Disclaimer: The vast majority of dictionary was written in 2019 with slight revisions added sporadically. Since the Toki Pona Dictionary has been released, this dictionary might be considered outdated or lacking beginning with July 2021 and will not be updated to include new words that are almost exclusivelly was coined by the community, besides the already added post-pu words by jan Sonja. I have written the definitions to the best of my ability and I stand by them, but keep in mind that they might reflect an older state of toki pona than the present standard (which are currently more or less the same, but in time it may change). Phrases and such have also been removed, as they were already very outdated, lacking and generally unnecessary.
You can check the dictionary that was published in pu on this site. See country names here.
These sources were published as public domain.
These are the word definitions, mostly based on how I use them. Widespread alternative meanings will be also described (marked with alt): these alternate meanings are not wrong, though in most cases I do not prefer or recommend to use them. It also includes deprecated, joke and replaced words (under Non-pu words and Replaced words). The shortened part of speech's meanings will be below the dictionary. See the abbreviations of part of speeches here!
I use the country names as they are in pu (or try to guess them as a last resort).
There are three words pairs that are merged in pu ("a/kin", "lukin/oko", "namako/sin"). Many people use them interchangeably; I do not. The definitions will be written under them as under every other word, but I will not mark the alternate meanings, I only left a see also note.
Update (mid september): jan Sonja's post-pu words are now separated into their own category (post-pu words).
a
p emotional emphasis, exaggeration, superlative (after adjectives)
int ah! I got it! Hahaha! (as "a a a")
see kin
akesi
n reptile, amphibian, non-cute animal
n alt monster
non-cute animal definition has been removed in the Toki Pona Dictionary.
ala
n nothing, no one, null, the lack of (something)
v deny
mod no, not
int no!
alasa
n hunting, searching
v hunt, forage, gather, look for, search determinedly
ale/ali
n everything, life, universe
adj all, every, countless amount
num hundred
la all told, nevertheless, despite everything, either way
ale was the original, while ali was added to avoid ambiguity with ala in speech.
anpa
n bottom, below
v bend the knee, kneel, bow, accept (the terms)
v alt defeat, beat, conquer, enslave
mod low, down, dependent
dir below, down, beneath
ante
n changing, diversity
v alter, change, convert, translate
adj altered, changed, different, other
la or, otherwise
anu
p or
la alt or
awen
n waiting, staying
v wait, wait for (with "tawa"), stay, remain
ve save, protect
pv keep
adj kept, protected, safe, remaining
la still
e
p and (if there are multiple objects)
p sep separates the predicate and the object
en
p and (between subject)
la alt and
esun
n business
v pay, do business, sell
adj financial, salable
ijo
n unspecified object; something, thing, object
ike
n bad(ness), evil
v ruin, spoil
adj bad, negative, wrong, corrupted, evil, complex
la sadly
ilo
n tool, machine, device, thing used for a specific purpose
insa
n inside, stomach
adj internal
dir inner, inside, center
jaki
n dirt, garbage, filth, shit
v defile, stain, shit
adj disgusting, toxic, unclean
jan
n human, person, somebody
adj humanoid, human-like
jelo
adj yellow
jo
v have, own, carry, contain
kala
n fish
adj fish-like, marine (animal/monster)
kalama
n sound, noise, roar
v produce a sound, yell, bawl
adj loud, unrecognizable (sound)
kama
n alt event, happening, beginning
pv become, manage to, will, pursue actions to arrive to (a certain state)
mod future, coming, arriving
kasi
n plant, vegetation
adj plant-like, vegetating, green (after kule)
ken
n ability, chance, possibility
pv can, able to, allowed to
adj able, possible, allowed
kepeken
prep use, with
ve alt use
kili
n fruit, vegetable, mushroom
kin
p confirmation, emphasis (not as strong as a); also, too
la also, and
see a
kiwen
n metal, rock, stone, hard object
adj hard, heavy
Originally wawa ma was used before this word was created.
