sa- / ap-

Together and Around: Sa- and Ap-

Level 4

Sa- = together, into one: sanākt (to gather), salikt (to put together), satikt (to meet). Ap- = around, covering: apiet (to go around), apsiet (to tie around). Ap- can also mean "all of it": apēst (to eat up).

How It Works

1. Sa-: together.

  • sanākt (to gather, to come together): Visi sanāca virtuvē.
  • salikt (to put together): salikt mantas somā (to pack things into the bag)
  • savākt (to collect): savākt rotaļlietas (to pick up the toys)
  • satikt (to meet someone, often by chance) takes the accusative: Es satiku draugu.

With -ties, a sa- verb often means doing something with each other: satikties (to meet up) (see doing something together).

2. Sa-: into pieces or completely. sagriezt (to cut up), sadalīt (to divide up), sagatavot (to prepare fully), sakārtot (to tidy up).

3. Ap-: around. apiet apkārt ezeram (to walk around the lake), apbraukt (to drive around), apskatīt pilsētu (to look around the town). Compare the words apkārt and ap.

4. Ap-: covering. apsiet šalli (to tie a scarf around), apsegt (to cover), apģērbties (to get dressed).

5. Ap-: all of it, or just done. apēst (to eat up): Suns apēda manu sviestmaizi. Some everyday ap- verbs are words of their own: apsēsties (to sit down), apstāties (to stop), apsolīt (to promise).

Examples (6)

  1. Vakarā visi sanāca virtuvē.

    In the evening everyone gathered in the kitchen.

    sa- + nākt: coming together in one place.

  2. Vakar es satiku skolotāju veikalā.

    Yesterday I ran into my teacher in the shop.

    satikt takes a direct object in the accusative: skolotāju.

  3. Sagriez maizi, lūdzu!

    Slice the bread, please!

    sa- + griezt: cutting something into pieces.

  4. Mēs apgājām apkārt ezeram.

    We walked around the lake.

    ap- + iet, often with apkārt and the dative.

  5. Suns apēda manu sviestmaizi!

    The dog ate up my sandwich!

    ap- here means the whole sandwich is gone.

  6. Apsēdies, lūdzu!

    Sit down, please!

    apsēsties (to sit down) is an everyday ap- verb. The reflexive ending stays at the end.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding ar after satikt.

    Es satiku ar draugu.
    Es satiku draugu.

    Satikt takes the person as a direct object in the accusative. Ar is used with the reflexive satikties: Es satikos ar draugu.

How It Connects

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

sa- / ap-Level 4Together and Around: Sa- and Ap-

Learn This First

Sa- and ap- mean together and around.

Words in This Pattern

sa-ap-