galva

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *galˀwā́ˀ.[1]

• IPA^(key): [ɡɑ̂ɫva]

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galva f (4th declension)

1. head (top or front of the body, where the brain is located)

   cilvēka, suņa, čūskas galva ― a human, dog's, snake's head

   galvas muskuļi ― head muscles

   pagriezt galvu ― to turn one's head

   pamāt ar galvu ― to nod one's head

   saņemt galvu rokās ― to take one's head in one's hands

   purināt, kratīt galvu ― to shake one's head

   galva sāp ― the head hurts

   galvas tabletes ― head(ache) tablets, pills

2. hair, feathers (on the head)

   sirma galva ― gray hair

   mazgāt galvu ― to wash one's hair

   sukāt, ķemmēt galvu ― to brush, to comb one's hair

   galva balta kā ābele ― hair as white as an apple tree

3. on, or around, the head (1)

   likt cepuri galvā ― to put a hat on one's head

   siet lakatu galvā ― to tie a scarf around one's head

4. life

   riskēt ar savu galvu ― to gamble with one's head (= life)

5. mind, intelligence, understanding, memory

   gaiša, gudra galva ― bright, smart head

   cilvēks ar galvu ― a person with head (= wise, intelligent)

   zināt no galvas ― to know (something) from the head (= by heart)

   rēķināt galvā ― to calculate in one's head

   paturēt skaidru galvu ― to keep a clear head (= remain calm)

6. top (especially round) part of an object

   naglas, skrūves galva ― the head of a nail, a screw

   āmura, cirvja galva ― the head of a hammer, an axe

7. authoritative person, boss, leader

   valdības galva ― the head of the government

   ģimenes galva ― the head of the family

8. a person or animal as a counting unit

   septiņu galvu liela ģimene ― a family with seven heads (= members)

• galvaspilsēta

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *galˀwā́ˀ.

• (nominative singular) IPA^(key): [ɡɐɫ̪ˈvɐ]
• (instrumental/vocative singular)

This entry needs pronunciation information. If you are familiar with the IPA then please add some!

galvà f (plural galvos) stress pattern 3

1. (anatomy) head (top part of the body)
2. (figuratively) mind (intelligence, memory)

   Synonyms: prõtas (“mind”), aumuõ (“mind”), intelèktas (“intellect”), smẽgenys (“brain”)

   Ką turì galvojè? ― What do you mean? (literally, “What do you have in mind?”)

   Kokià pirmà mintìs ateĩna į̃ gálvą? ― What is the first thought that comes to mind?

   Jìs tùri labaĩ gẽrą gálvą. ― He has a very good mind [memory, intelligence].

   Tókias mintìs reĩkia mèsti ìš galvõs. ― Such thoughts need to be put out of one's mind.

   • 1939, Antanas Maceina, Pedagogikos istorija‎, Kaunas: Žaibo bendrovė:

     Visa mokiniai turėjo mokytis iš galvos, nes vadovėlių anuo metu romėnai dar neturėjo.

     The pupils had to learn everything by heart [literally head], as textbooks were not yet available to the Romans at that time.

3. leader (person in charge, with authority)

   Synonyms: vãdas, vadõvas, lýderis, vir̃šininkas, vyresnỹsis

   šeimõs galvà ― the head of the family

• galvóti (“to think”)

• “galva”, in Lietuvių kalbos žodynas [Dictionary of the Lithuanian language], lkz.lt, 1941–2024