Intoxicating Substances and Experiences
N | alcohol, weed, tobacco, acid/LSD, recreational drugs
A | drunk, high, intoxicated
V | drink, smoke, inject
⚠️This definition does not advocate for or advise the usage or abuse of any drugs, mentioned or otherwise, especially if they are illegal where you live or if you are under the age of 21. ⚠️
The most useful word for talking about intoxication is “nasa.” nasa describes some sort of deviation from the expected default state, and that’s exactly what intoxication is. Specifically, Intoxication is such a deviation caused by external substances.
If you need to specify the difference between being high and “no I’m just like that normally” (something I’ve had to do while completely sober many times, no joke), you can speak directly to the substances, using words like “kasi” for tobacco or weed, “soko” for shrooms, “telo” for alcohol, or “lipu” for LSD. “kon” is also common for inhaled drugs. Figuring out more examples of drugs and how to say them is an exercise for the reader!
The way people describe acts of engaging with these substances can vary, but anything ingested through the esophagus is definitely some sort of “moku,” like with edibles, chewing tobacco, or taking pills. Inhalation can also be moku, but it may be misinterpreted unless the direct object is “kon.” So “mi moku e kasi nasa” is much less clear than “mi moku e kon pi kasi nasa” for “I smoke weed.” Injected drugs may use “selo” for skin, “palisa” for needles, and “pana” for the act itself.
a telo li nasa e mi la mi o lawa ala e ilo tawa | I’m drunk, so I probably shouldn’t drive.
sina wile ala wile moku e kon pi palisa kasi nasa | Wanna hit of my joint?
soko li open e ken ale tawa mi | I experienced ego death on shrooms.
proof of concept. would you buy a book of this? english to toki pona semantic spaces dictionary
