A1 Expression Neutral

Geras darbas

Good job

Phrase in 30 Seconds

The go-to Lithuanian phrase for saying 'Good job' or 'Well done' after someone completes a task successfully.

  • Means: 'Good work' or 'Good job' (literally: Good work).
  • Used in: Classrooms, offices, and when kids finish their chores.
  • Don't confuse: With 'Geros dienos', which means 'Have a good day'.
Effort + Success = Geras darbas! 👏

Explanation at your level:

This is a very simple phrase. 'Geras' means 'good'. 'Darbas' means 'job' or 'work'. You use it to say 'Well done!' to someone. It is easy to remember because it is just two words. You can use it at school or with friends when they do something well.
At this level, you can use 'Geras darbas' to give basic feedback. It is a neutral expression, meaning it works in both formal and informal situations. Remember that 'darbas' is a masculine noun, so we use the masculine adjective 'geras'. You can also add 'labai' (very) to say 'Labai geras darbas'.
As an intermediate learner, you should recognize 'Geras darbas' as a standard workplace tool. It is used to acknowledge the completion of a task. You might also start noticing variations like 'Gerai padirbėta', which uses a participle. This phrase is essential for collaborative environments and building rapport with Lithuanian colleagues.
At the B2 level, you understand the nuance between 'Geras darbas' and more specific praise. While 'Geras darbas' is safe, you might choose 'Puikus rezultatas' if you want to emphasize the outcome. You also understand that in Lithuanian culture, praise is often direct and lacks the hyperbole found in American English, making 'Geras darbas' feel quite substantial.
Advanced learners should analyze 'Geras darbas' within the context of Lithuanian pragmatics. It serves as a speech act of 'approbation'. You can manipulate the phrase for rhetorical effect, such as using it ironically or embedding it into complex sentences using various cases (e.g., genitive: 'Tavo gero darbo rezultatai' - The results of your good work).
At a near-native level, you master the prosody and timing of 'Geras darbas'. You understand its sociolinguistic weight—how it functions as a tool for social cohesion in a society that historically values labor over leisure. You can distinguish between its use as a genuine compliment and its use as a perfunctory closing remark in professional correspondence.

Meaning

Praising someone's effort or achievement.

🌍

Cultural Background

Lithuanians value 'darbštumas' (industriousness) as a core personality trait. Praising work is often seen as more meaningful than praising appearance. In modern Vilnius tech hubs, 'Geras darbas' is often used alongside English terms like 'feedback' or 'deadline'. In villages, 'Geras darbas' might be said after a long day of haymaking or gardening, often followed by a shared meal. Teachers use this phrase to build confidence in a system that was historically very strict and critical.

💡

The 'Safe' Compliment

If you aren't sure how to praise someone in Lithuanian, 'Geras darbas' is always appropriate and never offensive.

⚠️

Watch the Gender

Never say 'Gera darbas'. It's a common beginner mistake. Masculine nouns need masculine adjectives!

Meaning

Praising someone's effort or achievement.

💡

The 'Safe' Compliment

If you aren't sure how to praise someone in Lithuanian, 'Geras darbas' is always appropriate and never offensive.

⚠️

Watch the Gender

Never say 'Gera darbas'. It's a common beginner mistake. Masculine nouns need masculine adjectives!

🎯

Add 'Tikrai'

Adding 'Tikrai' (Really/Truly) before the phrase makes it sound much more sincere: 'Tikrai geras darbas'.

Test Yourself

Fill in the missing adjective to complete the praise.

_______ darbas, Tomai! (Good job, Tom!)

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geras

'Darbas' is masculine singular, so we use 'Geras'.

Match the situation to the most appropriate phrase.

Your colleague just finished a great presentation.

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geras darbas

'Geras darbas' is used for praising a task, while 'Ačiū' is for thanking.

Which of these is a more formal version of 'Geras darbas'?

Select the formal alternative:

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Puikiai atliktas darbas

'Puikiai atliktas darbas' means 'Excellently performed work' and is more formal.

Complete the dialogue.

Mokytoja: Jūsų testai puikūs. _______, mokiniai!

✓ Correct! ✗ Not quite. Correct answer: Geras darbas

The teacher is praising the students' performance on a test.

🎉 Score: /4

Visual Learning Aids

When to say Geras darbas

💼

Work

  • • Reports
  • • Meetings
  • • Coding
🏠

Home

  • • Cleaning
  • • Cooking
  • • DIY
📚

School

  • • Tests
  • • Homework
  • • Projects

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends. It's very versatile.

