iki + genitive
Until and as Far as with Iki
Iki takes the genitive and marks where or when something ends: iki rytojaus (until tomorrow), iki stoties (as far as the station).
How It Works
Forming it
- rytojus → iki rytojaus (until tomorrow)
- penktadienis → iki penktadienio (until Friday, by Friday)
- stotis → iki stoties (as far as the station)
- penki → iki penkių (until five)
Time
Iki means until: Parduotuvė atidaryta iki aštuonių. (The shop is open until eight.) With a task, it means by: Iki penktadienio turiu baigti darbą. (I have to finish the work by Friday.) Iki šiol means until now.
Place
Iki means as far as: Nuėjau iki stoties. (I walked as far as the station.) Compare į stotį, which names the station as your destination. See Into and To With Į.
Saying goodbye
Iki pasimatymo! (See you!) and Iki rytojaus! (See you tomorrow!) are built on iki. Plain Iki! is a casual bye. See Saying Goodbye.
Until with a whole clause
The preposition iki goes with a noun. For until before a clause with a verb, a common choice is kol: Palauk, kol grįšiu. (Wait until I come back.) Iki can also be a conjunction meaning kol. See While and Until With Kol.
Examples (5)
- Iki rytojaus!
See you tomorrow!
Word by Word: Until tomorrow!
- Dirbu nuo devynių iki penkių.
I work from nine to five.
Word by Word: I-work from nine until five.
The numbers devyni and penki take the genitive after nuo and iki.
- Nuėjau iki stoties.
I walked as far as the station.
Word by Word: I-walked until station.
- Parduotuvė atidaryta iki aštuonių.
The shop is open until eight.
Word by Word: Shop open until eight.
- Iki penktadienio turiu baigti darbą.
I have to finish the work by Friday.
Word by Word: Until Friday I-have to-finish work.
With a task, iki marks a deadline.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the noun after iki in the nominative.
Iki rytojus!Iki rytojaus!Iki always takes the genitive: rytojus becomes rytojaus.
Leaving numbers in the nominative after nuo and iki.
Dirbu nuo devyni iki penki.Dirbu nuo devynių iki penkių.Numbers change case too. After nuo and iki they take the genitive: devynių, penkių.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Iki marks an endpoint and uses the genitive.
Related Patterns
- nuo + genitiveFrom and Since with Nuo
Nuo marks the start of the range that iki ends.
Level 2 - viso gero / ikiSaying Goodbye
Iki on its own is a casual goodbye, short for phrases like iki pasimatymo.
Level 1 - kolWhile and Until with Kol
Kol is a common way to introduce an until clause; iki can also serve as a conjunction.
Level 3 - kelinta valandaTelling the Time
Clock times often appear with iki: iki aštuonių.
Level 2 - į + accusativeInto and to with Į
Į names a destination, while iki names how far you go.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice iki + genitive in Bubblegum
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