Prefix į-

The Prefix Į-

Level 3

Į- turns a verb into movement inside: eiti → įeiti (to enter), dėti → įdėti (to put in), lipti → įlipti (to get on a bus or train).

How It Works

Common į- verbs

  • įeiti: to go in, to enter. Prašom įeiti. (Please come in.)
  • įvažiuoti: to drive in. Įvažiavome į miestą. (We drove into the town.)
  • įlipti: to get on or into a vehicle. Įlipk į autobusą. (Get on the bus.)
  • įdėti: to put in. Įdėk cukraus į arbatą. (Put some sugar in the tea.)
  • įpilti: to pour in. Įpilk man arbatos. (Pour me some tea.)
  • įnešti: to carry in.

In a few verbs the meaning is less literal: įjungti (to switch on) and įsimylėti (to fall in love).

Prefix plus preposition

The place you enter goes in the accusative after į: įeiti į parduotuvę, įlipti į traukinį. The opposite prefix iš- pairs with iš + genitive: išlipti iš traukinio. See Prefixes Paired With Prepositions, Into and To With Į and The Prefix Iš-.

Opposite pairs

įeiti ↔ išeiti (go in, go out), įlipti ↔ išlipti (get on, get off), įjungti ↔ išjungti (switch on, switch off).

Spelling

The prefix is always written with the letter į and sounds like a long ee. It never changes: įeiti, įvažiuoti, įsijungti. See The Nasal Letters Ą, Ę, Į and Ų.

Examples (6)

  1. Prašom įeiti!

    Please come in!

    Word by Word: Please to-enter!

  2. Įlipome į traukinį Vilniuje.

    We got on the train in Vilnius.

    Word by Word: (We) got-into into train in-Vilnius.

    The prefix į- and the preposition į appear together.

  3. Įdėk knygą į kuprinę.

    Put the book in the backpack.

    Word by Word: Put-in book into backpack.

  4. Mašina įvažiavo į kiemą.

    The car drove into the yard.

    Word by Word: Car drove-in into yard.

  5. Įpilk man arbatos, prašau.

    Pour me some tea, please.

    Word by Word: Pour-in to-me of-tea, please.

    Arbatos is in the genitive because it means some tea.

  6. Įjunk šviesą, labai tamsu.

    Switch on the light, it's very dark.

    Word by Word: Switch-on light, very dark.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out the preposition after an į- verb.

    Įėjau kambarį.
    Įėjau į kambarį.

    Įeiti needs į + accusative for the place you enter. The prefix does not replace the preposition.

  • Putting the place in the locative after į.

    Įlipau į autobuse.
    Įlipau į autobusą.

    Į always takes the accusative. Autobuse is the locative, which means in the bus, not into it.

How It Connects

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

Prefix į-Level 3The Prefix Į-

Learn This First

Į- marks entry or insertion and often accompanies į plus accusative.

Words in This Pattern

į