a : particle: (emotional interjection, emphasis or confirmation)
akesi (The word “akesi” used to also mean “‘non-cute’ animal”, but the second official toki pona book has removed this meaning) : noun: lizard, reptile
ala : noun: nothing : adjective: not, no, empty : number: zero
alasa : verb: to hunt, to gather : verb (unconventional): to search, to look for : pre-verb (unconventional): to try (doing something)
ale/ali : noun: everything, universe : adjective: every, all, abundant : number: all/infinite (simple system), 100 (complex system)
anpa : noun (old/non-pu): lower part : adjective: bowing down, downward, lowly, humble, dependent : verb w/o obj: to bow down : verb w/ obj: to conquer, to defeat
ante : noun: difference, change, (unconventional) version : adjective: different, other, changed : verb: to change
anu : particle: or
awen : noun (unconventional): stability, safety, wait : adjective: kept, safe, enduring, resilient, waiting, staying : verb: keep, stay, endure, protect : pre-verb: continue (doing something)
e : particle: (specifies an object)
en : particle: and (combines subjects)
epiku (typically used as a form of slang, has also found common use in “ma pona pi toki pona”’s “acro” games, as the only other non-particle word starting with “e” is “esun”.) : adjective: epic, awesome
esun : noun: trade, transaction, exchange : adjective: trade/exchange-related, commercial : verb: to trade, to exchange
ijo : noun: thing, object, matter : adjective: material, physical
ike : noun: evil : adjective: bad, evil, complex, unnecessary : verb (unconventional): make smth worse
ilo : noun: tool, machine, device : adjective: useful, (unconventional) electronic, metallic
insa : noun: insides, contents, center, stomach : adjective: central, inside, between
jaki : noun: dirt, waste : adjective: dirty, disgusting, toxic, unclean, unsanitary : verb: to make something dirty
jan : noun: person, people, humanity, somebody : adjective: human-like, personal
jasima : noun: mirror, reflection, echo : adjective: opposite : verb: to reflect, to reverse
jelo : noun/adjective: (the color) yellow (and its shades) : verb: to color smth yellow
jo : noun: (unconventional) possessions, property : verb: to have/carry/contain/hold
kala : noun: fish, marine animal, sea creature
kalama : noun: sound, noise : adjective: loud, noisy, sound-making : verb: to make noise, to recite, to play (an instrument)
kama : noun: event, arrival : adjective: arriving, coming, future, summoned : pre-verb: to become, to be in the process of (doing smth), to manage to, to succeed in
kasi : noun: plant, grass, herb, leaf
ken : noun: ability, possibility, (unconventional) right, liberty : adjective (unconventional): able, possible : pre-verb: can (do smth), may (do smth)
kepeken : noun: use, (unconventional) practice : verb w/ obj: to use smth : preposition: (do smth) using, with the help of
kijetesantakalu (one of the “joke words” created by Sonja Lang, has become very popular among tokiponists, as has the sitelen pona character for it) : noun: raccoon or other musteloid
kili : noun: fruit, vegetable, mushroom
kin (in the first official book, this word was merged with “a”. However, many people use it separately from “a”, with “a” emphasizing someone’s feelings) : particle: very, really, also
kipisi (an old word not included in the first official book, but which many people still use. Those who want to only use lipu pu vocabulary might want to use “tu”, which can also be used as a verb to mean “to divide”, the same way “wan” means “to unite”) : verb: to cut, to divide
kiwen : noun: hard object, metal, stone, solid : adjective: hard, metallic, solid
ko : noun: powder, clay, paste, semi-solid
kokosila (This word is taken from an Esperanto verb “krokodili”, which in turn means to not speak Esperanto in an Esperanto environment) : verb: to speak not in toki pona in an environment where others speak toki pona
kon : noun: air, essence, spirit, (unconventional) gas : adjective: invisible, ephemeral, (unconventional) gaseous
ku (much like interacting with the first official toki pona book was given the word “pu”, so does the second book with “ku”. In fact, in lipu ku, words “ju”, “lu”, “nu”, “su” and “u” are all listed as “(word reserved for future use by Sonja Lang)”, presumably to be given to the next five official toki pona books that should be created in the future. (In fact, Sonja Lang has started publishing a series of illustrated story books, beginning with “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”, that are collectively known as lipu su)) : noun: the Toki Pona Dictionary by Sonja Lang : verb: to interact with ku
kule : noun: color, (rare) gender : adjective: colorful, painted : verb: to paint smth a color
kulupu : noun: group, community, company, society, nation, tribe : adjective: communal, social
kute : noun: ear, hearing : adjective: …-sounding : verb: to hear, to listen, to obey
la : particle: “if/when” (introduces context)
lanpan (Without this word, the typical way to express getting or taking something would be “kama jo e …” (to come into possession of …), possibly with additional adjectives like “ike” or “utala”. The word is famously used in the title of “lanpan pan”, the toki pona translation/summary of Peter Kropotkin’s “The Conquest of Bread”.) : verb: to get, to take, to steal
lape : noun: sleep, rest : adjective: sleeping, restful : verb: to sleep, to rest
laso : noun/adjective: (the color) blue, green (and its shades) : verb: to color something blue/green
lawa : noun: head, mind : adjective: main, primary, controlling, ruling : verb: to head, to control, to direct, to guide, to lead, to own, to rule
leko (an old word that was not included in the first official book, but which is actively used by people, as it’s considered hard to express the meaning of “square” without it) : noun: square, block, (sometimes) stairs
len : noun: cloth, clothes, fabric, layer of privacy : adjective: clothed, made of cloth/fabric : verb: to clothe, to provide a layer of privacy
lete : noun: cold : adjective: cold, cool, raw, uncooked : verb: to cool down
li : particle: (between subj. and verb/adj.)
