A1 Collocation Neutral

Mazgāt traukus

To wash dishes

Significado

Cleaning plates after eating.

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Contexto cultural

It is a strong tradition to offer help with dishes when visiting someone's home for a meal. Even if the host refuses, the offer is noted as a sign of respect. Most Latvian kitchens feature a drying rack inside the cabinet above the sink, so dishes are rarely towel-dried. There is a high emphasis on shared domestic labor in modern households, with 'mazgāt traukus' being a common task for all family members regardless of gender. In older rural settings, water was often heated on a stove specifically for 'trauku mazgāšana', making it a more deliberate and resource-conscious task.

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Use 'No-' for completion

Always use 'nomazgāt' if you want to emphasize that the job is done.

💬

The Guest Offer

Even if you know they have a dishwasher, offer to help. It's the thought that counts in Latvia.

Significado

Cleaning plates after eating.

💡

Use 'No-' for completion

Always use 'nomazgāt' if you want to emphasize that the job is done.

💬

The Guest Offer

Even if you know they have a dishwasher, offer to help. It's the thought that counts in Latvia.

⚠️

Accusative Case

Don't forget the 's' at the end of 'traukus'. 'Mazgāt trauki' sounds like the dishes are doing the washing!

Ponte a prueba

Fill in the correct form of the verb 'mazgāt' in the present tense.

Es tagad ________ traukus.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mazgāju

The first person singular ('Es') requires the ending '-u' in the present tense.

Which sentence is grammatically correct?

Choose the correct way to say 'I washed the dishes' (completed).

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Es nomazgāju traukus.

'Nomazgāju' is the past tense completed form, and 'traukus' is the correct accusative plural.

Match the Latvian phrase with its English meaning.

Match the following:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Mazgāt traukus - To wash dishes, Mazgāt veļu - To wash laundry, Tīrīt grīdu - To clean the floor, Nomazgāt krūzi - To wash a mug

These are common household chores that are often confused.

Complete the dialogue with the most polite response.

Saimnieks: 'Paldies par vakariņām!' Viesis: 'Lūdzu! Vai es varu ________?'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: palīdzēt nomazgāt traukus

Offering to help ('palīdzēt') with the completed task ('nomazgāt') is the most natural and polite guest response.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Ayudas visuales

Mazgāt vs. Tīrīt

Mazgāt (with water)
traukus dishes
veļu laundry
Tīrīt (general/dry)
zābakus boots
zobus teeth

Banco de ejercicios

4 ejercicios
Fill in the correct form of the verb 'mazgāt' in the present tense. Fill Blank A1

Es tagad ________ traukus.

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: mazgāju

The first person singular ('Es') requires the ending '-u' in the present tense.

Which sentence is grammatically correct? Choose A2

Choose the correct way to say 'I washed the dishes' (completed).

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Es nomazgāju traukus.

'Nomazgāju' is the past tense completed form, and 'traukus' is the correct accusative plural.

Match the Latvian phrase with its English meaning. Match A1

Empareja cada elemento de la izquierda con su par de la derecha:

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: Mazgāt traukus - To wash dishes, Mazgāt veļu - To wash laundry, Tīrīt grīdu - To clean the floor, Nomazgāt krūzi - To wash a mug

These are common household chores that are often confused.

Complete the dialogue with the most polite response. dialogue_completion B1

Saimnieks: 'Paldies par vakariņām!' Viesis: 'Lūdzu! Vai es varu ________?'

✓ ¡Correcto! ✗ No del todo. Respuesta correcta: palīdzēt nomazgāt traukus

Offering to help ('palīdzēt') with the completed task ('nomazgāt') is the most natural and polite guest response.

🎉 Puntuación: /4

Preguntas frecuentes

12 preguntas

The formal word is 'trauku mazgājamā mašīna', but informally people say 'trauku mašīna'.

It is neutral. It's appropriate for any situation.

No, that sounds like you are polishing them or cleaning them without water. Use 'mazgāt'.

It is 'mazgāju' (I washed/was washing).

Es negribu mazgāt traukus.

Trauku mazgājamais līdzeklis.

Both, but a 'sūklis' (sponge) is most common.

Not for the action itself, but 'berzt' implies scrubbing hard.

Trauki ir nomazgāti.

Yes, but you'd usually say 'nomazgāt krūzi'.

'Trauku' is genitive (of dishes), 'traukus' is accusative (the dishes as an object).

You say 'Es ielieku traukus mašīnā' (I put the dishes in the machine).

Frases relacionadas

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Slaucīt traukus

similar

To dry dishes with a towel

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Novākt galdu

builds on

To clear the table

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Izkrāmēt trauku mašīnu

specialized form

To unload the dishwasher

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Netīri trauki

contrast

Dirty dishes

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Trauku mazgājamais līdzeklis

specialized form

Dish soap

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