smalks

Latvian

Etymology

From Proto-Indo-European *melh₂- (“to grind, crush”), see also Ancient Greek μύλη (múlē), Old Norse mǫlr, Proto-Germanic *mildijaz (“soft, mild”).

Adjective

smalks (definite smalkais, comparative smalkāks, superlative vissmalkākais, adverb smalki)

1. fine (made up of small particles)

   smalks sniegs ― fine snow

   smalki milti ― fine flour

2. fine, thin, slender

   smalks diegs ― fine thread

   smalki mati ― fine hair

3. fine (made of slender filaments)

   smalks siets ― a fine sieve

4. fine, good, excellent

   smalks paraugs ― a fine specimen

   smalkas rotaslietas ― fine pieces of jewellery

5. subtle, delicate, precise

   smalks darbs ― delicate work

6. detailed, thorough

   smalki plāni ― detailed plans

7. keen, sharp

   smalka oža ― keen sense of smell

Declension

Indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of smalks

	masculine (vīriešu dzimte)			feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
	singular	plural		singular	plural
nominative	smalks	smalki		smalka	smalkas
genitive	smalka	smalku		smalkas	smalku
dative	smalkam	smalkiem		smalkai	smalkām
accusative	smalku	smalkus		smalku	smalkas
instrumental	smalku	smalkiem		smalku	smalkām
locative	smalkā	smalkos		smalkā	smalkās
vocative	—	—		—	—

Derived terms

• smalkums (“fineness”)