siekalas

See also: siekalās

Latvian

Siekalas

Etymology

From the same stem as slieka (“earthworm”) (q.v.), with dissimilation (*sliekalas > siekalas); note dialectal forms like sliekas (“saliva”), ultimately from Proto-Indo-European *sley- (“slimy, slippery, glide”).

The synonymous word slienas comes also from the same stem, but with an extra n instead of an extra k.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [sīɛ̄kalas]

Noun

siekalas f (4th declension)

1. (usually in the plural) saliva (secretions of the glands in the mouth)

   siekalu dziedzeri ― salivary glands

   siekalu pilieni ― saliva drops

   siekalas saskrien mutē ― saliva is flowing to (one's) mouth

   izspļaut siekalas ― to spit out saliva

   siekalas tek ― saliva is flowing (= one wants something very much)

   siekalas samitrina sauso uzturu un noskalo no mutes gļotādas kaitīgās un liekās vielas ― saliva moistens the dry food and washes away harmful substances from the mouth surface

Usage notes

A nominative singular form siekala exists but is only sporadically attested.

Declension

Declension of siekalas (4th declension)

	singular	plural
nominative	—	siekalas
genitive	—	siekalu
dative	—	siekalām
accusative	—	siekalas
instrumental	—	siekalām
locative	—	siekalās
vocative	—	siekalas

Synonyms

• slienas
• spļāviens

Related terms

• siekaļot, siekaļoties