Depending on the context, "Jan Pono" (most likely spelled "jan pona") has two very different meanings. Here is the breakdown of what it means based on where you saw it: 1. In Toki Pona (Most Likely) If you encountered this online or in language communities, it is from Toki Pona, a minimalist philosophical constructed language created by Sonja Lang. In Toki Pona, jan pona translates directly to "friend." - jan means person, human, or somebody. - pona means good, positive, simple, or friendly. - Literal meaning: "Good person." Because Toki Pona relies on simple compound concepts, a "good person" to you is fundamentally a friend. 2. In Hawaiian Culture (As a Name) If you are looking at a name, Jan is a common European given name (a variant of John/Ian meaning "God is gracious"), while Pono is a profoundly important Hawaiian concept. In Hawaiian, Pono means righteousness, balance, harmony, and moral correctness. It is a state of being in perfect alignment with yourself, others, and nature (featured prominently in the Hawaii state motto: Ua Mau ke Ea o ka ʻĀina i ka Pono). For instance, the founders of the Hawaii-based company Pono Chocolate are named Jen and Jan, who use the name to represent living an authentic, harmonious "pono" lifestyle. Which of these contexts fits where you came across the phrase? 👇