kareivis

Latvian

Kareivis

Sardzes kareivis

Etymology

Borrowed from Lithuanian kareĩvis, introduced into Latvian by Juris Alunāns. Until the beginning of the 20th century, it meant mostly “warrior” (like German Krieger), after which it became increasingly used in the sense of “soldier” (previously expressed only by the Germanism zaldāts).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [kaɾɛ̄īvis]

• Audio:

  (file)

Noun

kareivis m (2nd declension)

1. soldier, private (the first (lowest) rank in the army; a soldier of this rank)

   sardzes kareivis ― watch (lit. watch soldier)

   kareivja formas tērps ― soldier's uniform

2. soldier, warrior in general

   diženais kareivis aizauļo zirgā ― the great warrior galloped away on a horse

3. (figuratively) soldier, fighter (for a cause, ideal, etc.)

   mākslas kritiķis ir kareivis, kas cīnās par mākslas progresu ― the art critic is a soldier who fights for the progress of art

Declension

Declension of kareivis (2nd declension)

	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	kareivis	kareivji
accusative (akuzatīvs)	kareivi	kareivjus
genitive (ģenitīvs)	kareivja	kareivju
dative (datīvs)	kareivim	kareivjiem
instrumental (instrumentālis)	kareivi	kareivjiem
locative (lokatīvs)	kareivī	kareivjos
vocative (vokatīvs)	kareivi	kareivji

Synonyms

• cīnītājs, cīnītāja
• karavīrs
• (dated term) zaldāts