This page provides the translations and phonetic pronunciation of Lithuanian words and phrases in Chapter 1. Note the spelling has been corrected to include the proper Lithuanian spelling. See the Names List to learn more about Sinclair’s orthographic confusion. The Lithuanian alphabet is included at the end to help readers when they encounter more Lithuanian phrases throughout the book!
Chapter 1 Phrases
“Eik! Eik! Uždaryk duris!”
English Translation: “Go! Go! Close the door!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: ayk! ayk! oozh-DAH-rik DOO-rees!
“Eik! Graičiau!”
English Translation: “Go! Faster!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: ayk! grai-CHOW!
“Sudiev’ kvietkeli, tu brangiausis; Sudiev’ ir laime, man biednam, Matau—paskyrė taip Aukščiausis, Jog vargt ant svieto reik vienam!”
English Translation:
“Farewell, little flower, my dearest;
Farewell and happiness, to me, poor one,
I see–thus assigned by the Highest,
That one must suffer alone in this world!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: soo-DYEV kvyet-KEH-lee, too brahn-GYOW-sees; soo-DYEV eer LAI-meh, mahn BYEHD-nahm, mah-TOW—pahs-KEE-reh taip ouk-SHCHOW-sees, yohg VARGT ahnt SVYEH-to rayk VYEH-nahm!
“Šalin! Palauk! Iš kelio!”
English Translation: “Get out! Wait! Out of the way!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: SHAH-leen! pah-LOWK! eesh KEH-lyoh!
“Ponai Jokūbai!”
English Translation: “Mr. Jokubas!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: POH-nai yoh-KOO-bai!
“Teta Elzbieta!”
English Translation: “Aunt Elzbieta!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: TEH-tah elz-BYEH-tah!
“Dėkui, tamistai!”
English Translation: “Thank you, sir!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: DEH-kuy, tah-MEES-tai!
“Durys?”
English Translation: “Door?”
Phonetic Pronunciation: DOO-rees?
“Rytoj! Priešpietys! Septyni!”
English Translation: “Tomorrow! Morning! Seven!”
Phonetic Pronunciation: ree-TOY! pree-ESH-pyeh-tees! sep-TEE-nee!
Lithuanian Alphabet
A a – a – “ah” as in ah” as in father
Ą ą – a nosinė – “ah” (longer) as in song
B b – be – “b” as in bat
C c – ce – “ts” as in cats
Č č – čė – “ch” as in check
D d – de – “d” as in dog
E e – e – “e” as in bed
Ę ę – e nosinė – “eh” (slightly longer) as in sled
Ė ė – ė – “ey” as in they
F f – ef – “f” as in fun
G g – gė – “g” as in go
H h – ha – “h” as in hat
I i – i – “i” as in bit
Į į – i nosinė – “ee” as in see
Y y – y ilgoji – long “ee” as in machine
J j – jot – “y” as in yes
K k – ka – “k” as in kite
L l – el – “l” as in love
M m – em – “m” as in man
N n – en – “n” as in net
O o – o – “o” as in or
P p – pe – “p” as in pen
R r – er – rolled “r” as in Spanish r
S s – es – “s” as in sun
Š š – šė – “sh” as in shoe
T t – te – “t” as in top
U u – u – “oo” as in put
Ų ų – u nosinė – “oo” as in moon
Ū ū – ū ilgoji – long “oo” as in food
V v – ve – “v” as in van
Z z – ze – “z” as in zebra
Ž ž – žė – “zh” as in measure