ņemt

See also: nemt

Latvian

Etymology

From the convergence of two dialectal forms, nemt and jemt, from Proto-Baltic *nem-, *yem-, two parallel forms ultimately derived from Proto-Indo-European *h₁em-, *h₁m̥- (“to take”). The reason for the existence of two parallel forms is unclear. There are several hypotheses: two independent stems that merged in pre-Proto-Indo-European; irregular palatalization of an original n- to y-, an irregular perfect form ni-em that became an independent word; derivation with (e)n- “in”, etc. Cognates include (from the full form *h₁em-) Latin emō (“to buy, to acquire”); Old Irish arfo-emet (“they take”); (from the reduced form *h₁m̥-:) Lithuanian im̃ti (via Proto-Baltic *imtei), present imù, past ėmiaũ, dialectally present also jemù, emù, jamù, imiù, past imiaũ, jėmiaũ; Old Prussian imt, Sudovian emt (maybe *jemt?); Proto-Slavic *ęti, first person singular present *jьmǫ (Old Church Slavonic ѩти (jęti), first person singular present имѫ (imǫ), Russian dialectal ять (jatʹ), standard взять (vzjatʹ, “to take”), Ukrainian я́ти (játy, “to begin”), Czech jmout (“to grab, to begin”), Polish jąć (“to grab, to take”)); (with an initial n-:), Gothic 𐌽𐌹𐌼𐌰𐌽 (niman), Old High German nēman, German nehmen, Russian dialectal нять (njatʹ) (cf. standard Russian prefixed forms like подня́ть (podnjátʹ)), Ukrainian ня́ти (njáty, “to take”), Belarusian няць (njacʹ, “to take, to grab”).^[1]

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): [ɲɛ̂mt], IPA^(key): [ɲɛ̄m̄t]

Verb

ņemt (transitive, 1st conjugation, present ņemu, ņem, ņem, past ņēmu)

to take; to seize with one's hands for some purpose
ņemt rokā lāpstu ― to take the shovel with (lit. in) (one's) hands

ņemt karoti un sākt ēst ― to take the spoon and begin to eat

ņemt adatu pirkstos ― to take the needle with (lit. in) (one's) fingers

ņemt bērnu pie rokas ― to take the child by the hand

ņem zīmuli un raksti! ― take the pen and write!

ņem medu ar karoti ― take the honey with a spoon

ņem ābolus no groza ― take the apples from the basket

ņemt nost cepuri ― to take off (one's) hat

ņemt griešanai asu nazi ― to take a sharp knife for cutting

ņemt grāmatu no bibliotēkas ― to take a book from the library

suns ņem kaulu zobos ― the dog took the bone with (lit. in) (his) teeth

Liene turēja roku izstieptu, bet Ernests vilcinājās paciņu ņemt ― Liene kept her hand stretched, but Ernests hesitated to take the packet

lūdzu, ņemiet vēl kādu konfekti! ― please, take some more candy!

karš spieda grāmatvedi ņemt rokās ieroci ― war forced the accountat to take up arms (lit. to take a weapon in (his) hands)
to take; to accept, to enjoy
ņemt dāvanas ― to take, accept presents

ņemt kukuļus ― to take, accept bribes

ņemt naudu ― to take, accept money

ņemt atvaļinājumu ― to take a vacation

ņemt saules vannas ― to take a sunbath

laimi jau vajag mācēt ņemt, dārgā, neviens to mums klāt nenesis ― we have to know how to take, seize happiness, dear, nobody is going to bring it to us

viņš savu atvaļinājumu gribēja ņemt februāra beigās ― he wanted to take his vacation at the end of February

trīs pāri apakšbikšu esmu pašuvis... bet nezinu, cik ņemt maksas ― three pairs of underpants I have sewn... but I don't know, how (much) to take (as) payment, price

gaidīt un cerēt ir labi, / un rātni ir prasīt un lūgties; / labāk ir negaidīt daudz, / neprasīt, nelūgties: ņemt ― to wait and to hope is good, / it is sensible to ask for and beg: / better is to not wait much, / to not ask, not beg: (just) take
to take; to cause someone to act in a certain way, to do a certain job; also, to hire someone, to put someone to work
ņemt meiteni dejot ― to take a girl to dance

ņemt apakšīrnieku ― to take a subtenant (i.e., to sublet)

ņemt palīgā ― to take (someone) as help, to use (someone) in some work

ņemt dzīvokļa remontam krāsotājus ― to take (= hire) painters to rennovate the apartment

es nau nezinu, vai mani ņems ― I don't know if they will take (= hire) me

gribot negribot bija jāņem zāģeri, lai sagriež dēļos ― willingly or not, (they) had to take (= hire) a carpenter to cut the boards, planks

gandrīz visos gājienos viņu ņēma par ceļvedi, un šo goda uzdevumu viņš uzņēmās labprāt ― in almost all processions they took him as a guide, and this

Marčuls zināja: šeit Randenē būs viņa pēdējais darbs... citur neviens vairs neņems baltu veci neveiklām rokām ― Marčuls knew: his last work would be here, in Randene... elsewhere nobody will take a white (= gray) old man with clumsy hands

mēs ņemam talkā matemātiku... visu, ko var pastāstīt medicīniskie dokumenti, pārtulkojam skaitļu valodā ― we took mathematics to the rescue (= used mathematics to solve the problem)... we translated everything that the medical documents could tell into the language of numbers
to take; to put someone in a certain situation, condition
ņemt aizbildnība, aizgādnība, glabāšanā ― to take into custody

ņemt gūstā ― to take into captivity

tu ņēmi mani savā aizsardzībā un aizstāvēji ― you took me under your protection and defended (me)
to take; to call for duty
ņemt armijā, karā ― to take (someone) into the army, to war

vienīgos dēlus neņēma kara dienestā ― (they) didn't take only sons to military service
to take; to marry
ņemt skaistu līgavu ― to take (= marry) a beautiful bride

ņemt vīru ― to take a husband

tu gan esi briesmīgi smuks, Belamī; varbūt tu mani par seivu ņemsi? ― you are terribly handsome, Belamī; maybe you'll take me as your wife?
(in combination with līdzi) to take along; to cause something, someone to go or be somewhere together with oneself
ņēmt ceļojumā līdzi mugursomu ― to take a backpack along to the trip

vienmēr ņēmt līdzi pulksteni ― to always take along (one's) watch

man te nepatīk; ņem mani līdzi! ― I don't like it here; take me with (you)!

ņēmt bērnus līdzi tūristu pārgājienā ― to take the children along in a tourist trip
to take, to get; to obtain something for a certain purpose, use; to learn, to hear about something
nezināt, kur ņemt naudu ― to not know where to take money (from)

ņemt citātus no dažādu autoru darbiem ― to take quotes from the works of several authors

kādu audumu ņemsi mētelim? ― which fabric will you take (= use) for the coat?

bērniem vajag skolas, apģērba, kur to visu lai ņem? ― children need school, clothes, where are you going to take (= get) all that?

bet pasakiet, kur lai mēs ņemam skolotājus? ― but tell (me), where should we take (= get, find, hire) teachers?

kur tu esi ņēmusi tādas tenkas? ― where did you take (= hear) such gossip (from)?

Annele nevar saprast, kur Lulīte ņem tādus nedzirdētus vārdus ― Annele cannot understand where Lulīte takes (= finds, hears) such unheard(-of) words
to take; to get, to obtain, to acquire, to borrow, to buy
ņemt grāmatas no bibliotēkā ― to take books from the library

ņemt kinoteātrī biļeti pēdējā rindā ― to take (= get, buy) movie tickets in the last row

ņemt piena produktus tuvējā veikalā ― to take (= get, buy) dairy products in a nearby shop

ņemt restorānā dažādus ēdienus ― to take (= buy, have) several dishes in a restaurant

kur tu ņemi tik skaistu drānu? ― where did you take (= get, buy) such beautiful cloth?
to take; to gather fruits, grains, the harvest
jā, rudens klāt; jau mātes ņem kāpostus ― yes, autumn has arrived; mothers are already taking (= gathering) cabbage

pēc skolas gāju pie saimniekiem ravēt cukurbietes, tad sienu grābt, kartupeļus ņemt ― after school I went to the farmers to weet the beets, then to rake in hay (and) take (= gather, harvest) potatoes
to take; to remove a part of, to work on, to make by removing (also figuratively, about people)
ņemt platu vālu (pļaujot) ― to take a wide swath (while mowing, reaping, harvesting)

vālu ņem tik platu, cik izkapts atļauj ― take as wide a swath as the scythe will let you

šis arkls ņem šaurāku vagu ― this plow takes (= makes) a narrower furrow

vienu dienu centrā pie ciemata aparu zemi nākamajam parkam... dziļi tur bija jāņem: četrdesmit, četrdesmit pieci centrimetri ― one day at the center by the village I plowed the land for the future park... (I) had to take (= work it) (really) deep: forty, forty-five centimeters

cilvēki nāca pie viņa un asos vārdos pārmeta, ka viņš esot par daudz mīksti ņēmis baronu, vajadzējis tūlīt vakarā prasīt atbildi ― people came to him and complained with sharp words that he had taken (= treated) the baron too softly, (he) should have demanded an immediate answer, that (same) evening
to take; to shoot, to kill someone, to “take someone out”
“ES ņemšu malējo, lai tas neielec krūmos”, Līdaka pačukstēja Amatniekam, kas jau bija sagatavojies šaušanai ― “I will take (= shoot) the one (German soldier) further away, so that he doesn't jump into the bushes,” the Pike whispered to the Craftsman, who was ready to shoot
(in combination with a verb) used to reinforce the intensity or suddenness of the action; to up and…
ņemt un izdarīt ― to up and do it

ņemt aiziet uz teātri ― to up and go to the theater

viņš ņēma un pateica visu ― he up and said everything

tā ir pirmā reize, kad Valdis ņēmis viņu nopēlis, līdz šim viņš uz meiteni skatījies gandrīz ar apbrīnu ― this is the first time that Valdis up and (= really) gave her a reprimand, up until then he had rather looked at the girl with admiration
to take, to consider, to treat, to accept (something as something)
ņemt dzīvi tādu, kāda tā ir ― to take life as it is