lili : noun: smallness : adjective: small, few, young : verb: to shrink
linja : noun: long flexible object, string, rope, hair
lipu : noun: flat object, book, document, paper, page, record, website : adjective: flat, used as lipu, lipu-like, of lipu
loje : noun/adjective: (the color) red (and its shades) : verb: to color smth red
lon : noun: truth, life, existence : adjective: real, true, present, existing : verb w/o object: is true, exists : preposition: in, at, on
luka : noun: hand, arm : number: 5 (complex system)
lukin : noun: eye, vision : adjective: …-looking, visual : verb: to look, to see, to read : pre-verb: to seek (to do something)
lupa : noun: hole, door, orifice, window
ma : noun: earth, land, outdoors, territory, country
mama : noun: parent, ancestor, creator, origin, caretaker : verb: to create, to parent, to take care of
mani : noun: money, large domesticated animal : adjective: (unconventional) wealthy
meli : noun: woman, female, wife : adjective: feminine
meso (in some ways, this word is similar to “insa”, but it also lets people say that a thing is moderately X without having to use phrases like “ona li wawa mute ala, li wawa lili ala”.) : noun: middle, center : adjective: average, moderate, mediocre
mi : noun: i, me, we, us : adjective: my, our
mije : noun: man, male, husband : adjective: masculine
misikeke (invented by Sonja Lang, but was not included as part of lipu pu. (My personal guess is because “ijo pi pona sijelo” is a rather simple way to say “medicine” without it)) : noun: medicine, cure : adjective: medicinal : verb: to cure
moku : noun: food : adjective: edible, of food : verb: to eat, to drink, to swallow
moli : noun: death : adjective: dead, dying : verb: to kill
monsi : noun: back, behind, rear, butt : adjective: back, rear
monsuta (usage of this word can be especially confusing without extra context. Some people refer to this confusion as “monsutatesu”) : noun: fear, monster : adjective: scary, monstrous : verb: to scare, to be afraid of, (sometimes) to turn into a monster
mu : (any animal sound)
mun : noun: moon, star, night sky object : adjective: lunar, stellar
musi : noun: game, art : adjective: entertaining, artistic, amusing : verb: to amuse, to play, to have fun
mute : noun: quantity : adjective: many, more : number: 3 or more (simple system), 20 (complex system)
n (Technically, the word “n” breaks the rules of toki pona by using a non-allowed syllable, but as it basically functions as a word on its own, it’s allowed. Or one can interpret syllable-final “n” as a separate mora, like in Japanese, where “n” on its own is apparently also used as an interjection) : interjection: um…, hm… (“thinking noise”)
namako (In the first official book, this word was merged with “sin”. However, many people keep using it separately from “sin”. “sin” is interpreted to mean “new” and “namako” to mean “additional”) : noun: spice, addition : adjective: additional, extra : verb: to add, to spice up
nanpa : noun: number : adjective: -th (ordinal indicator), mathematical, numeric, (unconventional) digital
nasa : adjective: weird, unusual, strange, drunk
nasin : noun: path, road, street, directive, way, custom : adjective: street-, true to the directive/way/custom : verb (unconventional): to guide, to show the path
nena : noun: hill, mountain, button, bump, nose : adjective: hilly, mountainous, bumpy
ni : noun/adjective: this, that
nimi : noun: word, name
noka : noun: foot, leg, bottom, lower part, under (smth)
o : particle: (addressing people, commands)
oko (In the first official book, this word was merged into “lukin”. People who use this word separately from “lukin” typically use “oko” to mean “eye” and “lukin” to mean “sight” or “vision”) : noun: eye
olin : noun: love, compassion, affection, respect : adjective: loved, favorite, respected : verb: to love, to respect
ona : noun: he, she, they, it : adjective: his, her, their, its
open : noun: start, beginning : adjective: initial, starting : verb: to start, to open, to turn on : pre-verb: to begin (doing something)
pakala : noun: damage, mistake : adjective: broken, wrong : verb: to break, to make mistakes : particle: (generic curse)
pali : noun: work, labor : adjective: working : verb: to work (on), to make
palisa : noun: long solid object, branch, stick, (unconventional) length : adjective: long
pan : noun: bread, grain, corn, rice, pizza
pana : adjective: (unconventional) given, sent, released : verb: to give, to send, to emit, to release
pi : particle: “of” (regroups two or more modifiers)
pilin : noun: heart, feeling, touch, sense : adjective: feeling, touch-based : verb: to touch, to think, to feel
pimeja : noun: (the color) black (and its shades), shadow : adjective: black, dark : verb: to color smth black, to cast a shadow
pini : noun: end, finish : adjective: final, completed, finished, past (with tenpo) : verb: to end, to finish, to close : pre-verb: to end/stop doing something
