pa-: A Little
Doing a Little: Pa-
Add pa- to do something for a short while or a little: gaidīt → pagaidīt (to wait → to wait a moment), lasīt → palasīt (to read → to read for a bit). Pagaidi! means "Wait a moment!".
How It Works
1. A short while or a little.
- gaidīt → pagaidīt (to wait a moment): Pagaidi mazliet!
- lasīt → palasīt (to read for a bit)
- runāt → parunāt (to have a chat): Vai varam parunāt?
- gulēt → pagulēt (to have a nap)
- sēdēt → pasēdēt (to sit for a while)
- skatīties → paskatīties (to have a look): Paskaties!
2. Friendly requests. Because it sounds small and light, pa- is very common in commands and invitations: Pagaidiet, lūdzu! (Wait a moment, please!), Pamēģini! (Give it a try!), Pasēdēsim parkā! (Let's sit in the park for a while!).
3. Eating and drinking. paēst means to have a meal, to eat your fill: Vai tu jau paēdi? (Have you eaten yet?). padzerties means to have a drink.
4. Other pa- verbs. Pa- is also a general "finished" prefix (see finished actions), and some pa- verbs have their own meanings: paņemt (to take), pabeigt (to finish), palikt (to stay), pazaudēt (to lose), paspēt (to manage in time). Only context tells you whether pa- means "a little".
The prefix pa- is written together with the verb. The separate word pa is a preposition meaning "along" or "through" (see pa with the accusative).
Examples (6)
- Pagaidi mazliet!
Wait a moment!
pa- + gaidīt: waiting only a short time.
- Vakarā es mazliet palasīju.
In the evening I read for a bit.
palasīt: reading a little, not the whole book.
- Vai varam parunāt?
Can we have a chat?
parunāt sounds lighter than runāt.
- Paskaties, cik skaisti!
Look how beautiful it is!
paskatīties: to have a look. The reflexive ending stays at the end.
- Vai tu jau paēdi?
Have you eaten yet?
paēst: to have a meal.
- Pasēdēsim parkā!
Let's sit in the park for a while!
pa- + sēdēt, in the "let's" form.
Common Mistakes
Writing the prefix as a separate word.
Pa gaidi!Pagaidi!The prefix pa- is part of the verb. The separate word pa is a preposition (pa ielu, along the street).
How It Connects
Learn This First
Pa- means a little.
Related Patterns
- Giving Commands
Pa- verbs make soft, friendly commands: Pagaidi!
Level 3 - Let's: -simLet's Do It
Pa- in invitations: Parunāsim!
Level 3 - Finished Actions With Prefixes
The other job of pa-: marking a finished action.
Level 4 - pa + AccusativeAlong and Through: Pa
The separate preposition pa, which is a different word.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice pa-: A Little in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Latvian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
