smiekls
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Latvian[edit]
Etymology[edit]
Apparently a parallel form to an older *smietl(a)s (“laugh, laughter”), derived from the verb smiet (“to laugh”) with an additional l.[1]
Pronunciation[edit]
Noun[edit]
smiekls m (1st declension)
- (usually plural) laugh, laughter (rhythmic, relatively short vocal sound produced by humans to express mirth, joy, well-being, but also contempt, rejection)
- priecīgi smiekli ― happy laugh, laughter
- labsirdīgi smiekli ― good-natured laugh
- skaļi smiekli ― loud laughter
- klusi smiekli ― quiet laughter
- ļauni smiekli ― evil laughter
- valdīt smeklus ― to control one's laugh (= to refrain from laughing)
- izspiest smieklu ― to squeeze out a laugh (= to make oneself laugh)
- plīst no, aiz smiekliem ― to burst into laughter
- izplūst smieklos ― to start laughing (lit. to exude in laughter)
- viņas smiekli skanēja dzidri un gaiši ― her laughter sounded clear and bright
- apkārt Andrim skan tik sirsnīgi smiekli, ka pilnīgi pret paša gribu arī Andris sāk smaidīt, un tad jau viņš skaļi smejas ― around Andris there was such sincere, warm laughter, that wholly against his will Andris began to smile, and soon he was laughing loudly
- (in art) laugh (humor, satire)
- mākslā vajadzīgi šie kontrasti: smiekli un nopietnība, bezbēdība un traģika ― art needs these contrasts: laughter and seriousness, light-heartedness and tragedy
- (colloquial) trifle (something insignificant, unimportant)
- kā atnācu, tā arī aiziešu, nav jau nemaz tik tālu; vasarā tīrais smiekls... ar divriteni pusstundā ― as I came, I will also leave, it is not that far; in the summer just a laugh (= trifle, piece of cake)... half an hour by bike
- (colloquial, in the genitive, used adjectivally) ridiculous, insignificant, unimportant
- smiekla lieta ― ridiculous, insignificant thing
- pirkt par smiekla cenu ― to buy (something) for a ridiculous, insignificant price
- par smiekla naudu te varēja iebaudīt cīsiņus ar kartupeļu biezeni ― for a ridiculous, insignificant (amount of) money one could here enjoy sausages with mashed potatoes
Usage notes[edit]
In the basic sense of "laugh", "laughter", the plural forms are almost always used instead of the singular forms.
Declension[edit]
Declension of smiekls (1st declension)
| singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
|---|---|---|
| nominative (nominatīvs) | smiekls | smiekli |
| accusative (akuzatīvs) | smieklu | smieklus |
| genitive (ģenitīvs) | smiekla | smieklu |
| dative (datīvs) | smieklam | smiekliem |
| instrumental (instrumentālis) | smieklu | smiekliem |
| locative (lokatīvs) | smieklā | smieklos |
| vocative (vokatīvs) | smiekl | smiekli |
Derived terms[edit]
Related terms[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
- ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “smiekls”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN