a
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onomatopaeia of something similar to English's 'ah'.
The particle a adds emotion or emphasis. It can be used: 1. alone, 2. at the end of a sentence, or 3. at the end of a noun phrase.
-Sonja Lang, Toki Pona: The Language of Good (2014)
the particle 'a' is used to put emotion or emphasis. it functions somewhat similarly to the exclaimation mark (however, usage of exclaimation marks where applicable is still conventional.)
(emphasis)
phrase
concept
a!
ah!
sina suli a!
you're tall!
ike a
oh dear oh my
the sound 'a' is often used to express laughter.
sound made during laughter.
phrase
concept
a a a!
ha ha ha!
occasionally, 'a' is used similarly to English's 'ah' or 'oh.
affirmation, acknowledgement
phrase
concept
mi tawa.
a. o tawa pona!
i'm leaving.
ah. goodbye!
similar to ending 'a's, a at the beginning of a sentence also puts emphasis.
(emphasis)
phrase
concept
a sina suli!
you're tall!
a ike!
oh dear oh my
similar to beginning and ending 'a's, putting it in the middle of a sentence emphasizes a word.
(emphasis)
phrase
concept
ona li meli suli a!
she's a tall woman!
ona li meli a sulI!
she's a tall woman!
ona a li meli suli!
she's a tall woman!
occasionally, someone would use 'a' like the alternative usage of kin - using it to mean 'as well' or 'also'.
as well, also, too.
phrase
concept
moku li pona. telo li pona a!
food is good. water is also good!
a controversial way to use the word, making it a content word. using it to mean an exclaimation or to exclaim.
exclaim cry, shout, yell, shriek, interject
phrase
concept
mi kute e a sina la mi pilin e ike.
when i hear your cry, i feel bad.
sina a e 'ike' la mi wile sona e ni: seme li ike?.
when you exclaim 'bad', i want to know this: what's bad?.
phrase
concept
a a a!
ha ha ha!
ike a!
oh dear.
oh my.
- noun - exclaimation, verb - exclaimation
- particle - emphasis (beginning of sentence), adjective - as well
