viņš

See also: vins, VINs, víns, vîns, and vīns

Latgalian

Pronoun

viņš m

1. that one, that, the other one, the other

Latvian

Etymology

There are several theories on the origin of this word. According to some, it has the same origin as one: Proto-Baltic *winyas, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁iH-n-os, from Proto-Indo-European *óynos, *éynos, *ínos (possibly from *h₁ey-, *ey-, *i- (“that; he”)), made into a yo-stem and with an extra initial w-.

Others suggest a connection with Old Prussian winna (“outside”) (possibly < *winnā < *winnān), from wins (“air (outside)”), derived from a possible Proto-Baltic *vina-.

A more recent suggestion is that viņš results from a compound of an older *vin (“outside”) and *jis (“he”), hence *vin-j(i)s > viņš. *jis cognate to Latgalian jis and Lithuanian jis. *vin cognate to Old Prussian winna and Old Church Slavonic вънѣ (vŭně, “outside”). The feminine viņa forming accordingly *vin-ja > viņa, pointing to an earlier Latvian *ja (“she”), probably formed by analogy with an older Proto-Baltic *jās (“pl. she”). The dialectal (Pilda Latgalian) forms veńìs (masc.), veńei (fem.) lends this theory support, as they appear constructed identically but with cognate Latgalian forms Latgalian jis (“he”) and Latgalian jei (“she”). The declension also bears resemblence to Latgalian and Lithuanian cognates.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [viɲʃ]

Pronoun

viņš (personal, 3rd person singular masculine) (fem. viņa, masc. pl. viņi, fem. pl. viņas)

1. he; third person pronoun, referring to someone other than the speaker or addressee

   ienāca lektors, viņu saņēma aplausiem ― the lecturer came in, (the audience) received him with applause

   to sacīja viņa tēvs ― his father said that

   Blaumanis aizbrauca uz Valmieru; tur notika “Indrānu” izrāde, kurā arī viņam pašam bija loma ― Blaumanis went to Valmiera; there was the “Indrāni” show, in which he himself had (= played) a part

2. his (in the genitive, as part of certain titles)

   viņa eminence, majestāte, augstība ― his eminence, majesty, highness

3. he (referring to masculine animals, objects, etc.)

   sunim nezin kas uznācis, sāka pa vakariem gaudot, tā ka vajadzēja aizvest uz riju un ieslodzīt pelavu pūnītē, tur viņš gan vaimanāja vēl skaļāk ― the dog didn't know what come up, began to howl in the evening, so that it was necessary to take him to the barn and lock him up, (and) there he howled even louder

4. (usually as a non-nominative determiner) that, the other (one); distal demonstrative

   viņā malā, galā, puse ― on the other bank, end, side

   aiziet līdz viņam stūriem ― to go up to that, the other corner

   viņās dienās ― in those days (= in earlier days, in the past)

   viņos laikos ― in those times (= in old, ancient times)

   te pa ceļu no viņas puses kāds brauc ― here on the road someone is going (by) from the other side

Declension

declension of viņš

nominative (nominatīvs)	viņš
accusative (akuzatīvs)	viņu
genitive (ģenitīvs)	viņa
dative (datīvs)	viņam
instrumental (instrumentālis)	viņu
locative (lokatīvs)	viņā

Related terms

• viņējs

See also

• vietniekvārds

• Personal pronouns (personu vietniekvārdi):
  es - tu - viņš - viņa - mēs - jūs - viņi - viņas