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Lithuanian
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Antiquity of Lithuanian

Lithuanian is one of the oldest Indo-European languages that has survived. Its roots go back at least 4,000 years. Thanks to this, learning Lithuanian can be a fascinating journey in time, allowing you to explore Lithuania's rich history and culture and learn about the ancient roots of Indo-European languages.

Complicated grammar

The Lithuanian language has complex grammar with a rich inflexion system that includes numerous cases and variations. There are as many as 12 cases in Lithuanian, which is unique among Indo-European languages. For comparison, the Polish language has 7 cases. For this reason, learning Lithuanian can be a unique challenge for Poles.

Accentuation of words

In Lithuanian, as in Polish, it is important to emphasize words properly. Otherwise, there may be misunderstandings. However, Lithuanian has a more complex accent system than Polish, including tonic accent, vowel length and number of times. Mastering these rules may be the key to fluent use of the Lithuanian language.

Lithuanian Alphabet

Lithuanians use the Latin alphabet, just like Polish, but with some differences. The Lithuanian alphabet contains 32 letters, including 9 special diacritics. Learning these signs and their pronunciation is worth learning to read and write in Lithuanian correctly.

The richness of dialects

Lithuanian has a rich variety of dialects, which can be divided into two main groups: aukštaitiskai (Upper-Lithuanian) and žemaitiskai (Lower-Lithuanian). Each dialect has its own unique phonetic, grammatical and lexical characteristics, making it difficult even for native Lithuanians to understand certain dialects. For Lithuanian learners, this diversity can be a fascinating aspect of Lithuanian culture, allowing you to discover regional specificities.

Lithuanian and Latvian

Lithuanian and Latvian are the only two living Baltic languages, and although related, they differ in grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation. Therefore, for Poles learning Lithuanian, it may be interesting to compare these two languages and understand how they have evolved over the centuries.

Proverbs and Sayings

Each language has its own proverbs and sayings that reflect the community's values, beliefs and culture. Lithuanian language is no exception. 

1. "Kiekvienas kaltas savo nelaimę." - Translated to English, this proverb means "Everyone is responsible for their own misfortune." It's a reminder of personal responsibility and accountability, suggesting that our choices and actions largely determine the outcomes in our lives.

2. "Artojantis laivui, vėjas palankus." - This translates to "The wind is favorable to a ship that’s arriving." It implies that the final stretch of a task or journey often seems easier because the end is in sight, providing motivation and drive to complete the task at hand.

3. "Gerai mokantis, lengva dirbantis." - The English equivalent is "He who learns well, works easily." It suggests that a good education and knowledge make tasks easier to perform. This proverb highlights the importance of lifelong learning.

4. "Laimė mėgsta tvarką." - This proverb translates to "Luck likes order." It implies that luck or success often favors those who are organized and have their affairs in order, stressing the importance of discipline and orderliness.

5. "Pats turi žinoti, kada tau gerai." - "You have to know yourself when it’s good for you." This proverb is a reminder of the importance of self-awareness and the ability to assess and understand your own needs and well-being.

6. "Kas daug žada, tas mažai duoda." - This translates to "Who promises a lot, gives a little." It serves as a warning against those who make grand promises but seldom follow through. This proverb teaches skepticism and cautions against false promises.

7. "Ne viskas, kas auksu blizga, yra auksas." - The English equivalent is "Not all that glitters is gold." It cautions against judging things solely based on their outward appearance, as appearances can be deceptive.

8. "Geriau vėliau, nei niekada." - This translates to "Better late than never." This proverb encourages one to take action even if delayed, as it’s better to do something late than not do it at all.