lietuvių kalba / lietuviškai
Naming and Speaking Languages
lietuvių kalba = the Lithuanian language. lietuviškai = in Lithuanian: Kalbu lietuviškai.
How It Works
The name of the language. Use the plural genitive of the people + kalba (language):
- lietuvių kalba — Lithuanian
- anglų kalba — English
- vokiečių kalba — German
- latvių kalba — Latvian
Only kalba changes its ending; the first word stays the same. Lietuvių kalba graži. (Lithuanian is a beautiful language.) Mokausi lietuvių kalbos. (I am learning Lithuanian.) Mokytis takes the genitive.
Speaking a language. With kalbėti (to speak), suprasti (to understand), rašyti (to write) and skaityti (to read), you can use the adverb in -iškai:
- lietuviškai, angliškai, vokiškai, latviškai, rusiškai
Ar kalbate angliškai? (Do you speak English?) You may also hear kalbėti lietuvių kalba, with kalba in the instrumental, which is another way to name the language being spoken.
Asking for a word. Kaip šis žodis lietuviškai? (What is this word in Lithuanian?)
Small letters. Language names and these adverbs start with a small letter: lietuvių kalba, angliškai. See lowercase days, months and nationalities. The adverb ending is related to adverbs in -ai.
Examples (6)
- Kalbu lietuviškai.
I speak Lithuanian.
Word by Word: Speak-I Lithuanian-ly.
- Ar tu kalbi angliškai?
Do you speak English?
Word by Word: Q you speak English-ly?
- Mokausi lietuvių kalbos.
I am learning Lithuanian.
Word by Word: Learn-I Lithuanians' language.
Mokytis takes the genitive, so kalba becomes kalbos.
- Lietuvių kalba graži.
Lithuanian is a beautiful language.
Word by Word: Lithuanians' language beautiful.
Graži is feminine because kalba is feminine.
- Kaip šis žodis lietuviškai?
What is this word in Lithuanian?
Word by Word: How this word Lithuanian-ly?
- Jis kalba vokiškai ir rusiškai.
He speaks German and Russian.
Word by Word: He speaks German-ly and Russian-ly.
Common Mistakes
Writing languages with a capital letter, as in English.
Kalbu Lietuviškai.Kalbu lietuviškai.Lithuanian writes language names and the -iškai adverbs with a small letter.
Related Patterns
- Adverbs in -ai
The -iškai words are adverbs ending in -ai.
Level 2 - Lowercase Days, Months and Nationalities
Why lietuvių and angliškai start with a small letter.
Level 4 - Genitive of Possession
Lietuvių kalba uses a genitive, like other of phrases.
Level 2 - Adjectives: -inis, -iškasAdjectives in -inis and -iškas
Lietuviškai comes from the adjective lietuviškas.
Level 5 - People From Places: -ietis, -ietėPeople from Places
Other words for people from places.
Level 3 - Reflexive -siReflexive Verbs in -si
Mokausi (I am learning) is a reflexive verb.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice lietuvių kalba / lietuviškai in Bubblegum
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