Prefix pri-
The Prefix Pri-
pri- = up to, onto, full: eiti → prieiti (come up to), rišti → pririšti (tie to), pilti → pripilti (fill up).
How It Works
1. Coming up to. prieiti (to walk up to), privažiuoti (to drive up to), pribėgti (to run up to). The place takes prie with the genitive: Priėjau prie lango.
2. Attaching. pririšti (to tie to), priklijuoti (to glue on), prisegti (to pin on).
3. Filling and adding. pripilti (to fill up by pouring), pridėti (to add). What fills or is added often goes into the partitive genitive: Pripilk stiklinę vandens. Pridėk dar druskos.
4. Spelling: pri-, not prie-. The prefix on verbs is pri-. The preposition is prie. So write pripilti, priklijuoti. In prieiti, the e belongs to the root eiti.
5. Reflexive verbs and fixed meanings. The -si- follows the prefix: prisiminti (to remember), prisirišti (to become attached). Some pri- verbs have their own meaning, such as priklausyti (to belong).
Examples (6)
- Priėjau prie lango.
I walked up to the window.
Word by Word: I-came-up to window.
- Pririšk šunį prie medžio.
Tie the dog to the tree.
Word by Word: Tie-to dog to tree.
- Pripilk man stiklinę vandens.
Fill me a glass with water.
Word by Word: Fill for-me glass of-water.
- Pridėk dar druskos.
Add some more salt.
Word by Word: Add more of-salt.
- Autobusas privažiavo prie stotelės.
The bus pulled up at the stop.
Word by Word: Bus drove-up to stop.
- Ar prisimeni mane?
Do you remember me?
Word by Word: Q you-remember me?
Prisiminti is a reflexive pri- verb with its own meaning.
Common Mistakes
Spelling the prefix like the preposition prie.
Priepilk stiklinę vandens.Pripilk stiklinę vandens.The verb prefix is pri-. Only the separate preposition is spelled prie.
Using į after a pri- verb of approaching.
Priėjau į langą.Priėjau prie lango.Coming up to something takes prie and the genitive. Į means into.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Pri- often marks approaching, attachment or adding.
Related Patterns
- Prefixes Paired With Prepositions
Prieiti prie is one of the prefix-and-preposition pairs.
Level 4 - Partitive Genitive
Pripilti and pridėti often take the partitive genitive: vandens, druskos.
Level 2 - Prefix at-The Prefix at-
At- shows arriving; pri- shows coming right up to something.
Level 2 - Prefix nu-The Prefix Nu-
Nu- often shows moving away or down, the opposite direction.
Level 3 - Reflexive -si- After a Prefix
Reflexive pri- verbs become prisi-, as in prisiminti.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Prefix pri- in Bubblegum
Poppy, your AI tutor, writes Lithuanian lessons at your level. Tap any grammar point in a lesson to see its full explanation.
