smiekls

Latvian

Smiekli
Smiekli

Etymology

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

  • IPA(key): [smiɛ̂kls]

Noun

smiekls m (1st declension)

  1. (usually plural) laugh, laughter (rhythmic, relatively short vocal sound produced by humans to express mirth, joy, well-being, but also contempt, rejection)
    priecīgi smieklihappy laugh, laughter
    labsirdīgi smiekligood-natured laugh
    skaļi smiekliloud laughter
    klusi smiekliquiet laughter
    ļauni smieklievil laughter
    valdīt smeklusto control one's laugh (= to refrain from laughing)
    izspiest smiekluto squeeze out a laugh (= to make oneself laugh)
    plīst no, aiz smiekliemto burst into laughter
    izplūst smieklosto start laughing (lit. to exude in laughter)
    viņas smiekli skanēja dzidri un gaišiher 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 smejasaround Andris there was such sincere, warm laughter, that wholly against his will Andris began to smile, and soon he was laughing loudly
  2. (in art) laugh (humor, satire)
    mākslā vajadzīgi šie kontrasti: smiekli un nopietnība, bezbēdība un traģikaart needs these contrasts: laughter and seriousness, light-heartedness and tragedy
  3. (colloquial) trifle (something insignificant, unimportant)
    kā atnācu, tā arī aiziešu, nav jau nemaz tik tālu; vasarā tīrais smiekls... ar divriteni pusstundāas 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
  4. (colloquial, in the genitive, used adjectivally) ridiculous, insignificant, unimportant
    smiekla lietaridiculous, insignificant thing
    pirkt par smiekla cenuto buy (something) for a ridiculous, insignificant price
    par smiekla naudu te varēja iebaudīt cīsiņus ar kartupeļu biezenifor a ridiculous, insignificant (amount of) money one could here enjoy sausages with mashed potatoes

Usage notes

In the basic sense of "laugh", "laughter", the plural forms are almost always used instead of the singular forms.

Declension

Derived terms

See also

References

  1. Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “smiekls”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN
This article is issued from Wiktionary. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.