abu / abi

Both

Level 4

Abu = both (masculine or mixed), abi = both (feminine): abu broliai (both brothers), abi seserys (both sisters).

How It Works

1. Gender. Use abu with masculine nouns and abi with feminine nouns:

  • Abu broliai gyvena Kaune. (Both brothers live in Kaunas.)
  • Abi mano seserys yra gydytojos. (Both my sisters are doctors.)

For a mixed pair, use the masculine: Tomas ir Rūta abu dirba (Tomas and Rūta both work). Without a noun, abu or abi means both of them: Abu atėjo (Both of them came).

2. Case forms. The forms are close to those of du, dvi:

  • Nominative: abu / abi
  • Genitive: abiejų
  • Dative: abiem (abiems also occurs, especially in less formal styles)
  • Accusative: abu / abi
  • Instrumental: abiem
  • Locative: abiejuose / abiejose

For example: Laikiau vaiką abiem rankomis (I held the child with both hands).

3. With pronouns. Mes abu means we both, jūs abi means you both for two women. Dual pronouns such as mudu (the two of us) say something similar.

4. Plural-only nouns. With nouns that exist only in the plural, use abeji and abejos, like the special numbers for plural-only nouns: abeji vartai (both gates).

Examples (6)

  1. Abu broliai gyvena Kaune.

    Both brothers live in Kaunas.

  2. Abi mano seserys yra gydytojos.

    Both my sisters are doctors.

    Seserys is feminine, so use abi.

  3. Abu atėjo laiku.

    Both of them came on time.

    Without a noun, abu means both of them.

  4. Kalbėjau su abiem tėvais.

    I spoke with both parents.

    Abiem is the instrumental after su.

  5. Laikiau vaiką abiem rankomis.

    I held the child with both hands.

    Abiem is the same for masculine and feminine in the instrumental.

  6. Mes abu mėgstame kavą.

    We both like coffee.

    Mes abu works for two men or for a man and a woman.

Common Mistakes

  • Using abu with a feminine noun.

    Abu seserys atėjo.
    Abi seserys atėjo.

    Sesuo (sister) is feminine, so the word for both is abi.

  • Using a singular noun after abu.

    Abu brolis dirba Vilniuje.
    Abu broliai dirba Vilniuje.

    Both means two people or things, so the noun after abu or abi is always plural.

How It Connects

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

abu / abiLevel 4Both

Learn This First

Abu and abi mean both and agree with the pair being described.

Words in This Pattern

abuduabidviabidi