sākt

The origin of this word is unclear. It may come from Proto-Indo-European *ḱek-, *kek-, *sḱek-, *skek- (“to jump”) (whence also Russian скакать (skakatʹ, “to hop, to leap”)), from which, via ablaut, *kāk- > Proto-Baltic *šak- > Latvian sākt. Others suggest a different Proto-Indo-European stem *kā-, *kō- as the source, different from that of Russian скакать (skakatʹ). The original meaning was probably “to jump,” from which “to rush, to go quickly (to do something)” > “to start, to begin.” Cognates include Lithuanian šókti (“to jump, to dance; to rush (to do something)”).^[1]

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sākt (transitive, 1st conjugation, present sāku, sāc, sāk, past sāku)

1. to begin, to start (to carry out the first steps, stages of an action)

   sākt celtniecību, sēju, pētījumu ― to begin the construction, the sowing, the research

   sākt sarunu ― to start a conversation

   sākt stastīt ― to start telling

   sākt strādāt, runāt, iet ― to start working, talking, going

   sākt vēstuli, gleznu ― to start a letter, a painting

2. to begin, to start (to participate in the first stage or phase (of work, study, etc.)

   sākt jauno mācību gadu ― to start the new school year

   lauku mājas sāka dienu ― the farmhouses started the (work) day

   sākt darba mūžu ― to start (one's) work life

3. to begin, to start (to use the first part, component(s) of something)

   sākt jaunu cigarešu paciņu ― to start a new pack of cigarettes

   sākt pēdējo maizes klaipu ― to start the last loaf of bread

4. to begin, to start (to show the first signs of (something); to do for the first time(s))

   sākt smieties ― to start laughing

   bērns sācis baidīties no suņiem ― the child began to be afraid of dogs

   sāku dusmoties uz Ilželes māti ― I began to be angry at Ilžele's mother

5. to begin, to start (to become noticeable for the first time, to show the first signs of (something))

   sāk krēslot ― it began to get dark

   uguns sāk degt ― the fire began to burn

   sniegs sāka kust ― the snow began to melt

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

• sākums