a
etymology; tan
onomatopaeia of something similar to English's 'ah'.
usage; nasin kepeken
particle - emphasis (end of sentence)
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.)
definition
(emphasis)
examples
phrase
concept
a!
ah!
sina suli a!
you're tall!
ike a
oh dear oh my
particle - sound
the sound 'a' is often used to express laughter.
definition
sound made during laughter.
examples
phrase
concept
a a a!
ha ha ha!
particle - affirmation
occasionally, 'a' is used similarly to English's 'ah' or 'oh.
definition
affirmation, acknowledgement
examples
phrase
concept
mi tawa.
a. o tawa pona!
i'm leaving.
ah. goodbye!
alternative usage; kepeken ante
particle - emphasis (beginning of sentence)
similar to ending 'a's, a at the beginning of a sentence also puts emphasis.
definition
(emphasis)
examples
phrase
concept
a sina suli!
you're tall!
a ike!
oh dear oh my
particle - emphasis (middle of sentence)
similar to beginning and ending 'a's, putting it in the middle of a sentence emphasizes a word.
definition
(emphasis)
examples
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!
adjective - as well
occasionally, someone would use 'a' like the alternative usage of kin - using it to mean 'as well' or 'also'.
definition
as well, also, too.
examples
phrase
concept
moku li pona. telo li pona a!
food is good. water is also good!
theories/analysis; sona nasa
noun/verb - exclaim
a controversial way to use the word, making it a content word. using it to mean an exclaimation or to exclaim.
definition
exclaim cry, shout, yell, shriek, interject
examples
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?.
common phrases; toki
phrase
concept
a a a!
ha ha ha!
ike a!
oh dear.
oh my.
extra references; lipu ante
ma pona pi toki pona - noun - exclaimation, verb - exclaimation
sona pona - particle - emphasis (beginning of sentence), adjective - as well
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