المعنى
Raining very heavily.
خلفية ثقافية
Rain is so common in Latvia that there are over 10 different words for it depending on intensity and duration. In ancient songs, rain is often seen as a blessing for the fields, but 'spaiņa lietus' could be a threat to the harvest. During summer storms in Riga, streets often flood because the old drainage systems can't handle a 'spaiņa lietus'. There is a national joke that if it doesn't 'līt kā no spaiņa' during Jāņi, it's not a real celebration.
Use 'Gāž' for impact
If you want to sound like a native, use 'Gāž kā no spaiņa' when you are genuinely annoyed by the rain. It sounds more visceral.
Watch the Genitive
Don't forget the 'a' at the end of 'spaiņa'. Saying 'no spainis' is a very obvious beginner mistake.
المعنى
Raining very heavily.
Use 'Gāž' for impact
If you want to sound like a native, use 'Gāž kā no spaiņa' when you are genuinely annoyed by the rain. It sounds more visceral.
Watch the Genitive
Don't forget the 'a' at the end of 'spaiņa'. Saying 'no spainis' is a very obvious beginner mistake.
The Perfect Icebreaker
In Latvia, complaining about the rain using this idiom is the fastest way to start a conversation with a stranger at a bus stop.
اختبر نفسك
Fill in the missing word in the genitive case.
Ārā līst kā no ______ (spainis).
The preposition 'no' requires the genitive case 'spaiņa'.
Which verb is most commonly used with this idiom for maximum emphasis?
______ kā no spaiņa!
'Gāzt' (to pour/dump) is the most emphatic verb for this idiom.
Match the weather to the correct phrase.
It's a light rain that barely wets the ground.
'Līst kā no spaiņa' is only for heavy rain.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Vai mēs iesim uz parku? B: Nē, paskaties pa logu! Tur ______.
The context of canceling a park visit implies bad weather.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
وسائل تعلم بصرية
بنك التمارين
4 تمارينĀrā līst kā no ______ (spainis).
The preposition 'no' requires the genitive case 'spaiņa'.
______ kā no spaiņa!
'Gāzt' (to pour/dump) is the most emphatic verb for this idiom.
It's a light rain that barely wets the ground.
'Līst kā no spaiņa' is only for heavy rain.
A: Vai mēs iesim uz parku? B: Nē, paskaties pa logu! Tur ______.
The context of canceling a park visit implies bad weather.
🎉 النتيجة: /4
الأسئلة الشائعة
10 أسئلةNo, this is strictly for rain. For heavy snow, use 'putināt' or 'snigt lielām pārslām'.
Both are used. 'Līt' is 'to rain', 'Liet' is 'to pour'. 'Līst kā no spaiņa' is slightly more common for the state of raining.
It is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your friends, but maybe not in a scientific paper.
It means 'bucket'.
Because the rain is imagined as coming 'from' the bucket.
Yes, people might say 'Debesis ir pušu' (The sky is torn).
No, that's not a standard idiom. It has to be a bucket!
Sāk līt kā no spaiņa.
Yes, it is a timeless idiom used by all generations.
Yes, the meaning is identical, but the image is different.
عبارات ذات صلة
Gāzt kā ar spaiņiem
synonymTo pour as if with buckets (plural).
Līst kā pa Jāņiem
similarTo rain like on Midsummer.
Smidzināt
contrastTo drizzle.
Debesis ir pušu
similarThe sky is torn.
