Lithuanian is often described as "the Latin of living languages" , it is the modern Indo-European language that has preserved the most features of Proto-Indo-European, the ancestral tongue from which virtually all European languages descend. Linguists from around the world study Lithuanian to understand how our ancestors spoke 5,000 years ago.

Vilnius, the baroque capital, is one of the most beautiful cities in Central Europe. This guide will give you the tools to greet naturally in this Baltic nation of 2.8 million people.

Browse our Lithuanian vocabulary guide and our Lithuanian language page to continue your learning after these greetings.

  1. Labas , The Universal Greeting
  2. Greetings by Time of Day
  3. Kaip sekasi , How Are You?
  4. Lithuanian: A Living Fossil Language
  5. Practical Expressions
  6. Lithuanian Culture

Labas , The Universal Greeting

Labas (pronounced LA-bas) is the most common and easiest Lithuanian greeting to remember. It comes from labas (good, well) , an etymology found in almost all Indo-European languages (Latin laetus, English love, Russian лучше...).

Pronunciation

  • La: simple la
  • bas: bas, the "a" is open
  • Stress on the first syllable: LA-bas

Forms Depending on Gender

Lithuanian agrees greetings:

  • Labas! , neutral, can be addressed to anyone
  • Labas (to a man) / Laba (to a woman) , in fuller phrases
  • Sveikas! (SVEI-kas) , to a man, informal
  • Sveika! (SVEI-ka) , to a woman, informal
  • Sveiki! (SVEI-ki) , to multiple people or formal

Informal Greeting

Among young people and close friends, Čiau (chow, from the Italian "ciao") is very popular , used for both hello and goodbye.

Greetings by Time of Day

Lithuanian Pronunciation Time Meaning
Labas rytas LA-bas RI-tas Morning Good morning
Laba diena LA-ba DYEN-a Daytime Good day
Labas vakaras LA-bas VA-ka-ras Evening Good evening
Labanakt la-ba-NAKT Night Good night
Viso gero vi-SO gheh-RO Leaving Goodbye (lit. "all the best")

Gender Agreement

Notice how labas (masculine) is used with rytas (morning, masculine) and vakaras (evening, masculine), while laba (feminine) is used with diena (day, feminine). Lithuanian is a strictly grammatically gendered language.

Kaip sekasi , How Are You?

Lithuanian Pronunciation Meaning
Kaip sekasi? kaip seh-KA-si How are things going? (informal)
Kaip laikotės? kaip lai-KO-tehs How are you? (formal)
Kas naujo? kas now-YO What's new?

Common Responses

Lithuanian Pronunciation Meaning
Gerai, ačiū gheh-RAI, a-CHOO Fine, thanks
Puikiai POOIK-yai Excellent
Šiaip taip shyaip taip So-so
Nieko ypatingo nyeh-ko i-PA-ting-o Nothing special

Ačiū (thank you) , pronounced a-CHOO. Absolutely worth learning. The "č" = "ch," the "iū" = diphthong "you."

Lithuanian: A Living Fossil Language

The Latin Connection

Researchers have shown that certain Lithuanian words resemble Sanskrit and classical Latin more than their equivalents in other modern languages. Examples:

  • Dievas (God in Lithuanian) ≈ Deus (Latin) ≈ Deva (Sanskrit)
  • Ugnis (fire) ≈ Ignis (Latin) ≈ Agni (Sanskrit)
  • Avis (sheep) = identical to Latin avis (bird, same root)

The Tonal System

Like Latvian, Lithuanian has a tonal distinction (musical accent) between falling and prolonged tones. A direct inheritance from Proto-Indo-European.

Seven Grammatical Cases

Lithuanian has 7 cases with multiple endings , a complexity that delights linguists and humbles learners. But for greetings, there's no need to master the grammar!

No Direct Word for "Please"

Lithuanian uses prašau (pra-SHOW), which comes from the verb "to ask/pray" , a different way of thinking about politeness.

Practical Expressions

Lithuanian Pronunciation English
Ačiū a-CHOO Thank you
Labai ačiū LA-bai a-CHOO Thank you very much
Prašau pra-SHOW Please / You're welcome
Atsiprašau at-si-pra-SHOW Excuse me
Taip taip Yes
Ne neh No
Labai malonu LA-bai ma-LO-noo Nice to meet you
Viso gero vi-SO gheh-RO Goodbye
Į sveikatą! in svei-KA-ta Cheers!

Lithuanian Culture

Resistance as Identity Lithuania has endured successive occupations , the Teutonic Knights, Poland, Tsarist Russia, the Soviet USSR. Resistance and the preservation of language and culture are at the heart of Lithuanian national identity. The "Baltic Way" of 1989 (a human chain of 700 km linking Tallinn, Riga and Vilnius) remains a global symbol.

Faith and Catholicism Unlike its Estonian and Latvian neighbours (who are Protestant), Lithuania is predominantly Catholic , an identity close to neighbouring Poland. The Hill of Crosses (Kryžių kalnas), covered with thousands of crosses, is a site like no other in the world.

Vilnius: The Northern Rome Vilnius has the largest Baroque old town in all of Northern Europe. Its narrow streets, hidden courtyards and literary cafés recall Prague or Kraków in their authenticity.

Basketball as Religion Basketball is the Lithuanian national sport , with a passion that far exceeds football. International matches literally bring the country to a standstill. Talk basketball and you'll have friends for life.

Conclusion

Lithuanian is a language that transports you to the past while anchoring you in a vibrant, modern culture. Labas, Ačiū and Viso gero will open the first doors to a Lithuania often overlooked by English-speaking travellers. Vilnius deserves as much attention as Prague or Budapest , and with a few words of Lithuanian, you'll see a country that few have truly encountered.

Ready to explore Lithuanian? Join our courses with teachers from Vilnius, passionate about their ancient language.

Sources and References

Further Reading