ņemt ļaunā, par ļaunu ― to take (something) badly (= to be offended)

ņemt par labu ― to take (something) well (= to consider it good)

ņemt viegli ― to take (something) lightly

ņemt nopietni ― to take (something) seriously

juridiski ņemot ― juridically taking (= speaking)

vienu istabu ierīkoju par savu buduāru, ņemdama paraugam Laines istabu ― I will decorate one room as my boudoir, taking as example Laine's room

vispār ņemot, dzīvnieku valodai piemīt sugu specifika: līdzīgs sazinās ar līdzīgu ― generally speaking (= taking), animal language is essentially about the specific: similar is connected to similar

vai tā bija laime? jā, protams; visu savu dzīvi kopā ņemot, viņš nevarēja to nosaukt citādi kā par laimīgu ― was that happiness? yes, of course; taking all life together (= into account), he could not call it anything but happy
(of animals, especially fish) to take, to get and eat; to bite
labi zināms: dienas vidu līdakas neņem ― (it is) well known: in the middle of the day, pikes don't bite

vasarā bija daudz zivju, bet tagad rudenī mēs braucam ar velci, un mūsu vizulīti neņem neviena pati ― at the creek in summer there were many fish, but now in autumn we go with a draging pen, and not one (of the fish) takes (= bites) our little bait
(colloquial, of sharp tools) to cut
Uģis atvāza savu kabatas nazi un pārbaudīja asmeni... “ņems labi”, nosprieda ― Uģis opened his pocket knife and examined the blade... “it will take (= cut) well,” he thought

šķembu bojāts zāģis vairs nav uzasināms, jo vīle tādus zobus neņem ― the saw damaged by splinters can no longer be sharpened, because the file won't take (= sharpen) such teeth

jaunais vīles pirms lietošas vienmēr ieberzējamas ar krītu vai koka ogli, lai tās sākumā tik asi neņemtu ― new files before being used are always rubbed with chalk or charcoal, so that they don't take (= cut) so sharply at first (use)
(often with nost) to take away; to cause someone to lose something
karš pirmo dēlu ņēma mātei; no frontes nāca nāves ziņa ― the war took mother's first son; the news of (his) death came rom the front

cilvēks visu var aizliegt, visu var aizturēt, bet ne domāšanu, jo tad jāņem pati dzīvība papriekšu ― you can prohibit everything, stop everyghing, but not thought, because then you have to take life (= kill) before (you can do that)

Marga ir mana tēva drauga meita; bet viņa tev Hariju nost neņems, viņai ir līgavainis ― Marga is my father's friend's daughter; but she will not take Harry away (from) you, she (already) has a fiancé
(dated sense) to take a path, road, direction, to set off in some direction
Antiņš ņēma ceļu uz māju taisni pār purvu ― Antiņš took path (= set off toward) home straight across the swamp

droši vien prātīgāk būtu uzreiz ņemt uz dienvidiem un tādā veidā saīsināt ceļu ― it would probably be wiser to just take (= set off, go) south and thus shorten the way

Conjugation

conjugation of ņemt

	INDICATIVE (īstenības izteiksme)				IMPERATIVE (pavēles izteiksme)
		Present (tagadne)	Past (pagātne)	Future (nākotne)	IMPERATIVE (pavēles izteiksme)
1st pers. sg.	es	ņemu	ņēmu	ņemšu	—
2nd pers. sg.	tu	ņem	ņēmi	ņemsi	ņem
3rd pers. sg.	viņš, viņa	ņem	ņēma	ņems	lai ņem
1st pers. pl.	mēs	ņemam	ņēmām	ņemsim	ņemsim
2nd pers. pl.	jūs	ņemat	ņēmāt	ņemsiet, ņemsit	ņemiet
3rd pers. pl.	viņi, viņas	ņem	ņēma	ņems	lai ņem

RENARRATIVE (atstāstījuma izteiksme)			PARTICIPLES (divdabji)
Present	ņemot		Present Active 1 (Adj.)		ņemošs
Past	esot ņēmis		Present Active 2 (Adv.)		ņemdams
Future	ņemšot		Present Active 3 (Adv.)		ņemot
Imperative	lai ņemot		Present Active 4 (Obj.)		ņemam
CONDITIONAL (vēlējuma izteiksme)			Past Active		ņēmis
Present	ņemtu		Present Passive		ņemams
Past	būtu ņēmis		Past Passive		ņemts
DEBITIVE (vajadzības izteiksme)			NOMINAL FORMS
Indicative	(būt) jāņem		Infinitive (nenoteiksme)		ņemt
Conjunctive 1	esot jāņem		Negative Infinitive		neņemt
Conjunctive 2	jāņemot		Verbal noun		ņemšana

Synonyms

grābt
tvert

Derived terms

prefixed verbs:

other derived terms:

ņemties

References

^ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “ņemt”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎^[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN

[1] Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “ņemt”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎^[1] (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN

[1]