Jump to content

kāja

From Wiktionary, the free dictionary
See also: kaja, Kaja, Kája, and kājā

Latvian

[edit]
 kāja on Latvian Wikipedia

Etymology

[edit]

From Proto-Baltic *kāy-a, from Proto-Indo-European *kāi-, a stem of unclear origin. It is possible that the initial *k is an irregular reflex of an earlier *gʷ, in which case Latvian kāja and its cognates might be derived from Proto-Indo-European *gʷā- (to come, to go); compare Latvian kāja : gāja (he went) with Sanskrit कायः (kā́yaḥ, body, flesh) : गयः (gājaḥ, gait, motion). Another hypothesis suggests a connection between Latvian kāja and Ancient Greek κίω (kíō, to go), κινέω (kinéō, to move, too put in motion), Latin cieō (to move). Cognate include Lithuanian koja, Sudovian kaj ([kāj(a)]), Sanskrit कायः (kā́yaḥ, body, flesh).[1]

Pronunciation

[edit]
  • IPA(key): [kāːja]
  • Audio:(file)

Noun

[edit]

kāja f (4th declension)

  1. (anatomy) leg, foot (people's lower limb, organ of support and locomotion)
    spēcīgas, slaidas kājasstrong, slender legs
    plata, maza kājawide, small foot
    kāju pirkstitoes (lit. leg/foot fingers)
    aut kājasto put shoes on (lit. to shoe (one's) leg/foot)
    atputināt kājasto rest one's legs/feet
    lēkāt uz vienas kājasto jump on one leg/foot
    kāju slauķis, kājslauķisdoormat (lit. foot wipe)
    koka kājawooden leg (primitive prosthesis)
    no galvas līdz kājāmfrom head to toe (lit. to leg/foot)
    viņam veiklas, vieglas kājashe has agile, light legs (he walks easily)
    spēlēt futbolu bez kāju sargiem ir diezgan bīstamito play football/soccer without leg protection is quite dangerous
    Juris kādu rītu uzāva kājās garos, melnos zābakusevery morning, Juris put long, black boots on (his feet)
    mežā pavisam tumšs... mēs ar Ati ejam lēni, taustīdamies, kājas augstu celdamiin the forest it was dark... Atis and I walked slowly, gropingly, lifting (our) legs high
  2. (anatomy) leg, foot (corresponding organ in animals)
    zirga kājahorse's leg
    dzērves kājacrane's leg
    zirneklis ar garām kājāma spider with long legs
  3. (in the locative, used adverbially) standing on one's feet; up (awake)
    celties, lēkt, stāvēt kājāsto stand up, to jump, to stand on one's feet
    suns uzslējās kājāsthe dog sat on (his) legs
    viņš šorīt agri kājāshe (is) up early this morning
  4. (in the instrumental plural, used adverbially) on foot, walking
    iet kājāmto go on foot
    viņš devās uz māju kājāmhe went home on foot
  5. footwear (usually while being worn)
    lai noslaukot kājas...in order to wipe (their) shoes,...
    meitene nokrata salijušo lietussargu, notīra dubļainās kājasthe girl shakes the rained-on umbrella, cleans the muddy shoes
  6. (on objects) leg (a support similar to a human or animal leg)
    galda kājatable leg
    gultas kājabed leg
    vēl te bija seši krēsli ar liektām kājām, apvilkti ar zaļu zīduthere were still six chairs with curved legs, upholstered in green silk
    šampanieša glāze var būt vai nu augsta un šaura, vai arī lēzena, bet uz augstas kājasa champagne glass may be either tall and narrow or flat, but (it has always) a long leg

Usage notes

[edit]

Latvian kāja, refers both to a person's entire leg and more specifically to a person's foot; context usually clarifies which interpretation is best. It is the most frequent term in both senses. The word pēda, though sometimes translatable as “foot,” refers more specifically to the sole of the foot (and also to footprints). In the sense of "footwear", kāja (usually plural: kājas) is less frequent than apavs.

Declension

[edit]

Synonyms

[edit]

Derived terms

[edit]
[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “kāja”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN