Latvian

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Etymology

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From Proto-Baltic *maźas, from Proto-Indo-European *meǵʰ-, *moǵʰ- (big, small, i.e., size extremes)). Cognates include Lithuanian mãžas, Sudovian maz, Old Prussian massais ([mazais], smaller),, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌿𐍃 (magus, boy (i.e., little)), Old English micel (large, big, great) (English much), Albanian madh (big), Old Armenian մեծ (mec, great, large), Sanskrit मह (mahá, great, mighty, strong, abundant), Old Irish maige (great, large), Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas, big, large), Latin magnus (big).[1]

Pronunciation

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  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

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mazs (definite mazais, comparative mazāks, superlative vismazākais, adverb maz)

  1. small, little (having less than the (average, fitting) size of other similar objects, beings, areas, etc.)
    mazs cilvēks, dzīvnieks, galdssmall person, animal, table
    mazas kājassmall feet, legs
    cepure par mazua hat too small
    mazais sikspārnisthe small bat (smaller than other species)
    maza pļavasmall meadow
    mazs ciematssmall village
  2. small, short (having less than the (average) distance between start and end points)
    mazs atvēziens, palēcienssmall swing, jump
    maza amplitūdasmall amplitude
  3. (of natural phenomena) small, little, low (weak, having low intensity)
    mazs vējiņšsmall, little breeze
    maza miglalow fog
  4. (of physical phenomena) small, short, low, weak (less in numerical value than (the average of) other measurements; less intense, faint)
    mazs ātrums, spriegumslow speed, tension/voltage
    mazs garumsshort length
    mazs skaitssmall number
    mazs skaitlislow figure
    maza nauda(colloquial) small money sum (lit. little money)
    bet lai tu vairs neizlaistu pat vismazākās skaņas!but you won't let out even the smallest (= faintest) sound anymore!
  5. (of time periods; of texts) little, short
    pēc maza brīžaafter a short moment
    mazs dzejolislittle, short poem
  6. small (with few members (people, animals, objects, elements))
    maza ģimenesmall family
    mazs ganāmpulkssmall herd
  7. little, low (less than the normal or average level, limit, degree)
    mazs piena izlaukumslow milk yield
    maza barības vērtībalittle, low nutritional value
  8. little, small (with little influence or consequence; not worth much)
    mazas nepatikšanaslittle, small trouble
    saņemt mazas veltesto get small presents
  9. small, short (not requiring much effort or energy)
    mazs pasākumssmall undertaking, enterprise
    maza pastaigashort walk, stroll
    mazi svētkismall, unimportant holidays
  10. small, little (indicating lack of freedom of action, constraints)
    mazas priekšrocībassmall advantage
    maza izvēlelittle choice
    man vairs nebija ne mazākās iespējas novākt slepenā darba pēdasI no longer had the slightest possibility of removing the traces of secret work
  11. (of mental or physical states) small (not intense, not intensely felt)
    mazas sāpes'small pain
    mazs nogurumssmall fatigue, tiredness
  12. (of people) small (selfish; having negative character traits)
    mazs nekauņaa little impudent, impertinent person
    mazs palaidnisa little rascal
    liels zinātnieks; tikai kā cilvēks diemžēl izrādījies mazsa great scientist; only as a person, unfortunately, he showed himself small
  13. (of people) small (lacking self-confidence, humble)
    jutos maza un niecīga viņu priekšāI (female) felt small and insignificant in front of them
  14. (of people) small (unimportant; not owning much property; poor)
    mazs muižnieks, namīpašniekssmall landlord
  15. (of children) small, little, young (infant, not having reached maturity)
    mazs bērnssmall child
    Ilzi es jau pazinu kā mazu meitenītiIlze I already knew as a little girl
    mazā kaut ko gaidathe little one (= girl) is waiting for something
    mazais jāliek gulētthe little one (= boy) must be put to sleep
  16. small (not brilliant, not important, not significant)
    ir atzinumi lieli, maziopinions there are big and small
    laiks aizšalc, aiznesdams izzūdībai visu mazo, niecīgo, nenozīmīgotime rustles (by), taking into non-existence all that is small, unimportant, insignificant

Declension

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Synonyms

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Antonyms

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Derived terms

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References

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  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “mazs”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN