Labas
/ˈɫɑ̌ːbɐs/
The English phrase "hey" can be translated into Lithuanian as Labas.
Labas is used as an informal way to say hello or hi.
Meaning: informal greeting (intj)
Did you know?
- While Labas means 'good', it cannot be used to describe a person's moral character. To call someone a 'good person', Lithuanians use geras, not labas.
- In a formal setting, using just Labas can be seen as overly blunt or even slightly rude to an elder.
- Labas is a cognate with the Latvian word labs and the Old Prussian labs, showing a shared linguistic heritage across the Baltic region.
Examples in context
- Čiau! Kaip gyvenimas?Hi! How's life?
- Labas!Hey!
- Labas, kaip laikaisi?Hey, how are you doing?
Example conversation
Eglė and Tomas meet unexpectedly on the street.
- EglėLabas, Tomai!Hey, Tomas!
- TomasLabas, Egle! Ką girdi?Hey, Eglė! What's up?
- EglėViskas gerai, ačiū.Everything is good, thanks.
- TomasSmagiai tave matyti!Nice to see you!
Sources
- Pronunciation from the Wiktionary entry labas.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries labas, CC BY-SA 4.0.
