sveiki

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hello, hi, farewell
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/ˈsvɛi̯ki/
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A Latvian greeting used for hello and in some parting formulas, especially when speaking politely, to a group, or without marking one person's gender.

Examples

  • Palieciet sveiki, mani draugi!
    Farewell, my friends!
  • Sveiki, prieks jūs satikt!
    Hello, it is nice to meet you.
  • Viņš aizgāja, pat sveiki nepateicis.
    He left without even saying goodbye.
  • Sveiki visiem, sāksim sapulci.
    Hello everyone, let us start the meeting.
  • Sveiki, vai šī vieta ir brīva?
    Hi, is this seat free?

Similar words

labdien
čau
sveiks
atā
uz redzēšanos
sveicināti
sveika

Meanings

Usage

Use sveiki as the broad, polite Latvian hello. For one close male friend sveiks is more personal, for one close female friend sveika is more personal, and for a clear goodbye atā or uz redzēšanos is usually clearer.

Common mistakes

Sveikus! wrongly declines the fixed greeting, and sveiki is sometimes forced into verb frames where sveicinu or pasveicini is needed.

Etymology

From Latvian sveiks, meaning safe, sound, or healthy, used as a wish of well-being in greeting and parting formulas. Sveiki is the plural or general form that has become a common polite interjection.

FAQ

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