laipns

Latvian

Alternative forms

• (dialectal form) lipns

Etymology

From the same stem as the verb lipt (“to stick, to adhere”) (q.v.), from which it was derived (with vowel gradation, like laipa (“footbridge”), and an extra n; compare, without vowel gradation, the dialectal variant lipns). The semantic evolution was probably “sticky, adhesive” > “clingy” > “attentive” > “nice, polite, kind.” Cognates include Lithuanian lipnùs (“sticky, adhesive; nice, kind”). Ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *leyp-.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [lāīpns]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

laipns (definite laipnais, comparative laipnāks, superlative vislaipnākais, adverb laipni)

1. nice, polite, kind, friendly, warm, welcoming (one that treats others with attention, sensitivity, kindness, friendliness)

   laipns jaunietis ― friendly, nice young man

   laipna namamāte ― welcoming hostess

   būt laipnam pret viesiem ― to be courteous, welcoming to the guests

   esi, esiet tik laipns... — would you be so kind as to... (introducing a polite request)

2. (such that it expresses or reflects such qualities: attention, politeness, kindness, friendliness...)

   laipns smaids ― a kind, warm smile

   runāt laipnā balsī ― to speak with a kind voice

   laipni vārdi ― kind, welcoming words

   laipna uzņemšana ― warm welcome

Declension

Indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of laipns

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular	plural		singular	plural
nominative	laipns	laipni		laipna	laipnas
genitive	laipna	laipnu		laipnas	laipnu
dative	laipnam	laipniem		laipnai	laipnām
accusative	laipnu	laipnus		laipnu	laipnas
instrumental	laipnu	laipniem		laipnu	laipnām
locative	laipnā	laipnos		laipnā	laipnās
vocative	—	—		—	—

Definite declension (noteiktā galotne) of laipns

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular	plural		singular	plural
nominative	laipnais	laipnie		laipnā	laipnās
genitive	laipnā	laipno		laipnās	laipno
dative	laipnajam	laipnajiem		laipnajai	laipnajām
accusative	laipno	laipnos		laipno	laipnās
instrumental	laipno	laipnajiem		laipno	laipnajām
locative	laipnajā	laipnajos		laipnajā	laipnajās
vocative	laipno, laipnais	laipnie		laipno, laipnā	laipnās

Derived terms

• laipnība