viņš

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he, it, that, the other
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/ˈviɲʃ/
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A Latvian masculine pronoun for he or it, with a related declined use that points to the farther or other one.
Practice using viņš in conversation until it feels natural

Examples

  • Vai viņš jau atbildēja uz vēstuli?
    Has he answered the letter yet?
  • Tilts sākas viņā galā.
    The bridge begins at the other end.
  • Viņā vakarā mēs palikām mājās.
    On that evening, we stayed home.
  • Aiziesim līdz viņam stūrim.
    Let us go up to that other corner.
  • Man ir suns, un viņš daudz rej.
    I have a dog, and he barks a lot.

Similar words

tas
otrs

Meanings

Third person masculine pronoun

pronoun
grammar
neutral
Refers to a male person, or to an animal or thing named by a masculine Latvian noun, when the referent is already clear from context.

Usage

Use viņš for a masculine singular referent that is already known, and choose the case form that matches its role in the sentence.

Examples

  • Viņš šodien strādā mājās.
    He is working from home today.
  • Kad viņš ienāca klasē, visi apklusa.
    When he entered the classroom, everyone fell silent.
  • Vai viņš jau atbildēja uz vēstuli?
    Has he answered the letter yet?
  • Man ir suns, un viņš daudz rej.
    I have a dog, and he barks a lot.
  • Visi zināja, ka viņš ir labs skolotājs.
    Everyone knew that he was a good teacher.

Common mistakes

The nominative form is used where Latvian needs an oblique case, or the masculine form is used for a feminine referent.
IncorrectCorrect
Es redzu viņš. Es redzu viņu.
Ar viņš mēs runājām. Ar viņu mēs runājām.
Viņš ir mūsu skolotāja. Viņa ir mūsu skolotāja.

Similar words

Distal that or other

pronoun
reference
neutral
Points to the farther, other, or previously contrasted side, time, or thing, most often through oblique forms such as viņā, viņam, or viņos.

Usage

Use viņš in this distal pattern mainly through declined forms before a noun, where it means the far, other, or earlier-mentioned one.

Examples

  • Tilts sākas viņā galā.
    The bridge begins at the other end.
  • Viņos laikos ceļš bija daudz grūtāks.
    In those days, the road was much harder.
  • Aiziesim līdz viņam stūrim.
    Let us go up to that other corner.
  • Viņš norādīja uz viņu krastu.
    He pointed to the far bank.
  • Viņā vakarā mēs palikām mājās.
    On that evening, we stayed home.

Common mistakes

The distal use is often flattened to tas, or the wrong case is chosen before the following noun.
IncorrectCorrect
Tilts sākas viņš galā. Tilts sākas viņā galā.
Viņš laikos ceļš bija grūtāks. Viņos laikos ceļš bija grūtāks.
Aiziesim līdz viņš stūrim. Aiziesim līdz viņam stūrim.

Similar words

tas
otrs

Usage

Use the case forms carefully, because viņš changes to viņu, viņam, viņā, and plural forms according to grammar and meaning.

Common mistakes

Es redzu viņš uses the nominative where the accusative viņu is needed.

Etymology

The origin is debated. One account connects it with Proto-Baltic forms behind the idea of one, while another derives it from older *vin meaning outside plus *jis meaning he.

FAQ

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