
mako no-kosa abstract painting
mala ill, sick mi tomala. I feel sick. French malade
mali bad simali rascal, villain, criminal Latin malus
lapomali crime
man male English
mani money, expensive momani inflation Toki Pona, English
manilapo wage, salary money
manikopa price
mani pi polakopa advance payment
manitali donation
manitaki small change
manilava tax
mapa book, booklet, file mapamoki newspaper German Mappe
mapa pi sokipasi novel
mapamako photo album
mapakopa catalogue
mapo perhaps, maybe no-mapo certainly, definitely
masa green
masi view, opinion, attitude, i masi mean, think
meaning i tomasi assume, believe, seem
si pilokali i masi e ni: simito i jo e
kolovaso. Some people think that
angels have wings.
ni masi e ka? What does it mean?
masikasa extremist views
maso beat, destroy, injure, tomomaso ruin German Masochismus
destructive masotón internal injury
simaso i pilo. There were many
casualties.
tolomaso hammer
lapomaso vandalism
mata die, kill, poisonous simáta corpse Arabic mata
mati technical, industrial, matisomi electronic German automatisch
artificial konomati industry
mato empty, gap, hollow
meka big, large, tall Greek mega
mi I, me, my, mine Toki Pona, Tok Pisin
mika divide, cut, in part mika cut mika operation of the
tolomika scissors aborigines
i mikamini scratch, incise
mikamini notch, groove
mikajami knife
mikamata dagger
mika pi vipani scythe
min from, away from, na ko min kanitomo. He has left Arabic min
since; origin town.
mi lama in kanitomo Pelin min jala
saliso. I've been living in Berlin for 50
years.
mini small, young Greek mini
mino minute English minute
misa transparent misamini transparent
no-misa opaque

24
 kapomisa glass
misi rod, stick, spear, misisoki pen
stencil, handle misiko cane
misimolo pointer
misipimo walking stick
misisola candle
miso powder, scatter, spray tolo pi misosala salt cellar
simíso pi vatapave sprayer
tolo pi misovata shower
maki pi misovata sprinkler
mita God, god, ghost mita pi pavapán God Omnipotent
ti pola, a mita i lapo e mito e ma. In
the beginning, God created heaven
and earth.
mite meat, flesh mitepoma minced meat, mitelama English meat
flesh (on the living body), mitejama
(edible meat)
miti connect, combine, tie, i miti e A e B connect A and B German mit, English
meet i no-miti separate, disconnect meet
no-miti divorce
lapomiti cooperation
mito high, upwards, above, vatamito rain
sky, heaven; fraction
line, divided by (math.)
mo and, also, too, as well, i mo add Tok Pisin, English more
more, plus; kosamo accessory
comparative suffix simo follower
mékamo bigger
mo ni moreover
moka honour kosamoka prize, cup, medal, order
manimoka prize money
no-moka contempt
o no-moka contemptuously
moki new, fresh, raw simóki new-born child
mola sound, music molalaki ovation, applause
no-mola silence
molapoko quiet
moli need, require no-moli useless, superfluous
molo point (e (to) sth.), ko pi molopava demonstration
present pasimolo exhibition
kosamolo exhibit
mon multiply, times sanmon three times
pilomon repeatedly
ti mon often
no-pílomon rare, seldom
mona month mona vansoka January German Monat
mopi furniture mopijami dining table German Möbel
mopiveta cupboard, closet
suputima bed
mopisati chair
mosa sort, kind, species, i mosa sort
gender, sex mosapali homosexual
mosaton bisexual
mosa no-tama intersexual
mosalika transgender
mosi safety, calmness i mosi protect, defend
no-mosi uncertainty, fear
moso mix, stir mosolito cement

mota vehicle, car motalano peno bicycle German Motor

motameka bus
motakato stretch limousine
motavaso airplane
motavaso lano helicopter
motavata ship
25
moti motive, intention German
moto move i moto-sa move (oneself) German Motorik
i motomini sa tremble
i moto e kosa min A lon B to move
sth. from A to B
motopava sports
mu- must, have to ju mu-ko. You have to go.
na he, him, his, she, her, namán he (if necessary)
hers, they, them, their napáma she (if necessary)
onapílo they
(only if needed)
nala other, another Tok Pisin nara
nama sleep tonama tired, exhausted Arabic nama
nami word, name, namimini abbreviation German Name
designation pi namimeka famous
nato upper limb natotaki hand, natokato arm, branch

