zvīņa
See also: zvīna, zvīnā, and zvīņā
Latvian
![](Images/wiktionary/Fish_scales.jpg.webp)
Zivju zvīņas (1)
![](Images/wiktionary/Pomme_de_pin_pignon.jpg.webp)
Čiekura zvīņas (2)
Alternative forms
- (dialectal forms) zvīna, zvīne, zvīnis
Etymology
From Proto-Baltic *žu(w)- (with the suffixes *-in and (feminine) *-(y)a), from the same stem as Latvian zivs (“fish”) (q.v.).[1]
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): [zvīːɲa]
Noun
zvīņa m
- (dialectal form) genitive singular form of zvīnis
zvīņa f (4th declension)
- (chiefly in the plural) scales (little bone-like plates that cover and protect the body of fish, reptiles, etc.)
- raga zvīņas ― bone scales
- zivju zvīņas ― fish scales
- zivis ar spožām zvīņām ― fish with shiny scales
- nokasīt zvīņas ― to scrape off the scales
- zvīņu karpa ― scaly carp (breed of carp with smooth, golden scales)
- (chiefly in the plural) scales (diverse more or less flat growths on various plant organs; small, reduced plant organs or their parts)
- čiekura zvīņas ― pine cone scales
- tas bija vecs dīķis, zaļām aļģu zvīņām klāts ― it was an old pond, covered with green algae scales
- sīpols var būt līdz 7 cm garumā un līdz 3 cm diametrā, to klāj brūnas zvīņas ― an onion can be up to 7 cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter, covered by brown scales
- (chiefly in the plural) scale-like parts, layers (on a substance)
- plānas kārtainas ledus zvīņas ― thin, laminated ice scales (on a puddle)
- tā sastāv no sīkām zvīņām, kas ir kristāliskā grafīta kārtas ― it consists of tiny scales, which are the layers of crystalline graphite
- (chiefly in the plural) skin flakes, scales (made of dead skin cells)
- blaugznu zvīņas ― dandruff scales, flakes
- sausa āda ir jutīga, caurspīdīga, dažreiz tā viegli lobās, it kā būtu noklāta ar zvīņām ― dry skin is sensitive, clear, sometimes it sheds easily, as if it were covered with scales
Usage notes
In all senses, the plural forms (zvīņas, etc.) are much more frequently used than the singular forms (zvīņa, etc.).
Declension
Declension of zvīņa (4th declension)
singular (vienskaitlis) | plural (daudzskaitlis) | |
---|---|---|
nominative (nominatīvs) | zvīņa | zvīņas |
accusative (akuzatīvs) | zvīņu | zvīņas |
genitive (ģenitīvs) | zvīņas | zvīņu |
dative (datīvs) | zvīņai | zvīņām |
instrumental (instrumentālis) | zvīņu | zvīņām |
locative (lokatīvs) | zvīņā | zvīņās |
vocative (vokatīvs) | zvīņa | zvīņas |
Derived terms
- zvīņains
References
- Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “zvīņa”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN