dumjš

Latvian

Alternative forms

  • (dialectal form) dums

Etymology

Some researchers consider this term a simple borrowing from German dumm (stupid). Others derive it (and its parallel o-stem dialectal variant dums) from Proto-Baltic *dum-, *dūm-, from Proto-Indo-European *dʰu-, *dʰū- (to be dusty; to whirl; to blow), whence also dūmi (smoke) (q.v.). The original meaning, possibly influenced by dūmi, was apparently “gray, dark brown” (compare Sudovian dumo (dark)). There apparently is a relation between dark colors and the human spirit or mind (compare Sanskrit धूमः (dhūmáḥ, smoke), धूम्रः (dhūmráḥ, gray, smokey color; spiritually dazed, enchanted, obsessed), or Ancient Greek θυμιάω (thumiáō, to smoke, to puff smoke), θυμόομαι (thumóomai, to get angry)). At this point, Middle Low German dum (stupid) (compare German dumm) probably influenced the semantic development of dumjš. Cognates include Middle Low German dum, Old High German tumb, Gothic 𐌳𐌿𐌼𐌱𐍃 (dumbs).[1]

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈdumʃ/
  • Audio:(file)

Adjective

dumjš (definite dumjais, comparative dumjāks, superlative visdumjākais, adverb dumji)

  1. stupid, dim-witted, foolish, silly
    Kristiņa ir briesmīgi dumja meiteneKristiņa is a terribly silly girl
    mēs stāvējām abi vēsajā vakarā, jauni un dumjiwe both stood in the cool evening, young and stupid
    dumjš kā zābaksstupid as a boot (i.e., very stupid)
    dumjš kā ēzelisstupid as a donkey (i.e., very stupid)
  2. stupid, foolish, silly (expressing such qualities)
    dumjš skatiensstupid, goofy look
    dumja rīcībastupid, silly action, behavior
  3. stupid, foolish, silly (with contents that express such qualities)
    dumjš joksstupid, silly joke
    dumja dziesmasilly song

Declension

Indefinite declension (nenoteiktā galotne) of dumjš
masculine (vīriešu dzimte) feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
singular plural singular plural
nominative dumjš dumji dumja dumjas
genitive dumja dumju dumjas dumju
dative dumjam dumjiem dumjai dumjām
accusative dumju dumjus dumju dumjas
instrumental dumju dumjiem dumju dumjām
locative dumjā dumjos dumjā dumjās
vocative
Definite declension (noteiktā galotne) of dumjš
masculine (vīriešu dzimte) feminine (sieviešu dzimte)
singular plural singular plural
nominative dumjais dumjie dumjā dumjās
genitive dumjā dumjo dumjās dumjo
dative dumjajam dumjajiem dumjajai dumjajām
accusative dumjo dumjos dumjo dumjās
instrumental dumjo dumjajiem dumjo dumjajām
locative dumjajā dumjajos dumjajā dumjajās
vocative dumjo, dumjais dumjie dumjo, dumjā dumjās

Synonyms

Derived terms

References

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