nema corner, hill, mountain sakanema cardboard box, crate

nemakalo volcano
nemavata wave
nemavata meka flood
nemavata pava tsunami
nemamato corner (of a room)
ni it, this, these Toki Pona
no negation, no, not, un-, no-kosa nothing English
-less, anti- no-pan nothing at all
no-si nobody
no-ti never
nosi method, manner, -ism nosimoki innovative
o nosi no-moki traditionally
nosikapi scientific
nosi no-kapi unprofessional
nosikasa extremism
nosimosa racism
nosipali communism
nosijo capitalism
nota inform kapinota informatics German Note
nuli only (following the mi nuli only me German nur
related word)
nuli, … but, however kosa ni i no-meka, nuli kuto. It's small
but good.
o slot separator denoting o ká a mi ke-sato e kaja ni? How can
the manner I solve this problem?
o ni in this way
na jami o sami. He eats while
standing.
mi lapo e kitatolo o tolomaso. I
hammer the iron.
pa that, sth. over there
paka black, dark pakakali grey
paki still, yet pakimon once again
pako except, but, without no-si in loko ni pako mi. There is
nobody here but me.
pala white, shining vatapala milk English pale
palamito cloud
vatamito pala snow
pali equal, alike, same, si tu ni i pali luki. They resemble each German Paar
similar, resemble other.
palikuto good example
si palikuto idol
no-pali different, other
i no-pali change
mekapali lika x as big as x
palo quick, fast no-palo slow, gradually

26
 sani mi i kútomo o no-palo. By and
by, I'm getting better.
pama female, woman, pamamini girl French femme
feminine, effeminate pamalava pi sokolava la kaniTosi
Federal Chancellor
pami ask for, pray
pamo thank, thankful pamokása Thank you very much!
pan all, entire, entirety, sipán mankind Greek
everything lipán fauna
pankása universe
pani bread, toast vipani grain Italian pane
misopani flour
pomapani dough
panisuvi cake
pasa along, alongside no-pasa barrier, ban German passieren (go
along)
pasi event, happen ju no-masi e ta i pasi la mi. You won't German passieren
believe what happened to me! (to happen)
ni ka i pasi? What's going on?
pata brothers and sisters patamán brother English brother
patapáli twin
pati party, venue, event, patipola inauguration party English party
congress, meeting patikona closing ceremony
patipan international conference
patimiti wedding
pato road, path, way patolamo intersecting road English path
patokó sidewalk
patomota causeway
patopalo highway
pato ko komo outward and return trip
pato no-sana stairs
pato no-sana moto escalator
pava power, energy, strong pavamali violence English power
pave colour pi pave pilo colourful German Farbe
peli drunk, dizzy topeli dizziness
peno lower limb penokó foot, penokato leg German Bein
pesi face pomapave la pesi cosmetics, make- English face
up
pi separator for two-word pava pi kimamoto wind energy Toki Pona
descriptors
pika appear, become sola i pika. The sun appears. English become
ti pi pikameka puberty
piki pointed, tip, sting, pikinema mountain top German pieken, English
needle pikijami fork peak
pikisani acupuncture needle
makopiki tattoo
lipiki hedgehog
piko sex, sexual intercourse lakipiko orgasm
piko-sa masturbation
tomopiko brothel
patipiko gang bang
piko o sitasima position 69
pila round, curved, curve pato pi pila pilo serpentine road
pili pillar, beam, bone pilipan skeleton English pillar
pililata back (of a chair)
pilo much, many no-pilo a few, some German viel
pilo office, institution pilolapo JobCenter German Büro
pilolava ministry
pimi seek, look for i pimisato find
pimo help, support, spare no-pimo helpless
i no-pimo give up, surrender
pin sign, mark, stain, dot pintu colon :
pinkóma semicolon
pintoso exclamation mark

