zils

English

Noun

zils

1. plural of zil

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *žilas, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵʰelh₃- (“to shine”), the same stem as zelts (“gold”) (q.v.) and several color terms (compare dzeltens (“yellow”), zaļš (“green”). This word must have been formed relatively late, after the differentiation of Baltic and Slavic, since, unlike “yellow” and “green,” it has no counterparts among the Slavic terms for “blue.” Cognates include Lithuanian žìlas (“gray, silvery-white”).

Adjective

Zils

zils (definite zilais, comparative zilāks, superlative viszilākais, adverb zili)

1. blue (the same (or similar) color as, e.g., a clear sky)

   zila krāsa ― blue color

   tumši, gaiši zils ― dark, light blue

   zilas acis ― blue eyes

   zili dūmi ― blue smoke

   zilais krusts ― the blue cross (veterinarian aid sign)

2. blue (having a tone or hue similar to blue when compared to other, related elements)

   zilie ceriņi ― blue lilacs

Declension

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of zils

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	zils	zili		zila	zilas
accusative (akuzatīvs)	zilu	zilus		zilu	zilas
genitive (ģenitīvs)	zila	zilu		zilas	zilu
dative (datīvs)	zilam	ziliem		zilai	zilām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	zilu	ziliem		zilu	zilām
locative (lokatīvs)	zilā	zilos		zilā	zilās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

Derived terms

• zilgans, iezils
• zilums

See also

Colors in Latvian · krāsas (layout · text)

balts	pelēks	melns
sarkans, sārts	oranžs; brūns	dzeltens
	zaļš
zilzaļš, ciāns		zils
violets; zilganviolets, indigo	fuksīns; violets	rozā