sveikas / sveika / sveiki
Hello That Agrees
Say Sveikas! to a man, Sveika! to a woman and Sveiki! to a group. Sveiki! is also a polite hello to one person you call jūs.
How It Works
A hello that matches the person. Sveikas means healthy, and it agrees the way adjectives agree:
- Sveikas! to one man: Sveikas, Jonai!
- Sveika! to one woman: Sveika, Ieva!
- Sveiki! to a group of men or a mixed group: Sveiki, vaikai!
- Sveikos! to a group of women only: Sveikos, merginos!
Sveiki for one person. When you speak to one person as jūs, the plural Sveiki! is the matching hello. That is why shop assistants and callers often say Sveiki! to someone they do not know. In formal settings, and with a much older person or a boss, laba diena is the safer choice. The singular sveikas and sveika are as familiar as labas.
Welcome. Guests who arrive are greeted with Sveiki atvykę! (Welcome!). It agrees too: Sveikas atvykęs! to one man and Sveika atvykusi! to one woman.
Answering. People often answer by repeating the word: Sveiki, sveiki!
Saying goodbye with it. The same word also appears in a warm goodbye: Lik sveikas! (to a man), Lik sveika! (to a woman) and Likite sveiki! (to a group), all meaning Take care!
A name after it. A name after sveikas takes its calling form: Sveikas, Tomai! See the vocative.
Examples (5)
- Sveikas, Jonai!
Hi, Jonas!
Word by Word: Healthy, Jonas!
Jonas is one man, so the greeting is sveikas.
- Sveika, Ieva! Kaip sekasi?
Hi, Ieva! How are you?
Word by Word: Healthy, Ieva! How goes-it?
Ieva is a woman, so the greeting is sveika.
- Sveiki! Kuo galiu padėti?
Hello! How can I help you?
Word by Word: Healthy! With-what can-I help?
A shop assistant greets a customer politely with sveiki.
- Sveiki atvykę į Vilnių!
Welcome to Vilnius!
Word by Word: Healthy arrived to Vilnius!
The usual way to welcome guests.
- Sveikos, merginos!
Hi, girls!
Word by Word: Healthy, girls!
A group of women only takes sveikos.
Common Mistakes
Using the man’s form to greet a woman.
Sveikas, Rūta!Sveika, Rūta!Sveikas agrees with the person you greet. Rūta is a woman, so the greeting is sveika.
Using the singular for a group.
Sveikas, vaikai!Sveiki, vaikai!When you greet several people, use the plural sveiki.
How It Connects
Learn This First
These greetings change to fit the person or people addressed.
Related Patterns
Words in This Pattern
Practice sveikas / sveika / sveiki in Bubblegum
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