No, use 'Ačiū' for small favors. 'Geras darbas' is for tasks that required effort.

'Geras darbas' praises the work. 'Šaunuolis' praises the person.

You say 'Labai geras darbas'.

Yes, it's a great way to end a professional email after a project is finished.

Yes, very often! Teammates say it to each other constantly.

Only if your tone is flat or mocking. Usually, it is very positive.

The plural is 'Geri darbai' (Good works/deeds).

Yes, it is common throughout all of Lithuania.

It's better for a teacher to say it to a student. If a student says it to a teacher, it might sound like they are 'grading' the teacher!

Related Phrases

🔗

Šaunuolis

similar

Good job (referring to the person)

🔄

Puiku

synonym

Excellent/Great

🔗

Gerai padirbėta

builds on

Well worked

🔗

Blogas darbas

contrast

Bad job

Where to Use It

💼

Office Feedback

Manager: Ačiū už ataskaitą, geras darbas.

Employee: Ačiū, stengiausi.

neutral
🏠

Parenting

Mama: Sutvarkei kambarį? Geras darbas!

Vaikas: Taip, mama!

informal
⚽

Sports Practice

Treneris: Geras darbas gynyboje!

Žaidėjas: Ačiū, treneri.

informal
🎓

Language Class

Mokytoja: Teisingai atsakei. Geras darbas.

Mokinys: Ačiū, mokytoja.

neutral
🎭

After a Performance

Draugas: Puikiai dainavai, geras darbas.

Dainininkas: Malonu girdėti.

neutral
🛠️

DIY / Home Repair

Kaimynas: Pats sutvarkei tvorą? Geras darbas.

Savininkas: Taip, užtruko visą dieną.

informal

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of a 'Geras' (Gears) turning in a 'Darbas' (Drive) — when the gears drive well, it's a good job!

Visual Association

Imagine a giant thumbs-up made of amber (Lithuania's 'gold') sitting on a wooden workbench.

Rhyme

Geras darbas — šviesus vardas. (Good work — a bright name/reputation.)

Story

A young apprentice named Jonas finished carving a wooden spoon. His master looked at it, smiled, and said 'Geras darbas'. Jonas felt proud and realized that 'Geras' is the quality and 'Darbas' is his effort.

Word Web

Darbininkas (Worker)Darbovietė (Workplace)Gėris (Goodness)Geriausias (The best)Darbštumas (Industriousness)Padaryti (To do/make)Atlikti (To perform/complete)

Challenge

Try to say 'Geras darbas' to at least three people today—even if it's just to yourself in the mirror after finishing a task!

In Other Languages

Spanish high

Buen trabajo

In Spanish, 'buen' comes before the noun, just like 'geras' in Lithuanian.

French high

Bon travail

French often uses 'Bravo' more frequently than Lithuanians use 'Bravo'.

German high

Gute Arbeit

German requires case endings on 'gut' depending on the sentence structure, similar to Lithuanian.

Japanese low

お疲れ様 (Otsukaresama)

Otsukaresama is used as a greeting/farewell at work; Geras darbas is only for praise.

Arabic high

عمل جيد (Amal jayid)

In Arabic, the adjective 'jayid' follows the noun 'amal'.

Chinese moderate

做得好 (Zuò dé hǎo)

Uses a verb-complement structure rather than an adjective-noun structure.

Korean moderate

수고했어 (Sugo-haesseo)

Highly dependent on honorifics, whereas 'Geras darbas' is quite stable.

Portuguese high

Bom trabalho

Very little difference in usage or meaning.

Easily Confused

Geras darbas vs Geros dienos

Both start with 'Gero-' and are common greetings/partings.

Listen for the ending: '-os dienos' is for the day, '-as darbas' is for the work.

Geras darbas vs Gera valia

Both use 'Gera' and a noun starting with 'D' or 'V'.

'Valia' means 'will'. 'Gera valia' is 'goodwill'.

FAQ (10)

It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends. It's very versatile.

No, use 'Ačiū' for small favors. 'Geras darbas' is for tasks that required effort.

'Geras darbas' praises the work. 'Šaunuolis' praises the person.

You say 'Labai geras darbas'.

Yes, it's a great way to end a professional email after a project is finished.

Yes, very often! Teammates say it to each other constantly.

Only if your tone is flat or mocking. Usually, it is very positive.

The plural is 'Geri darbai' (Good works/deeds).

Yes, it is common throughout all of Lithuania.

It's better for a teacher to say it to a student. If a student says it to a teacher, it might sound like they are 'grading' the teacher!

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