niko / ningo / ko / ngo

Truly: Niko and Ningo

Level 3

Niko says “this is true”: haʼe niko ndéve “I did tell you”.

How It Works

These words do two jobs at once. They say that what you tell is true, and they often answer what the listener believes.

  • Haʼe niko ndéve “I did tell you”.
  • Péva niko ñande rekove “that is our life”.
  • Mitãnguéra ningo hína ñane retã raperã “children are the future of our country”.

They stay in second place, right after the first word or phrase of the sentence. The four shapes niko, ningo, ko and ngo mean the same, and speakers choose freely.

The short forms are written joined to the word before them: nde sýngo mboʼehára! “but your mother is a teacher!” The short ko is not the word ko “this”.

Compare voi, which makes a word stronger, and ndaje, which says that you heard the news from someone else.

Examples (4)

  1. Ani repoko cherehe haʼe niko ndéve.

    I did tell you not to touch me.

    Niko follows haʼe and shows that the speaker knows it is true. Cherehe is “me” plus rehe in one word.

  2. Péva niko ñande rekove.

    That is our life.

    Niko follows péva “that one” and says that it is true.

  3. Mitãnguéra ningo hína ñane retã raperã.

    Children are the future of our country.

    Ningo follows mitãnguéra “children”. Hína is a separate word that shows the state goes on.

  4. Nde sýngo mboʼehára!

    But your mother is a teacher!

    Ngo is the short form of ningo, joined to sy. The stress stays on sý. It answers what the listener believes.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

niko / ningo / ko / ngoLevel 3Truly: Niko and Ningo

Learn This First

Niko and ningo are small words that add weight like voi, and they turn nasal like other endings.

Words in This Pattern

niko