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Lithuanian Out Loud is a podcast series designed for fans of the Lithuanian language. Come along with native Lithuanian author/lawyer Raminta and her North-American husband, Jack. They'll teach you Lithuanian along with tidbits about the history and culture of Raminta's homeland - Lietuva!

Music: Vieux Farka Toure - Ana {Pocket Remix} by pocketproductions (c) copyright 2007 Licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution Noncommercial license. http://dig.ccmixter.org/files/pocketproductions/8916 Ft: Pocket (Richard Jankovich)

 

Oct 31, 2007

According to Wikipedia, in the ancient Lithuanian religion, Perkūnas is the Lithuanian God of thunder, the God of the sky, the Lord of rain, mountains, oak trees and storms.  Quite a powerful god indeed.
In songs about a “heavenly wedding" Saulė (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with Mėnulis (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword.
According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with Aušrinė (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes it. However, Mėnulis does not learn and repeats the adultery and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter Žemyna (the Earth).
In other songs Perkūnas, on the way to the wedding of Aušra (dawn; the daughter of the Sun), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits, Velnias or snakes, that usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the thunder god in the Lithuanian tradition.
Don’t you just love Lithuanian culture?
This week we’re doing a lesson we hadn’t planned to do, but since we have so many listeners from unexpected places, we’ll customize this lesson for our students who’re listening in Australia, Egypt, The Netherlands, Ireland, Botswana and Brazil.
Now, we’ve already learned how to say, for example, I’m Lithuanian or I’m English.  Let’s do our new nationalities…

First, let’s go over the vardininkas or nominative declension of the country’s names in Lithuanian.

prašom pakartoti

Egiptas                                   
Egypt

Australija                                
Australia

Nyderlandai                            
Netherlands

Airija                                      
Ireland

Botsvana                                
Botswana

Brazilija                                   
Brazil

Now, to say, “I’m from…", we use the genitive or kilmininkas.  Prašom pakartoti…

I’m from Egypt                    
Aš iš Egipto

I’m from Australia               
Aš iš Australijos

I’m from The Netherlands    
Aš iš Nyderlandų

I’m from Ireland                 
Aš iš Airijos

I’m from Botswana               
Aš iš Botsvanos

I’m from Brazil                    
Aš iš Brazilijos

Great, now let’s say “I’m Australian" or “I’m Brazilian" from a man and a woman’s perspective…

I’m Egyptian                      
Aš Egiptietis

I’m Egyptian                     
Aš Egiptietė

I’m Australian                   
Aš Australas

I’m Australian                   
Aš Australė

I’m a Dutchman               
Aš Olandas

I’m a Dutchwoman           
Aš Olandė

I’m Irish                           
Aš Airis

I’m Irish                           
Aš Airė

I’m Botswanan                 
Aš Botsvanietis

I’m Botswanan                
Aš Botsvanietė

I’m Brazilian                   
Aš Brazilas

I’m Brazilian                   
Aš Brazilė

Fantastic, now keep in mind, that later on, it might be easier if, just for fun, you “Lithuanianize" your name.  For example, I use Džiakas when I’m in Lithuania because it’s easier.  If you’re not sure how to make your name into something that makes sense in Lithuanian, just contact us and we can help.

Saulė                            
the Sun

Perkūnas                     
God of thunder

Mėnulis                         
the Moon

Aušrinė                         
the Morning Star

Žemyna                       
the Earth

Aušra                           
Dawn; the daughter of the Sun

Velnias                        
God of evil