Spoonfed Lesson 2: Where Are You Going?

seso means “to go” or “to move.” Stem ses + -o verb ending. You are traveling to a new place.

toso means “to come” or “to arrive.” The opposite of seso — seso is going away, toso is coming toward. Notice puna-tosa in the second sentence — a compound: puna (person) + tosa (arrival) = a visitor. Compound parts always use the -a ending.

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

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

puna-linpa is a compound: puna (person) + linpa (here) = a local, a resident. Stem linp means HERE — with -a: linpa = here, this place. And pa here refers to the person you have been talking to.

ponta means “place” or “location.” Combined with milu: milu ponta = “which place?” = “where?” Notice the question phrase sits right where the answer would go: musa seso sutu tinumu Popasa (you go toward Popasa) → musa seso sutu milu ponta? (you go toward which place?).

latu means “want to.” It is a modal preverb — like ku (not), it goes before the verb: latu siko = “want to see.” All -u words precede their target. You will meet more modal preverbs in later lessons. Notice tinumu before the proper name — every name in Luma needs it, whether a person, a place, or a thing. In this case, “Popasa” is the name of a place you want to see, perhaps a park?

popi means “big” or “large.” The -i modifier follows the word it describes, just like moni and minsi from the previous lesson: ponta popi = big place, puna 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 moni = slightly good.

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

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

linusu means “near.” It is a preposition — a -u word that goes before its target: linusu pisoma = near the road. Notice ponto here — the -o verb form of the same pont stem we met as ponta (place). ponto = “to be located.” You could also say tinumu Popasa no linusu pisoma with the general verb no.

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

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

kamenlu means “outside of.” The opposite of kunsu. She stays outside while you go in.

namu means “one.” Same pattern as nepu: namu puna = one person. With the -a ending, nama is the noun “one” (the number itself). Notice kunsa and kamenla here — the -a noun forms meaning “inside” and “outside,” rather than the -u preposition forms used earlier.

menala means “thanks” or “gratitude.” Like sika (hello), it works as a standalone expression. And sa no pontu linpa = “I am here!” — pontu is the -u form of pont (place), meaning “at.” Locations always need a preposition after a verb — pontu linpa = at this place. Finally, seso moni! = “go well!” — a farewell. Notice there is no subject pronoun: a bare verb is a command or wish. This is the imperative in Luma.