ko
n semi-solid material, paste, powder, clay, dough
adj semi-solid, powder
kon
n air, breath, spirit, essence, meaning, sense, concept
v breath
v alt inhale
adj air-like, gaseous
kule
n color
v color
adj colorful, pigmented
kulupu
n community, group, nation, society
kute
n ear
v hear, listen to (talking, music)
la
p sep separates the context and the main sentence
lape
n sleeping, resting
v sleep, rest
adj sleeping, resting
laso
adj blue
adj alt green
lawa
n leader, lead, head, mind
v lead, rule, manage, control, direct
adj leading, ruling, in charge
len
n cloth, fabric, textile, cover, layer, network, layer of privacy
v wear, dress, cover, hide
adj dressed, clothed, covered
lete
n cold
adj cool, cold, raw, uncooked, emotionally cold (person)
li
p and (if there are multiple predicates)
p sep separates the predicate and the object
lili
adj small, little, short, young, a bit
linja
n hair, rope, thread; long and flexible thing
adj long and flexible
lipu
n book, page, document, website, record
adj flat
loje
adj red, reddish
lon
adj existing, real, true
ve place (position if after lon), put (position if after tawa)
prep located at, at the time of
p indeed, that's right
p alt general yes
la really, trully
int indeed (as an approval, not as an answer to a question)
luka
n hand, arm
adj tangible, palpable
mod with hands, by hands
num five
lukin
n alt eye
v look, see, examine, read, watch; (with tawa) search, look for, seek
pv try to
adj visible, readable
mod seemingly, looking (like "good looking")
see oko
lupa
n hole, orifice, window, door
v pierce, stab, dig
adj full of holes, holey
ma
n earth, land, country, place, outdoor area
adj outside
mama
n parent, ancestor, origin, creator, caretaker
adj parent, ancestor, parental
mani
n money, wealth, livestock, value, currency
adj valuable
meli
n female, woman, girl, wife, girlfriend
adj female, feminine
mi
n I, me; we, us
adj my, mine; our, ours
mije
n male, man, husband, boyfriend
adj male, masculine
moku
n food, meal
v consume, eat, drink, inhale, swallow
adj edible
moli
n death
v die, dying
ve murder, kill
adj dying, sentenced to death, dead, lethal, mortal, fatal
monsi
n back, behind, rear end
v retreat
mod back
dir behind
mu
n animal noise, meaningless or incomprehensible talking
v make animal noise, speak incomprehensibly
adj meaningless, incomprehensible, unintelligible
mun
n moon, star
adj lunar
musi
n play, fun, game, art, artifact
v play, have fun
ve entertain
mod artistic, entertaining
mute
n amount, quantity
v multiply, spread, extend
adv (comparative adjective)
mod many (3+), a lot, more, much, very
num twenty
namako
n additional, spice (for food)
v flavor, update
mod extra, additional
see sin
Added along with kipisi and monsuta in 2010. In pu it was merged with sin.
nanpa
n number
v count, number, quantify
adj countable, finite
p -th (ordinal number)
nasa
v fool around
adj unusual, strange, weird, crazy, intoxicated
nasin
n way, method, custom, path, road
v follow, adopt
v alt indoctrinate; plan, plot; clear a path
mod methodical, systematic, doctrinal
nena
n bump, button, mountain, hill, nose
adj bumpy, hilly, undulating
ni
n this, that
adj this, that
p that (as a conjunction, after e or a preposition)
nimi
n name, word
v name (the name is after sama)
noka
n foot, leg, organ of locomotion, lower part
v alt kick
adj lower (on something)
adv on foot, with foot
o
p (marks imperative and vocative)
p sep separates the noun of direct address and the sentence
oko
n eye
v look (but not see)
see lukin
olin
n love
v love, adore
adj lovable, loving
ona
n they (singular and plural)
mod their, theirs (singular and plural)
open
n start, beginning
v begin, start, open, turn on (not sexually)
pv begin to, start to
adj available, open, turned on (not sexually), ready
pakala
n error, bug, accident, mistake, damage
v brake, damage, mess up
adj broken, damaged, harmed, messed up
int dammit! shoot!