27
 pintoki quotation mark
pinmika scar
pinlasi pimple, blackhead
pisa attentive pisa attention, interest PISA study
i pisa take into consideration, mind
no-pisa bored
pita feature, characteristic, siman no-pita Man without Qualities English feature
property pitatama characteristic
poki before, prior to Mi sapo e natotaki mi poki jami. I
wash my hands before eating.
poko little, a bit Italian poco
pola start, begin, early i no-pola hesitate
polatako morning
ti no-pola late
poli leaf, page, website polipan foliage English foil
polimako picture postcard
polo funny, be amused sipolo clown, prankster, comedian polo game
ti polo carnival
poma pulpy, soft jamisuvi poma pudding German Pomade
mitepoma moki minced meat
mitepoma kalo burger
posa shape, form, structure i posa form, shape German Pose
i nara e posa deform
posa no-pali no-maso non-cutting
shaping
pulu blue English blue
puti put i puti sa sit down English put
puto fruit putolito stone fruit English fruit
litoputo cherry seed
putolosa pome fruit
sa oneself (for all persons mi sa I myself
singular and plural); mi sapo sa. I wash myself.
self, own na sapo sa. He washes himself.
saja try, attempt French essayer
saka container i saka contain German
sakasako sack, bag
sakalano tin
sakajami pot
sakajami lata pan
sakaleko la simata coffin
sako fabric, clothing i lasi e sako ju! Get dressed! German Sakko
i no-lasi e sako ju! Put off your
clothes!
sakosani dressing
sala salty German Salz
sali five
salo wish, hope mi salokuto la ju ti takolama ju. French salut
Happy birthday to you!
kosasalo talisman
i salomali curse, imprecate
sami vertical no-sami askew, oblique
i sami slisod
i sami e kosa to put up sth.
samo right, true, correct, real no-samo wrong, pseudo-, lie,
mendatious
san three Chinese
sana horizontal, lie flat no-sana slanting
sani healthy, care, heal, masani healthy environment German sanitär
treat medically si ke-sani physician, doctor
sani pi ti meka long-term care
mala no-sani incurable
kapisani medical science
sapa four
sapo clean sakosapo cleaning rag Latin

28
sata devil, demon German Satan
sati sit English seat
sato enough, ready, jamisato full German saturiert, satt
completed, result satokaja solution of a problem
satu state, existence Latin status
sava hour Arabic sa'a
seko second
seni parent, old lat. senior
seti side, next to pi seti tu bilateral German Seite
seti no-sola North
seti pi populula East
seti pi solamito South
seti pi konasola West
seti side, next to pi seti tu bilateral German Seite
seti no-sola North
seti pi polasola East
seti pi solamito South
seti pi konasola West
si human being, person, siloko audience
somebody, human sikuto friend
si kuto good person
si pi namimeka celebrity
si pi ti konakasa caveman
tosí human
si pi kapimeka expert
si ke-pán genius, allrounder
sipán moka Ladies and Gentlemen!
siko eight
silo sour putosilo lemon
sima nine sima mito vanvan 9/11 (official: tako
vanvánsoka pi mona sima)
sin (to) open, public i no-sin to close
sin opening, hole
sinmaso wound
sintomo door
sinsola window
sinlano porthole
no-sin secret
sipa family si sipa family member German Sippe
sipo seven German sieben
sita six Arabic sitta
so zero
soka suffix for ordinal ti tako túsoka on the second day
numbers tako túsoka the second day;
kónasoka the last
soki write i sokipasi describe, narrate (in a book
or report)
nosisoki notation, spelling
soko group, team, panel, sokolapo staff German TV series:
organization sokomeka la kanipán UNO SoKo
sola light, radiate no-sola darkness, tolosola lamp Latin sol
solamisa X-rays
solakalo flame
solo part, piece solo pi panisuvi piece of cake
soma object, body, organism somalano bowl, sphere, globe Greek
somi electric(al) monulimi e-vehicle German summen (the
noise of a transformer)
son descendant English
su- should, ought to ju su-ko. You’d better leave.
suvi sweet, tender no-suvi bitter Toki Pona
lisuvi pet
o suvi tenderly, softly
ta relative pronoun
taka tooth takapán (natural) denture

