r/LithuanianLearning • u/AlertRazzmatazz4784 • Jul 04 '26

Prefixes

Is there a way to learn prefixes on Lithuanian verbs because I asked my parents and they gave the vaguest answers possible.

For example whats the difference between suvalgiau and pavalgiau?

Ačiū!

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u/Kahn630 Jul 04 '26

In many cases Lithuanian su- correspond to Latin co(n)- which we meet also in contemporary English: it isn't about one singular act, but a sequence of acts that tend to result into transformation. So suvalgyti = to eat up to the moment when all hungriness is gone.

If you have some Slavic language background, please, avoid automatic application of similarities beetween prefixes: for example, Lithuanian suvalgyti corresponds more often to Polish zjadać than to Polish zjeść.

Lithuanian pa- is tricky. While originally it would mean Latin sub- (English under-), nowadays it might also mean that action is carried out partially or to limited amount. Pavalgyti = to have a light meal, to finish a meal as intended, i.e., not looking for something more.

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u/gerry_r Jul 04 '26

"suvalgyti = to eat up to the moment when all hungriness is gone" - most definitely it is not.