zems
English edit
Noun edit
zems
Latvian edit
Etymology edit
From the same stem as zeme (“land”), of which it is an adjectival form. Cognates include Lithuanian žẽmas, Old Prussian semmai (adveribal form).[1]
Pronunciation edit
Adjective edit
zems (definite zemais, comparative zemāks, superlative viszemākais, adverb zemu, zemi)
- low, short (having relatively little distance from top to bottom; having low height)
- zems sols, galds ― low bench, table
- zema gulta, sēta ― low bed, fence
- zems pakalns ― low hill
- zemi pakāpieni ― low stairs
- zābaki ar zemiem papēžiem ― boots with low heels
- saimniece ir zema un kupla kā tējas rožu krūms ― the landlady is short and round like a tea rose bush
- durvis šķūnim bija zemas; izejot vajadzēja stipri saliekties ― the barn door was low; (when) going out, (one) had to bend
- low (having lower height than the average individual of its type)
- zemais bērzs ― low birch tree
- zemie ķirši ― low cherry trees
- vairums mūsu kultūras ābeļu cēlušās no Dienvideiropā augošās zemās ābeles ― most of our cultures of apple trees have developed from low apple trees (that) grow in Southern Europe
- low (located relatively close to the floor, or to the ground, a surface of water, etc.)
- klēts ar zemām sijām ― a barn with low beams
- pāri jūrai uz krasta pusi nāca zemi mākoņi ― over the sea, from the coast side, low clouds were coming
- low (located close to the horizon)
- zemā ziemas saule auksti spīdēja starp kokiem ― the low winter sun shone coldly between the trees
- low (situated at a level below that of the rest of the landscape)
- zema pļava ― low meadow
- kad pāriet pār upi, sākas zems, sīkiem alkšņiem klāts līdzenums ― when one goes across the river, (there) starts a low plain, covered with small alder trees
- low, small, not important; not reaching the normal level
- zems piena izslaukums ― low milk yield
- zemas cenas ― low prices
- zems spiediens ― low pressure
- zems strāvas spriegums ― low voltage (lit. low current tension)
- zema temperatūra ― low temperature
- zems gaisa mitrums ― low air humidity
- zems prestižs ― low prestige
- zema kvalitāte ― low quality
- zema dienesta pakāpe ― low service level
- zemas prasības ― low requirements
- matrožiem un citiem kuģa strādniekiem ir zemas algas ― the sailors and other ship workers have low wages
- low (not satisfying certain requirements or expectations)
- zems kultūras līmenis ― low level of culture
- zems dzīves līmenis ― low level of life
- zema iglītība ― low education
- priekšsēdētājs runā par zemu darba disciplīnu ― the president is talking about the low level of discipline
- (of people) low (not having an respectable or important position in society, at work, etc.)
- zems amats ― low (= unimportant) office, position
- zemas kārtas ļaudis ― low class people
- uz Ģertrūdes ielas es panācu pusmūža vīrieti, kādu zemu ierēdni ― on Ģertrūde street I met a middle-aged man, some low official
- low, shallow, unworthy, unimportant
- mana dzīve, tu to par seklu nosauci, par zemu ― my life, you call it shallow, low
- prāts lai zemākās lietas šķir, augstās šķir likteņa iegriba! ― let the mind resolve the lower things, the higher ones will be resolved by the caprices of fate
- low (not respectful; not following accepted norms)
- “zemā stila” vārdi ― low style words
- (music, notes, voices) low, deep (having sounds from the lower octaves)
- zemais alts ― low alto
- zemais do ― low do (= low C)
- viņai bija zema un klusa balss ― she had a deep, quiet voice
- dziedot zemās skaņas krūšu reģistrā, dziedātājam vispirms jābūt sajūtai, ka skaņa it kā rodas un atbalsojas krūtīs ― (when) singing in the low=sound chest register, the singer must first have the feeling that the sound arises and echoes in (his) chest
- low (expressing the opinion that something is low, shallow, unworthy, unimportant)
- zems novērtējums ― low estimation, opinion
- novērtēt pretinieku par zemu, tas vienmēr is bīstami ― to evaluate an opponent as low (= unimportant), this is always dangerous
- low, dishonest, cruel, immoral, ignoble; expressing such qualities
- zems cilvēks ― low, immoral person
- zemi nodomi ― low, immoral intentions
- zema rīcība ― low, immoral action
- tu esi zems cilvēks, Fēlikss Vilde; gļēvulis un blēdis ― you are a low person, Fēlikss Vilde; a coward and a swindler
- tad nāca cieti, zemi, nežēlīgi, tumsas aizklāti vārdi ― then came hard, low, cruel, darkness-covered words
Declension edit
indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of zems
masculine (vīriešu dzimte) | feminine (sieviešu dzimte) | ||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
singular (vienskaitlis) |
plural (daudzskaitlis) |
singular (vienskaitlis) |
plural (daudzskaitlis) | ||||||
nominative (nominatīvs) | zems | zemi | zema | zemas | |||||
accusative (akuzatīvs) | zemu | zemus | zemu | zemas | |||||
genitive (ģenitīvs) | zema | zemu | zemas | zemu | |||||
dative (datīvs) | zemam | zemiem | zemai | zemām | |||||
instrumental (instrumentālis) | zemu | zemiem | zemu | zemām | |||||
locative (lokatīvs) | zemā | zemos | zemā | zemās | |||||
vocative (vokatīvs) | — | — | — | — | |||||
Antonyms edit
Derived terms edit
Related terms edit
See also edit
References edit
- ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “zems”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN