lepns

Latvian

Etymology

From lept, now usually izlept (“to become spoiled, pampered”), with an extra -n, from Proto-Baltic *lep-, from Proto-Indo-European *lep- (“to bark, to slice, to strip, to split”). The semantic development probably was: “to bark, to strip, to slice” > “(thin) strip, piece (of bark)” > “thin, weak, fragile” > “spoiled, pampered” > “choosy, picky” > “proud, conceited.” Cognates include Lithuanian lepnùs (“fastidious, choosy; weak, fragile; arrogant, proud”), Ancient Greek λεπτός (leptós, “peeled, pared, thin, delicate; weak, sick”) (from Ancient Greek λέπειν (lépein, “to bark, to peel”)), Latin lepidus (“charming, witty; effeminate, pampered”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [læpns]

• Audio:

  (file)

Adjective

lepns (definite lepnais, comparative lepnāks, superlative vislepnākais, adverb lepni)

1. proud, haughty (showing self-awareness in one's behavior, actions, talk; showing feelings of high self-esteem, of superiority to others)

   lepna meitene ― proud girl

   citu kuģu vīri sprieda, ka jaunais kapteinis esot pārlieku lepns ― the men from the other boats thought that the new captain was too proud, haughty

   Mārtiņš bija tik laimīgs un lepns, it kā vai zirgu dabūjis uzdāvinātu ― Mārtiņš was so happy and proud, as if he had gotten a gift horse

2. proud, haughty (expressing such feelings)

   lepna gaita ― proud walk, gait

   lepns skatiens ― proud look, glance

   svinīgs un lepns izskats ― solemn and proud look, appearance

3. proud (satisfied, happy about something, someone)

   būt lepnam par saviem dēliem ― to be proud of one's sons

4. haughty, conceited, arrogant; expressing such feelings

   lepns kā pāvs ― proud as a peacock

   lepns, uzpūtīgs un lielīgs pret saviem apakšniekiem, barons atzina savus kārtas biedru pārākumu ― haughty, arrogant and boastful to his underlings, the baron recognized the superiority of the members of his social class

   es skatos, ka esi bagāts kļuvis; tā vien, ka nekļūsti vēl arī lepns ― I see that you have become rich; just don't become also proud

5. proud, elegant, splendid (well, luxuriously dressed; outstanding among others in society)

   zem egles sēž Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis un vēl viens lepns pilsonis ― under the spruce tree sat Žoržs, Einis, Kārlis and another proud, elegant citizen

6. rich, wealthy, luxurious, expensive (showing, characterized by, wealth, prosperity)

   lepna dzīve ― wealthy, luxurious life

   lepnas kāzas ― luxurious wedding

   lepna istabas iekārta ― luxurious room furniture

   lepna vāze ― luxurious, expensive vase

   “māja tev, Līze, tagad ir lepna”, mana māte sacīja Grāvītienei, kad mēs gājām cauri tai bagātībai ― “your house, Līze, is now luxurious, rich,” my mother said, while we went through those riches

7. (of animals) proud, stately, powerful

   lepns kumeļš ― proud colt

   lepni zirgi ― proud, stately horses

Declension

indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of lepns

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)		singular (vienskaitlis)	plural (daudzskaitlis)
nominative (nominatīvs)	lepns	lepni		lepna	lepnas
accusative (akuzatīvs)	lepnu	lepnus		lepnu	lepnas
genitive (ģenitīvs)	lepna	lepnu		lepnas	lepnu
dative (datīvs)	lepnam	lepniem		lepnai	lepnām
instrumental (instrumentālis)	lepnu	lepniem		lepnu	lepnām
locative (lokatīvs)	lepnā	lepnos		lepnā	lepnās
vocative (vokatīvs)	—	—		—	—

Synonyms

• (of "haughty", "arrogant"): iedomīgs, uzpūtīgs, augstprātīgs
• (of "proud", "stately"): stalts

Derived terms

• lepnība
• lepnums

Related terms

• lepoties