skaļš

From an earlier verb *skelt with ablaut of the stem vowel, from Proto-Baltic *skel-, from Proto-Indo-European *skel-, from *kelh₁- (“to call, to shout, to make noise, to sound”) with an extra s-mobile. The rarely attested sense of “easy to chop” comes from an unrelated, homophonous adjective mostly lost in the standard language; cf. skaldīt (“to chop”). Cognates include Lithuanian skalùs (“sonorous; loud; such that it (dog) barks often”), Lithuanian skãlyti (“to bark; to roar, to yell; to whine”) (considered by some a borrowing from Polish), Russian скули́ть (skulítʹ, “to whine”), Czech skoliti (“to bark repeatedly”), Polish skolić (“to whine”), Old Norse skjalla (“to sound, to ring, to hit noisily”), skella (“to make noise, to scold, to quarrel, to laugh noisily”), skjallr (“loud”), skal (“noise”), Old High German scellan, German schallen (“to sound”).^[1]

• IPA^(key):

This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

skaļš (definite skaļais, comparative skaļāks, superlative visskaļākais, adverb skaļi)

1. (of sounds, sound sources) loud (relatively strong; producing sounds at a relatively high volume)

   skaļš kliedziens ― loud shout, scream

   skaļi smiekli ― loud laughter

   skaļa mūzika ― loud music

   skaļa rūkoņa ― loud roar

   skaļi soļi ― loud steps

   skaļš radiouztvērējs ― loud radio set

   uzgriezt radio par skaļu ― to turn the radio too loud

   motoru troksnis kļuva skaļāks ― the motor noise became louder

   mēs tikko esam piesēdušies pie brokasta galda, kad atskan skaļš zvans un istabā iebrūk Kirils ar milzīgu mugursomu ― we had just sat down at the breakfast table when a loud bell rang and Kirils entered the room with a huge backpack

2. (of places, time periods) loud, noisy (where, when there is noise, sound at a relatively high volume)

   skaļš mežs ― noisy forest

   skaļa iela ― noisy street (because of traffic noise)

   skaļš rīts ― noisy morning

   istaba tika arvien skaļāka, sarunas raibākas un vaļīgākas ― the room became increasingly louder, noisier, the conversations more mixed and more open

3. (of people) loud, noisy (who often speaks, laughs, etc. at a high volume, with a strong voice)

   skaļs puisis ― noisy, loud boy

   skaļas meitenes ― noisy, loud girls

   sevišķi skaļš viņu vidū bija tievais un garais seminārists... viņa balss aizvien skanēja pāri visām ― among them, the thin, tall seminarist was particularly loud... his voice always sounded above all others

4. (of animals) loud (who often produces intense, sounds, usually with its voice)

   klusumu prātrauca meža balsis; visskaļākie bija strazdi ― the voices of the forest interrupted the silence; the sterlings were the loudest (ones)

5. (figuratively, of people) loud, effusive (trying to attract attention, to stand out)

   vieniem mākslinieks kā režijā, tā aktiermākslā šķiet eleganti apburošs, citiem - pārāk skaļš un drusku ārišķīgs ― to some, the artist, both in directing and in acting, seems elegantly charming; to others - too loud and a little ostentatious

6. loud, noisy, strong, intense (associated with intense external signs)

   skaļš prieks ― loud (= intense) joy

   skaļa jautrība ― loud (= intense) cheerfulness

   vakars izvērtās skaļš un jautrs; nevienam nebija garlaicīgi ― the evening turned out to be noisy and cheerful; nobody felt bored

7. (of colors) loud, intense; showing strong contrasts

   skaļas krāsas ― loud colors

8. (of words, ideas) loud (said openly, not hidden; said with intensity, strongly (and usually not justified)

   skaļas frāzes ― loud expressions

   skaļus vārdus vējš izmētā; klusie iesēžas atmiņā ― loud words are scattered (by) the wind; quiet (ones) remain in memory

9. loud, impressive (attracting attention)

   māja ir ļoti lepna... kāds advokāts to cēlis sev, cerēdams uz skaļām, ienesīgām prāvām ― the house was very proud (= imposing)... some lawyer built it, hoping for loud, lucrative cases

10. (rare, of wood, trees) easy to split, to chop

    ja malka bija laba, skaļa, tad skali plīsa paši no sevis ― if the wood was good, easy to chop, then the slivers split (off) almost by themselves

• spalgs

• kluss

• skaļrunis
• skaļums

• skanīgs