žinoti

Lithuanian

Etymology

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *źināˀtei, alternative form of *źnōˀtei; compare Latvian zinât (“know”), Old Prussian posinnat (“confess”), Proto-Slavic *znàti, from Proto-Indo-European *ǵn̥néh₃ti, from *ǵneh₃- (“to know”). The Baltic words are from the nasal-infixed present, *ǵn̥néh₃-, while the Slavic forms are from the aorist, *ǵnéh₃-. Cognates include Proto-Germanic *kunnaną, Sanskrit जानाति (jānā́ti, “know”), Ancient Greek γιγνώσκω (gignṓskō, “know”), Latin nōscō (“know, recognise”).

In view of the present tense and derivatives, the verb was apparently later reanalysed as containing the verbal suffix -óti.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ʒɪˈnoː.tʲɪ/

Verb

žinóti (third-person present tense žìno, third-person past tense žinójo)

1. to know (be aware of; sure of)

   Žinaũ, ką̃ galvóji. – I know what you're thinking

   Dejà, anaiptõl ne visíems nežinotinas, kur̃ šuõ pakàstas. – Unfortunately, by no means does everyone need to know the crux of the matter.

Conjugation

Derived terms

Related terms

• pažinti
• žymė
• ženklas

References