Prefix at-

The Prefix at-

Level 2

at- = here, toward me: eiti → ateiti (come), nešti → atnešti (bring), važiuoti → atvažiuoti (arrive).

How It Works

1. Coming here and arriving. This is the most common meaning. Compare it with iš-, which means going out and away.

  • eiti (to go) → ateiti (to come)
  • važiuoti (to go by vehicle) → atvažiuoti (to arrive by vehicle)
  • nešti (to carry) → atnešti (to bring)
  • vežti (to drive something) → atvežti (to bring by vehicle)

The place is often added with į or iš, as in įeiti į: Atvažiavau į Vilnių iš Kauno. (I came to Vilnius from Kaunas.)

2. Back. atiduoti (to give back), atgauti (to get back).

3. Undoing or opening. atrišti (to untie), atrakinti (to unlock), atidaryti (to open). The opposite is often už-: uždaryti (to close), užrakinti (to lock).

4. Spelling: ati- before t and d. Add an i when the root starts with t or d: atidaryti, atiduoti, atidėti.

5. Reflexive verbs: atsi-. The -si- comes right after the prefix: atsisėsti (to sit down), atsikelti (to get up). See -si- after a prefix.

In this past example, at- presents a completed arrival of something: Atnešiau kavos. (I brought some coffee.)

Examples (6)

  1. Vakar atėjo draugas.

    A friend came over yesterday.

    Word by Word: Yesterday came friend.

    Ateiti means to come, toward the speaker.

  2. Atnešiau tau kavos.

    I brought you some coffee.

    Word by Word: I-brought to-you coffee.

    Atnešti means to bring. Kavos is genitive: some coffee.

  3. Traukinys atvažiuoja dešimtą valandą.

    The train arrives at ten o’clock.

    Word by Word: Train arrives tenth hour.

  4. Atidariau langą.

    I opened the window.

    Word by Word: I-opened window.

    Daryti starts with d, so the prefix is written ati-.

  5. Atidaviau knygą bibliotekai.

    I gave the book back to the library.

    Word by Word: I-gave-back book to-library.

    Here at- means back.

  6. Atrakinau duris.

    I unlocked the door.

    Word by Word: I-unlocked door.

    Here at- means undoing: rakinti is to lock.

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the i before t or d.

    Atdariau langą.
    Atidariau langą.

    Before a root that starts with t or d, the prefix is always written ati-: atidaryti, atiduoti.

  • Using at- for a simple repair.

    Atremontavau dviratį.
    Suremontavau dviratį.

    For a completed repair, standard usage recommends suremontuoti or pataisyti. Learn the accepted verb rather than choosing a prefix from its English meaning.

How It Connects

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

Prefix at-Level 2The Prefix at-

Learn This First

At- changes the direction or result of a verb according to the whole word.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.