nākt

Akin with Lithuanian nókti (“to become ready, ripe, (dial.) to go, to follow, to chase, to compete”). The source of this Baltic word is unclear. One suggestion is that it might be related to Gothic 𐌽𐌴𐍈 (nēƕ, “near, close”), Old High German nāh, German nah. If this suggestion is correct, then the original meaning of nākt would be “to approach, to come closer.” [1]

• IPA^(key): [nāːkt]

nākt (intransitive, 1st conjugation, present nāku, nāc, nāk, past nācu)

1. to come (to move, to walk towards the speaker, to here)

   nākt pa ceļu ― to come on the road

   nākt lieliem soļiem ― to come with big steps

   nākt kājām ― to come on foot

   nākt garām ― to come by

   nākt iekšā, ārā ― to come in, out

   nākt pa kāpnem ― to come down the stairs

   nākt steidzīgā gaitā ― to come at a hurried pace

   nākt mājās ― to come home

   nākt no skolas ― to come from school

   nākt pie galda ― to come to the table

   nākt tuvumā ― to come close

   ņem sievu un bērnu un ej, kur esi nācis! ― get your wife and child and go (back) where you came (from)!

   sēžam darbu vadītāja kantorī... nāk un iet celtnieki ― we are sitting in the foreman's office... construction workers come and go

   visu laiku, kamēr viņi dzīvoja kopā, Mārīte nomanīja, ka Elmārs no viņas baidās, nenāk tuvumā ― all the time, while they were living together, Mārīte felt that Elmārs was afraid of her, he didn't come close

   “ei, kas tur par ciemiņu?... skaties: kaķis! nu, nāc nu, nāc iekšā”, vecītis aicināja ― “hey, what kind of visitor is there?... look: a cat! well, come now, come in,” the old man invited

2. to come, to arrive somewhere (on foot, or in a vehicle)

   nākt ciemos ― to come to visit

   nākt pie ārsta ― to come to the doctor

   nākt lūgt padomu ― to come to ask for advice

   nākt vakariņās ― to come for dinner

   nāc šovakar uz kino! ― come tonight to the cinema!

   nākt atpakaļ ― to come back

   nākt talkā, uz talku ― to come to the rescue

   nākt palīgā ― to come to help

   nākt uzbrukumā ― to come to attack (= to attack the enemy)

   nākt (kādas) pēdās ― to come in (someone's) footprints (= to follow someone's example)

   kā tas būs: nāksi vai nenāksi pie manis? ― so, how will it be: will you, or won't you, come to (visit) me?

3. to come, to arrive (somewhere, in order to perform an activity, occupy a place)

   “kad nāksi atkal skolā?” skolēni viņam prasa; “kad ciema dārzos izbeigsies vīnogas”, atteic Mameds ― “when will you come again to school?” the students asked him; “when there are no more grapes in the villagers' gardens,” Mameds replied

   jaunā paaudze nāk vecās vietā ― the younger generation comes into the place of (= replaces) the older one

4. to come (with something), to propose, to give

   nākt ar ierosinājumu ― to come with a suggestion

   nākt ar jaunām idejām ― to come with new ideas

   nākt ar padomu ― to come with advice

   Uģis nāca ar priekšlikumu pēc nelielas atpūtas nospēlēt vēl vienu volejbola “partiju” ― Uģis came with the proposal of, after a short rest, playing yet another volleyball “match”

   es, nabags, pilns cerības, nāku pie mūsu visužēlīga tvēa, kunga un ķeizara ar pazemīgu lūgšanu ― I, a poor (man), full of hope, come to our mercyful father, lord and emperor, with a humble prayer

5. to come from, to have arrived from (another city, country)

   mēs nācām no Anglijas ― we have come from England

6. (of birds, fish) to come (to fly, to swim to here)

   laši nāk nārstot upēs ― the salmon come to spawn in the rivers

   pirms vēl sniegs bija sācis kust, nāca sīki gāju putni ― before the snow had started to melt, little migratory birds came

7. (of vehicles, also of other objects; usually in the 3rd person) to come, to pass by; to move towards here

   trolejbuss nāk ik pa piecām minutēm ― the trolley comes every five minutes

   dunēdams nāk vilciens ― the train comes droning

   lidmašīna nāk ― the airplane is coming

   ledus, lielos gabalos nākdams no Piedrujas, sablīvējas pie Doles ― the ice, coming in big pieces from Piedruja, became more compact by the Dole

