Spoonfed Lesson 2: Where Are You Going?

uta means “you.” Three key pronouns: sa (I/me), pa (he/she/it/that), and now uta (you). You spot someone in a new town and call out.

kamu is the question marker. It goes directly before the word being questioned: kamu oma = “which person?” = “who?” The question phrase stays right where the answer would go. If the answer is sa no mentu Lina, then the question replaces mentu Lina with kamu oma. Luma never moves the question word to the front of the sentence like English does.

nilamo means “to come” or “to arrive.” Stem nilam + -o verb ending. You explain that you just got here.

liti means “local” or “nearby.” Stem lit means HERE — with -a: lita = here, this place; with -i: liti = local. The modifier follows its head: oma liti = a local person. And pa here refers to the person you have been talking to.

laso means “to go” or “to move.” Two movement verbs now: nilamo (to come, to arrive) and laso (to go, to move). They are opposites — nilamo is coming toward, laso is going away.

mansa means “place” or “location.” Combined with kamu: kamu mansa = “which place?” = “where?” Notice the question phrase sits right where the answer would go: uta laso tupu mansa popi (you go toward the big place) → uta laso tupu kamu mansa? (you go toward which place?).

musu means “want to.” It is a modal preverb — like ku (not), it goes before the verb: musu panpo = “want to see.” All -u words precede their target. You will meet more modal preverbs in later lessons. Notice mentu before the proper name — every name in Luma needs it.

popi means “big” or “large.” The -i modifier follows the word it describes, just like anli and loni from the previous lesson: mansa popi = big place, oma popi = big person.

lumi means “small” or “little.” The stem lum also has a useful -u form: lumu = “slightly.” Put it before a modifier to soften it: lumu popi = slightly big, lumu anli = slightly good.

sinto means “to do” or “to make.” A versatile verb for actions of all kinds. Here ila anli = “a good thing” — the modifier anli follows the noun ila. She offers to help you find the place.

kanopa means “road,” “path,” or “way.” It also covers “method” — the way to do something. She leads you toward a road.

nakimu means “near.” It is a preposition — a -u word that goes before its target: nakimu kanopa = near the road. You are getting close.

nilu means “two.” Number stems use the -u ending as quantifiers, going before the noun they count: nilu oma = two people. All number stems start with n-. You and the local walk together toward Popasa.

tisu means “inside” or “in.” Another preposition: tisu mentu Popasa = inside Popasa. This lesson now has three prepositions that are -u words before their target: tupu (toward), nakimu (near), and tisu (inside).

timasu means “outside of.” The opposite of tisu. She stays outside while you go in.

nepu means “one.” Same pattern as nilu: nepu oma = one person. With the -a ending, nepa is the noun “one” (the number itself). Notice tisa and timasa here — the -a noun forms meaning “inside” and “outside,” rather than the -u preposition forms used earlier.

kasota means “thanks” or “gratitude.” Like panpa (hello), it works as a standalone expression. You thank the local for helping you find the way.