pipi : noun: insect, bug
poka : noun: hip, side, nearby area : adjective: neighboring, nearby, at one’s side
poki : noun: box, container, bowl, cup, drawer : verb (unconventional): to put in a box
pona : noun: good, simplicity : adjective: good, simple, friendly, peaceful : verb: to improve, to fix
pu (The official toki pona book only defines the verb meaning of the word “pu”. (Although the phrase “pu la” is used in it to mean “in this book”.) Some people in the toki pona community prefer to only use it in the verb meaning, while others use it in others as well) : noun: the official toki pona book : adjective: as told in the official toki pona book : verb: interacting with the official toki pona book
sama : noun: similarity, (someone’s) sibling : adjective: similar, like, sibling : preposition: as, like
seli : noun: heat, warmth, chemical reaction, heat source : adjective: warm, hot : verb: to heat
selo : noun: outer form, outer layer, shell, skin, boundary : adjective: outer
seme : particle: what? which? (for questions)
sewi : noun: area above, top, highest part, sky, god : adjective: high, above, divine, sacred
sijelo : noun: body, physical state, torso : adjective: physical, of sijelo
sike : noun: circle, ball, cycle, wheel, (with tenpo) year : adjective: round, circular, spherical, of one year : verb: to make a circle around, to surround
sin : noun: novelty, addition, (unconventional) update, spice : adjective: new, additional, fresh, extra : verb: to add, to update
sina : noun: you : adjective: your
sinpin : noun: face, foremost part, front, wall : adjective: of face, foremost
sitelen : noun: symbol, image, writing : adjective: symbolic, written, recorded : verb: to write, to draw, to record
soko (People who want to only use lipu pu vocabulary sometimes also use “kili ma” to refer to mushrooms. Alternatively, “kili pi kasi ala” is also possible, since “kili” also refers to mushrooms) : noun: mushroom, fungus
sona : noun: knowledge, information : adjective: known : verb: to know : pre-verb: to know (how to do something)
soweli : noun: land mammal, animal
suli : noun: size, greatness : adjective: big, heavy, tall, great, important, adult : verb: to grow
suno : noun: sun, light, brightness, light source : adjective: solar, bright : verb: to light, to shine
supa : noun: horizontal surface
suwi : noun: (unconventional) sweets, fragrances : adjective: sweet, fragrant, cute, adorable
tan : noun: cause, reason, origin : adjective: original : verb w/ object (unconventional): to cause : preposition: from, because of
taso : particle (at beginning of sentence): but, however : adjective: only
tawa : noun: movement : adjective: moving : verb: to move : preposition: to, for, from perspective of
telo : noun/adjective: water, fluid, liquid : adjective: wet, fluid, liquid : verb: to water, to clean
tenpo : noun: time, moment, occasion : adjective: temporal
toki : noun: speech, conversation, language : adjective: verbal, conversational : verb: to speak, to talk, to use language, to think
tomo : noun: home, building, structure, indoor space, room : adjective: indoor
tonsi (The word “tonsi” was created by the community after the official book was released and, according to a poll in October of 2021, is the most accepted “new” non-official word) : noun: non-binary person, trans person : adjective: gender-nonconforming, trans
tu (Using “tu” at the end of a noun phrase is generally associated with the number 2. The meaning “divided” is usually specified by using a “li” particle. “kulupu tu” meaning “two communities” and “kulupu li tu” meaning “the community is divided”.) : number: 2 : noun: divide : adjective: divided : verb: to divide
unpa : noun: sex : adjective: sexual : verb: to have sex with
uta : noun: mouth, lips : adjective: oral
utala : noun: fight, battle, challenge, war : adjective: aggressive, warlike : verb: to fight, to battle, to challenge
walo : noun: the color white (and its shades) : adjective: white, bright/light : verb: to color something white
wan (Using “wan” at the end of a noun phrase is generally associated with the number 1. The meaning “united” is usually specified by using a “li” particle. “kulupu wan” meaning “one community”, “kulupu li wan” meaning “the community is united”, “kulupu mute wan” meaning “21 communities (complex numbering system)”, and “kulupu mute li wan” meaning “many (or 20) communities are united”) : number: 1 : noun: part (of smth) : adjective: united, married : verb: to unite, to marry
waso : noun: bird, flying creature
wawa : noun: strength, power, energy : adjective: strong, powerful, energetic
weka : noun: absence, remoteness : adjective: absent, away, remote : verb: remove, get rid of
wile : noun: want, need, desire : adjective: desired, needed, required : verb: to want smth : pre-verb: to want to do smth