pali
n working, job, process
v do, make, build, prepare, work (on)
palisa
n rot, stick; long and solid (hard) thing
adj long and solid (hard)
pan
n bread, cereal, corn, rice, grain
pana
n giving, sharing
v give, send, share, publish, release
adj given, shared, public
pi
p of (marks the possessor)
p sep separates modifier groups after the noun
pilin
n feeling, instinct, emotion, heart (sometimes after insa)
v feel, smell, sense, guess, think about (an opinion)
mod feeling, emotionally
pimeja
n darkness
v darken
adj dark, unlit, black, hidden (metaphorically)
pini
n end, finish, past
v finish, end, stop, complete, turn off
pv end, finish, stop
mod finished, past, former, ex-
pipi
n insect, bug, spider
poka
n side, hip
prep along with, together with, next to
prep alt with
dir near, next to, side of
poki
n box, container, bag, bowl
v contain
pona
n good, help, peace
v help (someone), repair, fix, improve
adj good, positive, friendly, useful, simple, nice, right (not the direction)
adv well
int great! thanks!
pu
n the Toki Pona book
v interacting with the Toki Pona book
adj according to/as in/by the Toki Pona book
adj alt official
sama
n equality, each other (usually after e)
v alt to make similar
adj same, similar, sibling, fellow
prep like, as, same as, equal to
la similarly, like
seli
n heat, fire, chemical reaction
v cook, bake, heat
adj hot, warm, cooked
selo
n outer layer, outer side, shell, skin, wall, separator
v separate
adj outer (side)
seme
n what? who?
adj which? what kind?
adv how?
p what? which? wh-? (creates a question)
sewi
n area above, highest part, top
n alt god, sky
v get up, arise, lift, raise up, win
v alt worship, adore
adj divine, sacred, holy, supernatural
adj alt formal, religious, elevated, superior
dir above, up
sijelo
n body, torso
sike
n round or circular thing
v repeat, rotate
v alt form into a circle, encircle, surround
pv repeat
adj round, circular, spherical
adv repeatedly, again and again
adj alt of one year
sin
v renew, freshen, upgrade
adj new, fresh, another
see namako
sina
n thou, you
adj thy, thine, your, yours
sinpin
n face, front
n alt wall
adj front, facial
dir front of
sitelen
n drawing, writing, picture, image, symbol, visual representation
n alt letter
v draw, write, paint
adj written, drawn
adj alt representational, metaphorical, figurative
sona
n knowledge, science (of something), intelligence, wisdom
v know, skilled in
pv alt know how to
adj known, smart (figuratively, like in "smart phone")
soweli
n animal, mammal, land animal
n alt lovable animal
adj wild, animalistic
suli
adj big, large, adult, heavy, important
suno
n sun, light, shine
n alt light source
adj bright, lit, shining, gold (color)
supa
n horizontal surface
adj thing you can rest on
suwi
n candy, sweets
v sweeten
adj cute, sweet, adorable
adj alt innocent
tan
n reason, ground
v reason, cause
adj grounded
prep because (of), since, by, from
taso
adj only
conj but
tawa
v move (something)
adj moving
prep going to, for, to
telo
n liquid, fluid, beverage, water
v water, wash
v alt swim
adj liquid, wet
tenpo
n time, moment, period
la sometimes
toki
n speak, language
v say, talk, tell, communicate, think (of something grounded)
adj spoken
tomo
n house, room, indoor space, home
adj alt urban
tu
v cut
num two
unpa
n sex, making love, intercourse
v have sex with, copulate with
v alt have marital relation with
adj sexual
adv sexually
uta
n mouth, lips
v kiss
mod oral
utala
n fight, battle, war
v battle, challenge
adj fighting
walo
adj white, light, pale, innocent, virgin
wan
adj unique
num one
waso
n bird
adj winged (animal), flying (creature)
wawa
n energy, power
v energize, empower
adj strong, powerful, energetic, intense
weka
v get away from, ignore, throw away, remove
adj away, ignored
wile
n will, urge, need, hope
v want
pv want, should, have to, must, need
adj wanted, desired, necessary
kokosila
v to speak a non-toki pona language in an environment where toki pona is more appropriate
Added around/at 4. September, 2020 on Discord.
