eiti / važiuoti
Going on Foot and by Vehicle
Eiti means to go on foot. Važiuoti means to go by vehicle: Einu į darbą. (I walk to work.) Važiuoju į Kauną traukiniu. (I am going to Kaunas by train.)
How It Works
Two verbs for go
- eiti, eina, ėjo: to go on foot, to walk. Present: einu, eini, eina, einame, einate. Past: ėjau, ėjai, ėjo.
- važiuoti, važiuoja, važiavo: to go by vehicle, to drive or ride. Present: važiuoju, važiuoji, važiuoja, važiuojame, važiuojate. Past: važiavau, važiavai, važiavo.
For a trip to another town by land transport, use važiuoti: Važiuoju į Rygą. (I am going to Riga.) A walk to the shop uses eiti: Einu į parduotuvę. Flying is a third verb, skristi: Skrendu į Londoną.
Where to and how
- Where to: į + accusative, į darbą, į Vilnių. See Into and To With Į.
- By what: the instrumental with no preposition, autobusu (by bus), traukiniu (by train), dviračiu (by bike), automobiliu or mašina (by car). See Instrumental of Means.
- On foot: pėsčiomis. Į darbą einu pėsčiomis. (I walk to work.)
- Home: namo. Einu namo. (I am going home.) See At Home and Homeward.
Going to do something
Both verbs can take an infinitive of purpose: Einu pietauti. (I am going to have lunch.) See Going Somewhere to Do Something.
Prefixes build many related verbs, such as ateiti (to come on foot) and atvažiuoti (to come by vehicle). See The Prefix At-.
Examples (6)
- Einu į parduotuvę.
I am going to the shop.
Word by Word: (I) go into shop.
eiti means the speaker is walking.
- Važiuoju į Kauną traukiniu.
I am going to Kaunas by train.
Word by Word: (I) ride into Kaunas by-train.
važiuoti for a vehicle, and the bare instrumental traukiniu.
- Į darbą einu pėsčiomis.
I walk to work.
Word by Word: Into work (I) go on-foot.
pėsčiomis stresses that the trip is on foot.
- Ji važiuoja į mokyklą dviračiu.
She rides her bike to school.
Word by Word: She rides into school by-bike.
A bike is a vehicle, so the verb is važiuoti.
- Vakar važiavome į Trakus.
Yesterday we went to Trakai.
Word by Word: Yesterday (we) rode into Trakai.
važiavome is the past of važiuoti. Trakai becomes Trakus after į.
- Kur tu eini?
Where are you going?
Word by Word: Where you go?
The question for someone on foot.
Common Mistakes
Using eiti for a trip by train or bus.
Einu į Kauną traukiniu.Važiuoju į Kauną traukiniu.For a trip by train or bus, use važiuoti. Eiti normally describes walking in this travel context.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The two verbs distinguish travel on foot from travel by vehicle.
Related Patterns
- į + accusativeInto and to with Į
Į with the accusative says where you are going.
Level 1 - Instrumental of Means
The instrumental for the vehicle: autobusu, traukiniu.
Level 2 - namie / namoAt Home and Homeward
Namo is the word for going home.
Level 2 - Going Somewhere to Do Something
Einu and važiuoju with an infinitive of purpose.
Level 2 - Repeated Movement: -inėti, -iotiGoing Around and Back and Forth
The partner verbs for walking or riding around.
Level 3 - Prefix at-The Prefix at-
Ateiti and atvažiuoti, to come on foot and by vehicle.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice eiti / važiuoti in Bubblegum
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