Toki Pona: Everyday Phrases
Everyday phrases by situation. Practise them on the Toki Pona practice page (Phrases deck).
Greetings
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| toki! | hello! | |
| toki pona! | hello! (literally good talk) | |
| mi pona. | I’m well. | |
| sina pona ala pona? | are you well? | X ala X makes a yes/no question |
| pona! | thanks! good! | |
| pona tawa sina. | thanks to you; good to you | |
| tawa pona! | goodbye (to someone leaving), have a good journey | |
| awen pona! | goodbye (to someone staying) | |
| lape pona! | sleep well! | |
| moku pona! | enjoy your meal! | |
| kama pona! | welcome! | |
| mi pilin pona. | I feel good. | |
| mi pilin ike. | I feel bad. | |
| mi pakala. | I’m sorry; my mistake. | |
| pakala! | damn! oops! | |
| ike a! | oh no! | |
Getting to know someone
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| nimi sina li seme? | what’s your name? | |
| nimi mi li Wiki. | my name is Wiki. | names are proper adjectives: jan Wiki |
| mi jan Wiki. | I’m Wiki. | |
| sina tan ma seme? | where are you from? | |
| mi tan ma ni. | I’m from this country. | |
| sina lon ma seme? | where are you? | |
| mi lon tomo. | I’m at home. | |
| sina pali e seme? | what do you do? | |
| sina sona ala sona toki pona? | do you know Toki Pona? | |
| mi sona lili e toki pona. | I know a little Toki Pona. | |
| mi kama sona e toki pona. | I’m learning Toki Pona. | kama sona = come to know |
| toki pona li pona tawa mi. | I like Toki Pona. | X li pona tawa mi = I like X |
Understanding
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| mi sona ala. | I don’t know; I don’t understand. | |
| sina ken ala ken toki sin? | can you say it again? | |
| ni li seme? | what is this? | |
| nimi ni li seme? | what does this word mean? | |
| mi sona. | I understand; I know. | |
| lon. | yes; true. | |
| ala. | no. | |
| lon a! | that’s right! | |
| ken. | maybe. | |
| ni li pona. | this is good. | |
| ni li ike. | this is bad. | |
| ni li nasa! | that’s weird! | |
Needs and everyday life
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| mi wile moku. | I want to eat; I’m hungry. | |
| mi wile moku e telo. | I want to drink water. | |
| mi wile lape. | I’m sleepy. | |
| mi wile tawa tomo. | I want to go home. | |
| mi wile e ni. | I want this. | |
| mi wile ala e ni. | I don’t want this. | |
| o pana e ni tawa mi. | give this to me. | |
| o kama! | come! | |
| o awen! | wait! | |
| o lukin! | look! | |
| o kute! | listen! | |
| o pona! | take care! | |
| mi tawa. | I’m going; bye. | |
| tomo telo li lon seme? | where is the bathroom? | |
| tenpo ni la mi pali. | right now I’m working. | |
| tenpo kama la mi tawa. | later I’ll go. | |
| mi olin e sina. | I love you. | |
| sina pona mute! | you’re great! | |
Feelings and help
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| o pona e mi! | help me! fix me! | |
| mi wile e jan pi misikeke. | I need a doctor. | ku suli word misikeke |
| mi pilin lete. | I’m cold. | |
| mi pilin seli. | I’m hot. | |
| mi pilin wawa. | I feel strong. | |
| mi pilin pakala. | I feel hurt. | |
| mi pilin musi. | I’m having fun. | |
| o musi! | have fun! | |
| pona tawa tenpo sike sin! | happy new year! | |
More everyday phrases
| Toki Pona | English | Note |
|---|
| sina wile e seme? | what do you want? | |
| sina pali e seme? | what are you doing? | |
| sina tawa seme? | where are you going? | |
| mi tawa esun. | I’m going to the shop. | |
| mi tawa tomo mi. | I’m going to my house. | |
| sina wile ala wile moku? | do you want to eat? | |
| mi wile. | I want to; yes. | |
| mi wile ala. | I don’t want to; no. | |
| mi ken. | I can. | |
| mi ken ala. | I can’t. | |
| ni li tenpo pona. | this is a good time. | |
| tenpo ni li pona. | now is good. | |
| o pana e telo. | give (some) water. | |
| mi jo e ni. | I have this. | |
| mi jo ala e mani. | I have no money. | |
| sina jo ala jo e soweli? | do you have a pet? | |
| mi jo e soweli tu. | I have two animals. | |
| soweli mi li suwi. | my animal is cute. | |
| mi lukin e sina. | I see you. | |
| mi kute e sina. | I hear you. | |
| pona mute! | very good! thanks a lot! | |
| ni li musi mute! | this is a lot of fun! | |
| mi moku. | I’m eating. | |
| moku ni li suwi. | this food is sweet. | |
| o toki tawa mi. | talk to me. | |
| toki mute! | so much talk! | |
| mi wile sona. | I want to know. | |
| o tawa pona! | go well! | |
| o lape pona! | sleep well! | |
| tenpo pona! | good times! | |
| mi kama! | I’m coming! | |
| ona li seme? | what is it? who is it? | |
| ona li jan seme? | who is that person? | |
Last edited
Tags: #Languages