29
 takamati artificial denture
taki take, hold takijo catch sth. English to take
tako day takosola sunny day German Tag
polatako morning
tontako noon
konatako evening
takopaka night
ti takopán daily, all day
takolaki holiday, day of fortune
takovoka vánsoka Monday
ti takovoka vánsoka on Mondays
ti tako ní today
mi lapo ti takosola mo paka. I'm
working day and night.
tala number, quantity, i tala count, calculate German Zahl
numeral mi tala lon san. I count to three.
tali give, send mi tali e puto la ju. I give you an lat. dare
apple.
talivaso throw
tama important, special no-tama unimporlisot, ordinary
mi tamakasa e kosa ni. I attach much
attention to this matter.
ni no-tama la mi. It's all the same to
me.
tama particuliarity
jamitama culinary specialty
tokimola tama hit
tisa pi tokimola tama hit charts
si pi tokimola tama van one-hit
wonder
tema subject, theme tematoki topic German Thema
i tema e kosa address sth.
ti time; ti mini short-term, soon English time
slot separator denoting a ti mini moment
the time; ti ní now
introduces temporal pi ti ní topical, current, modern
subordinate clauses ti poko sometimes
ti veta period, duration
ti a ju komo, … When you come, …
ti komo time of arrival
ti kó time of departure
ti pasi during, duration
ti pasilapo during working hours
ti no-kalo winter
ti vi spring
ti kalo summer
ti puto autumn, fall
ti satu present
ti kona past
ti komo future
tiki thick, stout no-tiki thin, skinny German dick
tiko valuable, value no-tiko worthless
tila project, dent tilatomo balcony
no-tila indent, recess
tili touch, finger tolotili key (on a piano or keyboard)
timi sentence, clause
tin or ni la ju tin mi? Is it for me or for you?
mi ke-lapo o sati tin sami. I can work
while sitting or slisoding.
tipo hint, advice, remark, tipomó marginal remark German Tipp
suggestion típo mo by the way
tipolapa footnote
tisa regular, tidy, tisa order, system
systematic i tisa tidy up, arrange
no-tisa chaos
30
 i no-tisa disarrange, mix up
o tisa regularly, in order
to feeling, emotion tosi human, empathic
i to feel
topíko horny
to no-laki depression
toláki euphory, happiness
toka persecute, hunt i tokasato catch (an animal or sb.)
ko no-toka flee
ko no-toka sato escape
toki speak, talk, language Toki Pona
tola great, fantastic, cool tolakasa mega-cool! German toll
toli let, allow no-toli prohibit, prevent German tolerant
i no-toli e kimapala! No smoking!
tolo tool tolotí mi i no-lapo. My watch is out of English tool
order.
tolo pi mitipán internet
tolopiki pava pickaxe
tolokala instrument, meter
tolokala kalo thermometer
tolotili probe
toma single part, section, tomamapa volume (of a book) russ. tom
step (stairs) tomasoki chapter
tomanami syllable
tomanami mini letter
tomo house, flat, room tomo mi i meka. My house is big. Toki Pona
tomo mi i jo e tomomini san.
Or: tomomini san in tomo mi.
There are three rooms in my flat.

ton center, inside, middle talatón average Chinese zhong

solotón central part
i kotón pass through
kutotón moderate
setitón inner side, inner surface
seti no-ton outer side
toso loud vatalapa toso waterfall German tosend
tu two English two
van one a van unity English one
tován unanamity
vaso fly, drift vaso i mali la mi. I'm not fond of
flying.
vasomati or mativaso drone
vata water, liquid, wet, i vata liquefy, moisten English water
moist vatamoto river
vatameka sea
vatalati lake, pond
i moto in vata swim
i motovata flow
vatamota gasoline
vatasani potion
veka gone, disappear, i veka disappear German weg
subtract, - (minus) i veka e kosa discard, eliminate
veta wait, stay, remain, tomoveta waiting room English wait
keep; lokoveta (bus) stop
interrupt toveta patience
i veta ti mini! Just a moment, please!
i veta mosi to rest
vi plant vijami vegetable
vipiki cactus
vipeno or vilava mushroom
vipani grain
vipoli foliate plant, lettuce (as plant)
jami pi polivi lettuce (as meal)
viso expect no-viso surprise
31
voka week vokalapo Mon - Fri German Woche
konavoka weekend
ti polavoka at the beginning of the
week

32