labas, kaip sekasi?
labas, kaip sekasi? is the Lithuanian way to say "hello, how are you?"
This phrase is a common greeting used to start a conversation and ask about someone's well-being.
What does it mean word for word?
The part kaip sekasi? literally translates to "how is it proceeding?" or "how is it going?" in English.
Which one should you use?
While labas, kaip sekasi? includes a greeting, you can also use the shorter version kaip sekasi? to ask "how are you?" informally.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The phrase labas, kaip sekasi? is informal and used with friends, peers or people you know well. If you need to be polite or formal, use Kaip gyvenate? to ask "How are you?" For an even more formal approach, such as addressing a group of gentlemen or ladies, you can say Kaip gyvenate, ponai/ponios?
When do people say it?
When someone asks you kaip sekasi?, a common response is Gerai, ačiū (Good, thanks).
Did you know?
- In many Western cultures, 'how are you?' is a ritualized greeting that requires no real answer, but in Lithuania, it is often treated as a genuine inquiry into your current state.
- The formal version Kaip gyvenate? literally asks 'How are you living?', shifting the focus from how things are 'proceeding' to the state of one's life.
- Lithuanian is a Baltic language, making labas a close relative of the Latvian word labs.
Examples in context
- Labas, kaip sekasi?Hello, how are you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaip, labas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