Etymology: Esperanto krokodilas
mulapisu
n pizza
First appeared on 4. November, 2019 along with yupekosi, as a joke on the ma pona pi toki pona Discord server by jan Sonja.
Etymology: "I just made it up spontaneously"[sic].
samu
adj wanting to create new words
adj alt hellbound
Added on 24. March, 2018 on Facebook.
"Added" might be a bit strong, it was only (presumably) jokingly said, alas if jan Sonja says it, it's official.
The alt definition is my own discrete addition.
yupekosi
v to behave like George Lucas and revise your old creative works and actually make them worse
Appeared along with mulapisu on 4. November, 2019 on Discord.
"nobody knows how to pronounce the y"[sic]
apeja
n depression, abuse, shame, dishonor
v verbal attack, disgrace, depress
adj shame, dishonored, depressive
now ike, utala toki
Added in early 2010, but was not included in pu.
kan
prep among, with, near by
now poka, kepeken
Removed in 2003, although many would have liked to keep it.
kapesi
adj brown, gray
now pimeja
Removed in 2002.
kijetesantakalu
n animal from the Procyonidae family (such as raccoons and kinkajous)
now soweli
Added as an April Fool's joke in 2009.
kipisi
n cutting, splitting
v cut, split
adj split
now tu
Presented along with namako and monsuta around 2010, not included in pu.
majuna
adj old
now lili ala, suli
Removed befure first public draft.
monsuta
n monster, fear
v fear, be afraid of
adj frighten, frightening
adj alt fearful, afraid
now ike, akesi
Added in 2010 along with kipisi and namako, not included in pu.
leko
n stairs, square, block, edge
adj edged, square
now sike ala
Removed in 2004.
pake
n blocking, prevention, obstruction
v block, obstruct, prevent
adj blocked, prevented
Suggested by jan Sonja, never added.
pata
n sibling
now jan sama
Removed in 2004.
po
num four
now tu tu
Removed before toki pona became well-known.
powe
n being false, cheating, trick
v be false, deceive, pretend, cheat, trick
adj false, untrue
now lon ala, toki ike, ike
Never was added to any official dictionary.
tuli
num three
now tu wan
Removed before toki pona became well-known.
iki
Old version of ona.
Replaced for its similarity to ike.
ipi
Proposed replacement for iki.
It was never added to any list, rejected in first vetting.
jalan
Proposed replacement for noka by jan Sonja. The community voted against it.
kapa
Old version of nena.
Replaced early on for unknown reasons.
This was the very first word to be replaced from the first public draft.
pasi
Variation of pasila.
It was only a typo used in one or two lists instead of pasila, where they listed extinct words.
pasila
Old version of pona.
Replaced before the first public draft.
- n noun
- v verb (with or without an object; if there is no ve, then usually with an object)
- ve verb with object
- pv pre-verb or auxiliary
- adj adjective
- adv adverb
- prep preposition
- dir direction words (technically adjectives, but also used as preposition)
- mod modifier (adjective or adverb)
- p particle (mostly grammatical/function words)
- sep separator (subclass of particles)
- num number
- int interjection
- conj conjunction
- la meanings of the word if it stands alone before la (these meanings are often a conjunction or a conjunctive in English).
- now (some of the) current version(s) of non-pu words (if there is any)
- alt alternate meaning (i.e. not how I use)
- see see also (only under a, kin, lukin, namako, oko and sin)