Prefix su-

The Prefix Su-

Level 4

su- = together or completely: rinkti → surinkti (collect), valgyti → suvalgyti (eat up), susitikti (meet).

How It Works

1. Together, into one place.

  • rinkti (to pick) → surinkti (to collect, gather)
  • dėti (to put) → sudėti (to put together, put away)
  • jungti (to connect) → sujungti (to join together)

2. With -si-: meeting and agreeing. Many reflexive verbs with susi- are about people doing something together: susitikti (to meet), susirinkti (to gather), susitarti (to agree), susipažinti (to get to know each other). The -si- comes right after the prefix.

3. Completely. Su- can mark completion or a change of state: suvalgyti (to eat it all up), sugadinti (to break, to spoil), sušlapti (to get soaked).

4. Susitikti or sutikti? Susitikti su kuo is used for meeting, often by arrangement: Susitikau su draugu. Sutikti ką can mean encountering or greeting someone, with a direct object: Sutikau draugą. The partner after susitikti uses su with the instrumental.

5. Some verbs have their own meaning. In a few verbs you cannot see the prefix meaning any more, for example suprasti (to understand). Learn these as new words.

Examples (6)

  1. Susitikime rytoj kavinėje.

    Let's meet at the café tomorrow.

    Word by Word: Let's-meet tomorrow in-café.

  2. Vaikai surinko visus žaislus.

    The children picked up all the toys.

    Word by Word: Children collected all toys.

  3. Kas suvalgė mano sumuštinį?

    Who ate up my sandwich?

    Word by Word: Who ate-up my sandwich?

    Su- shows that the sandwich is all gone.

  4. Visi susirinko salėje.

    Everyone gathered in the hall.

    Word by Word: All gathered in-hall.

  5. Mes susitarėme susitikti šeštą.

    We agreed to meet at six.

    Word by Word: We agreed to-meet at-sixth.

  6. Sudėk knygas į lentyną.

    Put the books away on the shelf.

    Word by Word: Put-together books into shelf.

Common Mistakes

  • Using susitikti with a direct object.

    Aš susitikau draugą.
    Aš susitikau su draugu.

    Susitikti takes su and the instrumental: su draugu. To say you ran into someone, use sutikti with the accusative: Sutikau draugą.

  • Putting -si at the end of a prefixed verb.

    Visi surinkosi salėje.
    Visi susirinko salėje.

    When a reflexive verb has a prefix, -si- moves to the spot right after the prefix: su-si-rinko.

How It Connects

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

Prefix su-Level 4The Prefix Su-

Learn This First

Su- can bring participants together or mark completion, depending on the whole verb.