A collection of useful phrases in Toki Pona, a simple pidgin-like language invented by Sonja Elen Kisa in 2001 and based on universal human experience designed to express as much as possible with just 120 words.
You can see them in many other languages by clicking on the English versions.
English | Toki Pona |
---|---|
Welcome | kama pona |
Hello (General greeting) |
toki! |
How are you? | sina pilin seme? |
Reply to 'How are you?' | mi pilin pona. sina pona ala pona? |
Long time no see | tenpo suli la mi toki ala tawa sina a! |
What's your name? | nimi sina li seme? |
My name is ... | nimi mi li ... |
Where are you from? | sina tan ma seme? |
I'm from ... | mi tan ma ... mi kama tan ma ... |
Pleased to meet you | mi pona tan ni: mi sona e sina. |
Good morning (Morning greeting) |
suno pona! tenpo suno kama pona! |
Good afternoon (Afternoon greeting) |
tenpo suno pini pona! tenpo suno pini kama pona! |
Good evening (Evening greeting) |
pimeja pona! |
Good night | lape pona |
Goodbye (Parting phrases) |
mi tawa (person leaving) tawa pona (person staying) |
Good luck | o pona |
Cheers! (Toasts used when drinking) |
nasa pona |
Have a nice day | suno pona |
Bon appetit / Have a nice meal |
moku pona |
Bon voyage / Have a good journey |
tawa pona |
Yes | lon pali |
No | ala |
Maybe | ken ken la |
I understand | mi sona |
I don't understand | mi sona ala |
I don't know | mi sona ala |
Please speak more slowly | o toki kepeken tenpo mute |
Please say that again | o toki sin e ni |
Please write it down | o sitelen e ni |
Do you speak English? | sina toki ala toki e toki Inli? |
Do you speak Toki Pona? | sina sona ala sona e toki pona? sina toki ala toki e toki pona? |
Yes, a little (reply to 'Do you speak ...?') |
mi sona lili |
Speak to me in Toki Pona | o toki e toki pona poka mi |
How do you say ... in Toki Pona? | ... li seme lon toki pona? |
Excuse me | o weka e ike mi |
How much is this? | mi wile pana e mani pi mute seme? |
Sorry | mi pakala |
Please | mi wile |
Thank you | pona |
Reply to thank you | pona |
Where's the toilet? | tomo telo li lon seme? |
This gentleman will pay for everything | jan mije ni li pana tan ali |
This lady will pay for everything | jan meli ni li pana tan ali |
Would you like to dance with me? | sina wile ala wile tawa musi poka mi? |
I miss you | sina weka tawa mi |
I love you | mi olin e sina |
Get well soon | o pona kepeken tenpo lili |
Leave me alone! | o tawa weka! |
Help! | o pana e pona tawa mi! o pona e mi! |
Fire! | seli! |
Stop! | o awen ala e ni! o pali ala! o tawa ala! |
Call the police! | o toki tawa jan pi nasin lawa! |
Christmas and New Year greetings | tenpo Kulisu pona! tenpo sike sin pona! |
Easter greetings | tenpo Isa pona! tenpo pi moli en lon pi jan Kulisu pona! |
Birthday greetings | tenpo sike sin sina pona! |
One language is never enough | toki wan li pona lili toki mute li pona mute |
My hovercraft is full of eels Why this phrase? |
tomo tawa supa mi pi lon sewi li jo e kala linja mute mute kala linja mute mute li lon insa pi tomo tawa supa mi pi lon sewi |