Signification
A rail vehicle moving at low speed.
Contexte culturel
The 'Siaurukas' in Anykščiai is a beloved cultural heritage site. It is a literal 'lėtas traukinys' that now serves as a tourist attraction, moving at only 15-20 km/h. Older generations often associate 'lėtas traukinys' with the long, arduous journeys to Siberia or other distant parts of the USSR, giving the phrase a heavy historical weight. With the 'Rail Baltica' project, the 'lėtas traukinys' is becoming a symbol of the past, while high-speed rail represents Lithuania's future in the EU. In modern urban Lithuania, there is a trend of 'lėtas gyvenimas' (slow life), where taking a slow train is seen as a conscious choice to avoid stress.
Check the schedule
In Lithuania, look for 'G' (Greitasis) vs 'P' (Paprastasis/Pakeleivingas) on schedules to avoid a 'lėtas traukinys'.
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'traukinys' is masculine. Don't say 'lėta traukinys'.
Signification
A rail vehicle moving at low speed.
Check the schedule
In Lithuania, look for 'G' (Greitasis) vs 'P' (Paprastasis/Pakeleivingas) on schedules to avoid a 'lėtas traukinys'.
Gender Agreement
Always remember 'traukinys' is masculine. Don't say 'lėta traukinys'.
Metaphorical use
Use 'lėtas traukinys' to describe bureaucracy—it's a very common and relatable complaint in Lithuania.
The Siaurukas
If you visit Anykščiai, use this phrase to show you know about their famous slow train!
Teste-toi
Fill in the correct form of the adjective 'lėtas'.
Šis _______ traukinys važiuoja į Klaipėdą.
'Traukinys' is masculine nominative, so we use 'lėtas'.
Which sentence is correct?
Select the correct sentence:
To say 'I am in the slow train', you need the locative case for both words.
Match the Lithuanian phrase with its English meaning.
Match the following:
Understanding the difference between speed and punctuality is key.
Complete the dialogue.
Keleivis: Ar šis traukinys greitas? Kasininkas: Ne, šis traukinys yra _______.
The context asks about speed, so 'lėtas' is the logical answer.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Train Speeds in Lithuania
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesŠis _______ traukinys važiuoja į Klaipėdą.
'Traukinys' is masculine nominative, so we use 'lėtas'.
Select the correct sentence:
To say 'I am in the slow train', you need the locative case for both words.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
Understanding the difference between speed and punctuality is key.
Keleivis: Ar šis traukinys greitas? Kasininkas: Ne, šis traukinys yra _______.
The context asks about speed, so 'lėtas' is the logical answer.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsNo, it's a neutral description of speed. However, calling a person a 'lėtas traukinys' can be a mild insult.
You say 'Aš esu lėtame traukinyje'.
The opposite is 'greitasis traukinys' (fast train).
No, for a bus you would say 'lėtas autobusas'.
No, it means the train's scheduled speed is slow.
Yes, many Lithuanian songs use the train as a metaphor for time passing slowly.
You can also use 'lėnas', but 'lėtas' is much more common for vehicles.
The plural is 'lėti traukiniai'.
Yes, it's a very common collocation in everyday Lithuanian.
Yes, if you are literally discussing train speeds with a travel agent.
Expressions liées
Greitasis traukinys
contrastExpress train
Prekinis traukinys
similarFreight train
Pakeleivingas traukinys
specialized formLocal/Commuter train
Vėluojantis traukinys
similarDelayed train
Siaurasis geležinkelis
builds onNarrow-gauge railway