8. to come (to life), to be born

   nākt pasaulē ― to come to the world (= to be born)

   sestais bērns ģimenē nāca pēc liela pārtraukuma — the sixth child in the family came (= was born) after a long pause (after the fifth)

   meitiņa pasaulē nāca ļoti vārga, šķita, ka viņa izdzisīs ― the girl came to the world very weak, it seemed that she was going off

9. to come, to be from, to have been born in, to have spent time in (a group, a family, a place)

   nākt no inteliģentas ģimenes ― to come from an educated family

   Munks nāca no nabadzīgiem zvejniekiem, bet izsitās līdz stūrmanim ― Munks came from (a family of) poor fishermen, but he managed to become an officer

   Mamma nāk no Āgenskalna, no ģimenes un vides, ar ko bija jāsamierinās galdniekzeļļa meitai, bet kas vairs nav vēlama ārstei ― mother comes from Āgenskalns, from a family and an environment that should satisfy a carpenter's daughter, but which was no longer appropriate for a doctor

   Barons nāca no galvaspilsētas augstskolas ― Barons came from a university in the capital

   Lote nākusi no ielas, tādēļ, protams, Pētera vecāki viņu nīst un nicina ― Lote came from the street (= prostitution), because of this, of course, Pēteris' parents despised her

10. to come from, to be caused by, to result from

    Adatiņš bieži sūdzējas par samaitātu kuņģi; tas nākot no tā, ka sausu vien ēdot... ― Adatiņš often complained about an upset stomach; this came from, they say, the fact that he only ate dry (bread)

    šī gudrība zēnam nav nakusi no Lūku Pētera kompānijas ― this wisdom of the boy didn't come from Lūku Pēteris' gang

11. (of time periods, usually in the 3rd person) to come, to approach, to draw near

    gadi nāk, un gadi iet ― the years come and go

    vakars nāk ― the evening is coming

    kad stadiona sargs aizslēdza vārtus, nāca jau tuvu vienpadsmitiem ― when the stadium guard locked the gates, it was coming close to 11 (= it was almost 11 o'clock)

    vecums nāk un viņam līdz visādas domas ― old age is coming and along with it all kinds of thoughts

12. (of natural phenomena) to come, to start gradually, to approach; (of the sun) to show itself above the horizon

    nāk tumsa ― darkness is coming

    lēni nāk gaisma ― the light is slowly coming

    pērkona negaiss nāk tuvāk un tuvāk ― a thunderstorm is coming closer and closer

    Kalvieša bēru dienā nāca sniegs ar lietu ― during Kalviesis' funeral, (there) was (lit. came) snow with rain

    vēl kāda stunda, tad saule nāk, nes dzīvību zeltainā traukā ― still one hour, then the sun comes (and) brings life in a golden bowl

13. (of plants) to come, to come out, to start growing, to become visible

    no zemes nāk ārā pirmie asni ― the first sprouts are coming out from the earth

    (of teeth) to come out

    zobi tev (zīdainim) vēl nenāk, tu esi vesels... un tomēr tu brēc kā negudrs ― your (baby's) teeth aren't coming out yet, you are healthy... and yet you cry like mad

    (of liquids, gases) to come out, to flow (out of somewhere), to fall (e.g., rain), to move in a certain direction (e.g., smoke, drafts)

    no brūces nāk asinis ― blood is coming out of the wound

    viens Augšzemes lielkungs licis aizsprostot augšā Susēju ar lielu dambi, lai brīvnieka dzirnavām nenāktu ūdens ― one Augšzeme prince once had the upper Susēja (river) blocked with a dam, so that water couldn't come to the free peasants' mills

    ja putekļi nāktu ārā pa dūmeni, izskatītos, it kā krāsns kuras ― if dust came out of the chimney, it would seem as if the stove were burning

    debess pār jūru ir bez viena mākoņa, un viļņi nāk krastā caurspīdīgi zaļi, un baltās putu galotnes žilbina ― the sky over the sea is without a cloud, and the waves come ashore translucent green, and (their) white foam tops dazzle (the eye)

