# kāja
## Latvian

Picture dictionary :
kāja
celis
potīte
celis
potīte
gurns
ciska
celis
ikri
potīte
pēda :
* Kāja
* loceklisloceklis
* ķermenisķermenis

### Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *kāy-a, from Proto-Indo-European *kāi-, a stem of unclear origin. It is possible that the initial *k is an irregular reflex of an earlier *gʷ, in which case Latvian kāja and its cognates might be derived from Proto-Indo-European *gʷā- (“to come, to go”); compare Latvian kāja : gāja (“he went”) with Sanskrit कायः (kā́yaḥ, “body, flesh”) : गयः (gājaḥ, “gait, motion”). Another hypothesis suggests a connection between Latvian kāja and Ancient Greek κίω (kíō, “to go”), κινέω (kinéō, “to move, too put in motion”), Latin cieō (“to move”). Cognate include Lithuanian koja, Sudovian kaj ([kāj(a)]), Sanskrit कायः (kā́yaḥ, “body, flesh”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [kāːja]
* Audio:(file)

### Noun

kāja f (4th declension)
* (anatomy) leg, foot (people's lower limb, organ of support and locomotion)
    spēcīgas, slaidas kājas ― strong, slender legs
    plata, maza kāja ― wide, small foot
    kāju pirksti ― toes (lit. leg/foot fingers)
    aut kājas ― to put shoes on (lit. to shoe (one's) leg/foot)
    atputināt kājas ― to rest one's legs/feet
    lēkāt uz vienas kājas ― to jump on one leg/foot
    kāju slauķis, kājslauķis ― doormat (lit. foot wipe)
    koka kāja ― wooden leg (primitive prosthesis)
    no galvas līdz kājām ― from head to toe (lit. to leg/foot)
    viņam veiklas, vieglas kājas ― he has agile, light legs (he walks easily)
    spēlēt futbolu bez kāju sargiem ir diezgan bīstami ― to play football/soccer without leg protection is quite dangerous
    Juris kādu rītu uzāva kājās garos, melnos zābakus ― every morning, Juris put long, black boots on (his feet)
    mežā pavisam tumšs... mēs ar Ati ejam lēni, taustīdamies, kājas augstu celdami ― in the forest it was dark... Atis and I walked slowly, gropingly, lifting (our) legs high
* (anatomy) leg, foot (corresponding organ in animals)
    zirga kāja ― horse's leg
    dzērves kāja ― crane's leg
    zirneklis ar garām kājām ― a spider with long legs
* (in the locative, used adverbially) standing on one's feet; up (awake)
    celties, lēkt, stāvēt kājās ― to stand up, to jump, to stand on one's feet
    suns uzslējās kājās ― the dog sat on (his) legs
    viņš šorīt agri kājās ― he (is) up early this morning
* (in the instrumental plural, used adverbially) on foot, walking
    iet kājām ― to go on foot
    viņš devās uz māju kājām ― he went home on foot
* footwear (usually while being worn)
    lai noslaukot kājas... ― in order to wipe (their) shoes,...
    meitene nokrata salijušo lietussargu, notīra dubļainās kājas ― the girl shakes the rained-on umbrella, cleans the muddy shoes
* (on objects) leg (a support similar to a human or animal leg)
    galda kāja ― table leg
    gultas kāja ― bed leg
    vēl te bija seši krēsli ar liektām kājām, apvilkti ar zaļu zīdu ― there were still six chairs with curved legs, upholstered in green silk
    šampanieša glāze var būt vai nu augsta un šaura, vai arī lēzena, bet uz augstas kājas ― a champagne glass may be either tall and narrow or flat, but (it has always) a long leg

#### Usage notes

Latvian kāja, refers both to a person's entire leg and more specifically to a person's foot; context usually clarifies which interpretation is best. It is the most frequent term in both senses. The word pēda, though sometimes translatable as “foot,” refers more specifically to the sole of the foot (and also to footprints). In the sense of "footwear", kāja (usually plural: kājas) is less frequent than apavs.

#### Synonyms

* (of "foot"): pēda
* (of "footwear"): apavs

#### Derived terms

* kājām
* kājnieks, kājniece

#### Related terms

* kājot

### References

* ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992) “kāja”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca‎ (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, →ISBN