-->

Introduction to Lithuanian Basics:
Lesson 25

By Linas

First, let’s learn the word for frequent.

The Lithuanian word for frequent is dažnas.

Of course, ž is pronounced like in pleasure.

The word looks pretty interesting to me. If you often have to dash to places because you are late, you will remember this word.

Try using it:

Good weather is frequent here.

Answer: Geras oras čia yra dažnas.
Not correct. Please try again.

Now, do you remember that if you want to make it into frequently, you would get the female version of the word dažnas and add the Lithuanian ly which is ai. Do so:

Frequently

Answer: Dažnai
Not correct. Please try again.

The word dažnai means frequently or often.

These two meanings are closely related so now you know them. The word dažnai, just like the word rytoj and other words that describe time, likes to sneak in in the beginning of the sentence even before tai. Try to use this word. First, do you remember how to see:

He sees.

Answer: Jis mato.
Not correct. Please try again.

Now, use the word often:

I often see it.

Answer: Aš dažnai tai matau.
Not correct. Please try again.

Use your head and say:

I often think about it.

Answer: Aš dažnai galvoju apie tai.
Not correct. Please try again.

In the last phrase, you could say aš dažnai galvoju apie tai or aš dažnai apie tai galvoju: there is no real difference.

In fact, if we are really talking about frequency, I want to tell you something.

First, remember the Lithuanian word for is:

He is.

Answer: Jis yra.
Not correct. Please try again.

As a matter of fact, there is another Lithuanian word for “is”. This word is very easy to understand: it works the same way as yra except it has a nuance for frequency.

The Lithuanian word for is used when you talk about things you do repeatedly is būna.

Now, if you remember, that ū is pronounced like oo in boot.

The word būna is not obligatory and you can choose to simply say yra if you don’t want to use it. In fact, būna isn’t used very often (see the irony?). In theory, however, when you talk about things that occur more than once, you use this word.

Try to use būna and say:

He is often here.

Answer: Jis dažnai čia būna.
Not correct. Please try again.

You can of course use this word for other people I, you, etc. as well if you change the ending (notice: it’s an a word). Try using būna to say:

I am often here.

Answer: Aš dažnai čia būnu.
Not correct. Please try again.

Talk informally to a woman:

You are often good but you are often bad.

Answer: Tu dažnai būni gera, bet tu dažnai būni bloga.
Not correct. Please try again.

Finally, a question to jūs (just use rising intonation):

Are you often here?

Answer: Jūs dažnai čia būnate?
Not correct. Please try again.

So, now you know the word for is when you talk about frequent things. In fact, this word is not something very important in itself and I probably wouldn’t have taught it. There is, however, one thing where the word būna is handy and you’ll learn it in the next lesson.