Significado
Wishing someone success in their endeavors.
Contexto cultural
The gesture of 'holding thumbs' (īkšķu turēšana) is the standard physical way to wish luck. You tuck your thumb inside your fingers and hold your fist tight. Saying 'Ne spalvas!' (Not a feather!) is a way to wish luck without 'jinxing' it, especially for hunters or performers. Latvians often believe that luck follows hard work. 'Veiksmi' is seen as a wish for your efforts to be rewarded. It is polite to reciprocate a wish of luck by saying 'Paldies, veiksmi arī tev!' (Thanks, luck to you too!).
The Safe Bet
If you aren't sure how to wish someone well, 'Veiksmi!' is always correct and never offensive.
Birthday Blunder
Never say 'Veiksmi!' on a birthday. It sounds like you're wishing them luck in surviving another year.
Significado
Wishing someone success in their endeavors.
The Safe Bet
If you aren't sure how to wish someone well, 'Veiksmi!' is always correct and never offensive.
Birthday Blunder
Never say 'Veiksmi!' on a birthday. It sounds like you're wishing them luck in surviving another year.
Add a Noun
To sound more native, add the locative case: 'Veiksmi ceļā!' (Luck on the way) or 'Veiksmi darbā!' (Luck at work).
The Thumb Trick
If you really want to impress a Latvian, say 'Turēšu īkšķus!' while actually holding your thumbs.
Teste-se
Fill in the blank with the correct form of 'veiksme'.
Man rīt ir eksāmens. - Ak, ______!
We use the accusative case 'veiksmi' for wishes.
Match the situation to the correct Latvian wish.
A friend is going to a job interview.
'Veiksmi darbā' is the appropriate wish for work-related success.
Complete the dialogue.
A: Es šodien spēlēju basketbolu. B: ____!
Wishing luck for a game is a common use of 'Veiksmi'.
Which of these is NOT a correct way to wish luck?
Choose the incorrect option:
Birthdays require 'laime', not 'veiksme'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
When to use Veiksmi vs Laime
Veiksmi (Success)
- • Exams
- • Job Interviews
- • Sports
- • New Projects
Laime (Happiness)
- • Birthdays
- • Weddings
- • Anniversaries
- • New Year
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosMan rīt ir eksāmens. - Ak, ______!
We use the accusative case 'veiksmi' for wishes.
A friend is going to a job interview.
'Veiksmi darbā' is the appropriate wish for work-related success.
A: Es šodien spēlēju basketbolu. B: ____!
Wishing luck for a game is a common use of 'Veiksmi'.
Choose the incorrect option:
Birthdays require 'laime', not 'veiksme'.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
14 perguntasIt is neutral. You can use it with your boss or your best friend.
No, use 'Daudz laimes!' or 'Sveicu kāzu dienā!'.
'Veiksmi' is a noun wish, 'Lai veicas' is a verb wish. They are 95% interchangeable.
It's in the accusative case because you are wishing (novēlēt) success to someone.
Simply say 'Paldies!' (Thanks!).
You can say 'Davai, veiksmi!', adding the common filler 'davai'.
Yes, 'Lielu veiksmi!' means 'Great luck/success!'.
The equivalent is 'Ne spalvas!' (Not a feather!).
Yes, it's a very common way to end a professional email.
It literally means 'success' or 'the result of doing'.
Yes, constantly. Fans shout it to teams and players say it to each other.
No, use 'Veseļojies!' (Get well!).
Yes, many Latvian songs use it as a theme of encouragement.
No, it's a standard 'v' as in 'victory'.
Frases relacionadas
Lai veicas!
similarMay it go well!
Turam īkšķus!
similarHolding thumbs!
Panākumus!
specialized formAchievements!
Ne spalvas!
specialized formNot a feather!
Laimīgu ceļu!
specialized formHappy journey!
Daudz laimes!
contrastMuch happiness!
