Signification
Reacting to something humorous.
Contexte culturel
Latvians appreciate dry humor. If someone says 'Tas ir smieklīgi' without laughing out loud, they still mean it. It's a sign of intellectual appreciation of the joke. On social media, 'smieklīgi' is often replaced by the emoji 😂 or the slang 'rēcīgi'. However, 'smieklīgi' remains the most polite and standard written response. Classic Latvian comedies like 'Limuzīns Jāņu nakts krāsā' are full of situations where characters use this phrase to point out the absurdity of their lives. In Latgale (Eastern Latvia), you might hear regional variations, but 'Tas ir smieklīgi' is understood and used everywhere as the standard form.
Use it as a filler
If you don't know what to say after a joke, just say 'Tas ir smieklīgi'. It's a perfect conversation filler.
Watch your tone
If you say it too flatly, it might sound like you don't actually find it funny.
Signification
Reacting to something humorous.
Use it as a filler
If you don't know what to say after a joke, just say 'Tas ir smieklīgi'. It's a perfect conversation filler.
Watch your tone
If you say it too flatly, it might sound like you don't actually find it funny.
Add 'gan'
Say 'Tas gan ir smieklīgi' to sound like a native speaker. 'Gan' adds a nice emphasis.
Latvian Sarcasm
Be prepared for people to use this phrase sarcastically when something goes wrong.
Teste-toi
Fill in the missing verb to say 'That is funny'.
Tas ___ smieklīgi.
'ir' is the 3rd person present form of 'to be', used for 'it/that'.
Which one is the correct adverbial form for 'funny' in this phrase?
Tas ir ________.
Adverbs ending in '-īgi' are used for impersonal descriptions in Latvian.
Complete the dialogue with the most natural reaction.
Draugs: 'Skaties, mans suns mēģina noķert savu asti!' Tu: '________!'
Reacting to a funny animal behavior requires 'Tas ir smieklīgi'.
Match the Latvian phrase with its English translation.
Match the following:
These are the basic variations of the phrase across tenses and emphasis.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
When to use 'Smieklīgi' vs 'Jautri'
Smieklīgi (Funny)
- • Jokes
- • Memes
- • Funny accidents
Jautri (Fun)
- • Parties
- • Games
- • Dancing
Banque d exercices
4 exercicesTas ___ smieklīgi.
'ir' is the 3rd person present form of 'to be', used for 'it/that'.
Tas ir ________.
Adverbs ending in '-īgi' are used for impersonal descriptions in Latvian.
Draugs: 'Skaties, mans suns mēģina noķert savu asti!' Tu: '________!'
Reacting to a funny animal behavior requires 'Tas ir smieklīgi'.
Associez chaque element a gauche avec son pair a droite :
These are the basic variations of the phrase across tenses and emphasis.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
10 questionsYes, in informal settings, dropping 'Tas ir' is very common, especially in texts.
In this phrase, yes. It describes the situation 'Tas' (That).
Simply add 'nav': 'Tas nav smieklīgi'.
'Smieklīgi' is for laughter; 'jautri' is for having a good time or being cheerful.
No, for a person use the adjective: 'Viņš ir smieklīgs' (He is funny).
It can be, depending on your relationship with the person. Use with caution!
Add 'ļoti': 'Tas ir ļoti smieklīgi'.
Yes, 'Tas ir rēcīgi' is very common among younger people.
Sometimes, just like in English 'That's funny...' can mean 'That's strange...'.
It's a sliding sound from 'i' to 'e'. Practice saying 'smee-eh'.
Expressions liées
Tas ir jautri
similarThat is fun
Tas ir dīvaini
contrastThat is weird
Es smejos
builds onI am laughing
Tas ir rēcīgi
specialized formThat is hilarious (slang)