14. (of smells, sounds) to come, to spread, to be produced, expressed

    no viņas nāca tīru drēbju un vēl kaut kāda smarša ― from her came the smell of clean clothes and also of something else

    no govju staļļiem nāk troksnis ― a noise is coming from the cow stables

    artilērijas kanonāde nāca arvien tuvāk un tuvāk ― the canonade of the artillery came closer and closer

    “te runā Ramba! sveiks, Pāvil!” vārdi nāca kā no akas dibena ― “this is Ramba speaking! hallo, Pāvils!” the words came as if from the bottom of a well

15. (of physical or mental states, their consequences) to come (to become increasingly more intensive)

    nāk prieks ― joy, pleasure is coming

    nāk ciešanas ― suffering is coming

    dusmas nāk ― anger is coming

    apetīte nāk ar ēšanu ― appetite comes by eating

    sāpju lēkmes nāk ik pēc brīža ― a pain attack comes every minute

    miegs nāk kā ūdens ― sleep is coming like water (said when one feels an irresistible desire to sleep)

    mīlestība bija nākusi pār viņu tikpat negaidīti kā par mani ― love had come to him just as unexpectedly as (it had come) to me

    man nāca smiekli, bet es valdījos ― laughter came to me, but I managed to control myself

16. (of thoughts, ideas) to come to mind, to appear in one's consciousness

    nākt prātā, galvā ― to come to mind

    nākt atmiņā ― to come to memory

    tā pēkšņi viņai nāk tās domas ― so suddenly these thoughts came to her

17. (of hopes, habits, experience) to come, to grow, to develop

    prāts nāk ar gadiem ― understanding (= experience) comes with the years

    kas is gudrība tautas dziesmu tēlojumā? tā ir: dzīves gudrība; no skolas un grāmatām tā nevarēja nākt ― what is the wisdom in what folk songs portray? it is life's wisdom; from school or books it (= wisdom) could not come

18. (of mail, letters, money, etc.) to come, to be sent here and be received

    otra vēstule nāca no Alekša ― the second letter came from Alekšs

    nez kāpēc Kārlēns ilgi neraksta?... vai nu pasts nenāk, vai kā citādi... ― I wonder why Kārlēns hasn't written for a while... maybe the mail isn't coming, or maybe something else...

    nu Veckalači dienu pa dienai gaidīja, kad tā lielā nauda naks no Amerikas ― so the Veckalači waited day by day for the big (amount of) money to come from America

    “Fenikss” cieš dzelzs un čuguna badu; tādas pašas zinas nāk arī no citām Krievijas lauksaimniecības mašīnu rūpnīcām ― the “Phoenix” suffered from lack of iron and cast iron; the same news are coming also from other Russian agricultural machinery factories

19. to come, to be obtained, to become (someone's) possession

    nākt (kāda) rokās ― to come into (someone's) hands, to become (someone's) possession

    maize nenāk bez strādāšanas ― bread doesn't come without working

    reņģe nāca tīri ciešami, un uz kuģa valdīja lietišķa darba atmosfēra ― the herring was coming well enough, and on the boat there was a constructive working atmosphere

20. (usually 3rd person; of time periods, events, states) to come, to start, to begin to happen

    nāk jauni laiki ― new times are coming

    nāk uzvara, laime ― victory, happiness is coming

    nāk jauni notikumi ― new developments are coming, happening

    nelaime nenāk viena ― misfortune doesn't come alone

    nāk par labu ― it comes for the good (said if something good happens)

    kā tas nāk? ― how did this come (= how did this happen?)

    ja nāktu karš... jā, tad es zinu, ko darīt ― if war would come (= start)... yes, then I know what to do

    kas viņam varēja nākt vēl briesmīgāks par to, kas jau noticis? ― what could come (= happen) to him (that is) even more terrible that what has already happened?

21. (of thoughts, judgments, opinions) to come, to form, to be formed

    nāk nepatīkams secinājums ― an unpleasant conclusion is coming

    Mirdzai pat asaras saskrēja acīs, jo likās, ka tūlīt nāks slēdziens, ka tādai muļķīgi spītīgai meitenei komjaunatnē nav vietas ― tears ran from Mirdza's eyes, because it seemed that immediately the conclusion would come that there is no place for such a stupidly stubborn girl in the Komsomol

22. (of events) to come, to happen, to be (within a certain sequence)

    pēc futbola cienītājiem un hokeja entuziastiem tūdaļ nākot filatēlisti: viņu pasaulē esot vairāk nekā 200 miljonu ― after the football fans and the hockey enthusiasts come, apparently, the philatelists: there seem to be more than 200 million of them in the world

