labas rytas / laba diena / labas vakaras
Time-of-Day Greetings
Labas rytas! in the morning, Laba diena! during the day and Labas vakaras! in the evening. They are polite enough for anyone.
How It Works
Three greetings for the day.
- Labas rytas! Good morning! (until about the late morning)
- Laba diena! Good afternoon! Good day! (the whole daytime)
- Labas vakaras! Good evening!
Why laba and labas? The word labas (good) agrees with the noun after it, like any adjective. Rytas (morning) and vakaras (evening) are masculine, so you say labas. Diena (day) is feminine, so you say laba. See adjective agreement and noun gender.
The safe polite hello. Laba diena is what you say to a shop assistant, a doctor, a neighbour you do not know well or anyone you call jūs. Unlike labas on its own, it never sounds too casual.
Two correct shapes. You will also hear Labą rytą!, Labą dieną! and Labą vakarą! These are correct too. The first uses nominative forms; the second uses accusative forms.
Good night. Labanakt! (or Labanaktis!) and Labos nakties! are said when you part late in the evening or before bed. They are goodbyes, so you do not use them to greet someone. See saying goodbye.
Say labas, not geras. Learn Laba diena! as the usual greeting. Gera diena can describe a good day, but it is not the usual greeting taught here.
Examples (5)
- Labas rytas, mama!
Good morning, Mom!
Word by Word: Good morning, mom!
The usual morning greeting at home.
- Laba diena! Vieną kavą, prašau.
Good afternoon! One coffee, please.
Word by Word: Good day! One coffee, I-ask.
Laba diena is the polite hello in a café or shop.
- Labas vakaras! Ar turite staliuką?
Good evening! Do you have a table?
Word by Word: Good evening! Question have-you table?
Rytas and vakaras are masculine, so labas.
- Labą dieną! Kuo galiu padėti?
Good afternoon! How can I help you?
Word by Word: Good day! With-what can-I help?
Labą dieną is the other correct shape of the greeting.
- Labanakt, Tomai!
Good night, Tomas!
Said when you part late in the evening.
Common Mistakes
Using the masculine labas with diena.
Labas diena!Laba diena!Diena is feminine, so the word before it is laba. Labas goes with rytas and vakaras.
Using labanakt as a hello in the evening.
Labanakt! Kaip sekasi?Labas vakaras! Kaip sekasi?Labanakt is a goodbye for the night. To greet someone in the evening, say labas vakaras.
Related Patterns
- labasInformal Hi with Labas
The short casual hello for friends.
Level 1 - sveikas / sveika / sveikiHello That Agrees
Another hello that agrees with the person you greet.
Level 1 - viso gero / ikiSaying Goodbye
Goodbyes, including labanakt at night.
Level 1 - Adjective Agreement
Why it is labas rytas but laba diena.
Level 1 - Two Noun Genders
Rytas and vakaras are masculine, diena is feminine.
Level 1 - tu / jūsInformal Tu and Polite Jūs
Laba diena suits anyone you call jūs.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice labas rytas / laba diena / labas vakaras in Bubblegum
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