What does it mean word for word?
The phrase kaip sekasi? literally translates to 'how is it going?' The word kaip means 'how' and sekasi is the third-person singular form of the verb sekti, meaning 'to follow', 'to flow' or 'to proceed'.
Which one should you use?
kaip sekasi? is a neutral and informal way to ask how someone is doing. For a more formal or polite approach, such as when addressing elders or in professional settings, you may use kaip laikotės? Other formal variations include Kaip jums sekasi?, which translates to 'How are things going for you? / How is your success?' and Kaip gyvenate?, which means 'How are you living?' In a very casual context, if you want to ask 'What are you up to?', you can use Ką veiki?
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
kaip sekasi? is an informal phrase suitable for friends, family or acquaintances. For formal situations, use Kaip jums sekasi? or Kaip gyvenate? When you need to be polite or are speaking to elders, kaip laikotės? is the preferred option.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase kaip sekasi?, the verb sekasi is in the third-person singular. This means the grammatical subject of the sentence is an impersonal 'it' rather than 'you'.
When do people say it?
When someone asks you kaip sekasi?, a common and simple response is gerai, meaning 'good' or 'well'. If you wish to provide a response that mirrors the literal meaning of the question, you can say eina gerai, which means 'it is going well'.
Did you know?
- Lithuanian culture often views kaip sekasi? as a genuine invitation to talk. Unlike the English 'how are you?', which is often a polite filler, a Lithuanian speaker may expect a more detailed answer about their actual state of mind.
- The formal phrase kaip laikotės? is derived from the verb laikyti, which means 'to hold'. It essentially asks how you are 'holding yourself' or 'holding up' in life.
- The verb sekasi comes from the same root as the English word 'sequence', as both refer to things following or proceeding in a certain way.
Examples in context
- Laba diena, ponia Anelė. Kaip gyvenate?Good day, Mrs. Anne. How are you living?
- Labas, Andriau! Kaip sekasi?Hi, Andrew! How are things going?
- Hei, Kęste! Ką veiki?Hey, Kestutis! What are you up to?
- Sveiki, kaip sekasi?Hello, how are you?
Example conversation
Austėja meets her friend Andrius at a local cafe.
- AustėjaLabas, Andriau, kaip sekasi?Hi, Andrius, how are you?
- AndriusLabas, Austėja, viskas gerai.Hi, Austėja, everything is good.
- AustėjaDžiaugiuosi tai girdėti.I am glad to hear that.
- AndriusO kaip tu?And how about you?
Sources
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries kaip, CC BY-SA 4.0.