    “pastāsti, ko tu tagad domā darīt? vai jauns Latvijas rekords būs?” “rekordi vienmēr nāk pašās beigās”, Zigis nenoteikti paraustīja plecus ― “tell (me), what do you intend to do now? will there be a new Latvian record?” “records only come at the very end,” Zigis shrugged uncertainly

23. (of elements in some sequence) to come, to be the next

    tūliņ nāca Kalnasmeltēnu grava, bēris pats zināja, ka tur jāpietur soļiem ― then came the Kalnasmeltēnu ravine, the bay horse himself knew that (we) needed to stop there

24. to become, to come into some state, to acquire a certain quality or property

    ar laiku nāks vecāks un prātīgāks ― with time (one) comes (= becomes) older and wiser

    nākt pie prāta ― to come by intelligence (= to become intelligent, wise)

    nākt pie sajēgas ― to come by the notion (= to get the notion)

    nākt pie samaņas ― to come by consciousness (= to regain consciousness)

    nākt pie atziņas ― to come to the realization (= to realize)

    nākt pie secinājuma, pie slēdziena ― to come to the conclusion

    nākt pie pārliecības ― to come by, to the belief (= to become confident about something)

25. (of animals, plants, objects) to become, to come into some state, to acquire a certain property

    ēka nāk gatava ― the building is coming (= becoming) ready

    trauks nāk pilns ― the bowl is coming (= becoming) full

    klaips nāk uz beigām ― the loaf is coming to the end (= is finishing)

    rudzi nāk pļaujami ― the rye is coming (= becoming) ready for harvest

    āboli nāk ēdami ― the apples are coming (= becoming) edible (= ripe)

    zosis nāk kaujamas ― the geese are coming (= becoming) ready for slaughter

    brūklenes nāca sarkanas ― the cranberries came (= became) red

    pavasarī nāks kumeļš strādāms ― in spring the colt will come (= become) ready for working

26. (of people) to come into a position, job; to come (to, e.g., fame, power, etc.)

    Roplaiņi cēlās un cēlās un nāca slavā ― Roplaiņi rose and rose and came to fame (= became famous)

    kad Brīviņš nāks amatā, tad būs pavisam cita kārtība ― when Brīviņš comes (lit. will come) into office, then there will be a completely new (lit. different) order

27. to come into (something), to become the object of a certain action, to get into a certain state

    nākt modē ― to come into mode (= to become fashionable)

    nākt pārdošanā ― to come into sale (= to start being sold)

    nākt ļaužu valodās, mēlēs ― to come into people's talk, tongue (= to become a topic of general conversation)

    vīram pēc Jura dienas visa manta nākusi ūtrupē ― before George's day all (her) husband's property came into auction (= was auctioned)

28. (in the 3rd person) to come, to fit in (a certain position), to be placed (somewhere)

    nākt galdā ― to come to the table (= food, to be served, eaten)

    pusdienās visbiežāk nāca galdā putraimu putra ― mostly groats porridge came to table for lunch (= we mostly had groats porridge for lunch)

    “un gredzens nāk ap putna kāju?” “jā, tas nāk ap putna kāju” ― “and the ring comes (= goes, fits) around the bird's leg?” “yes, it comes (= goes, fits) around the bird's leg”

29. to come, to be given, granted, as part (of something)

    Ievai pūrā nāca līdz divas govis, drēbju skapis un gulta ar spilveniem un veļu, bez tam vēl trīssimt rubļu naudas ― in Ieva's dowry came two cows, a wardrobe and a bed with pillows and linens, and in addition also 300 rubles in cash

    varbūt govis juta, ka daļa no piena nāks arī viņu teliņiem ― maybe the cows felt that a part of the milk would come (= go, be given) to their calves

30. to come for (a price), to cost

    tirgus diena; sirma māmuļa lēniem solīšiem iet gar stendiem, tai rokā nobružāta tukša soma: “cik sviestiņš nāk?” ― market day; an old lady is walking by the stands with little slow steps, in her hand(s) a worn-out bag: “(for) how much does a little butter come?” (= how much does it cost?)

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

• nācējs
• nāciens
• nākamgad, nākošgad
• nākamība
• nākamnedēļ, nākošnedēļ
• nākotne
• nākums