# smags
## Latvian
### Etymology

From Proto-Baltic *smag-, from Proto-Indo-European *smog- (“such that it presses heavily; to work hard, to carry a heavy load”). The much broader range of meanings in the Lithuanian cognate was apparently also once present in its Latvian counterpart: remnants are still found in uses like smags gaiss “heavy air” = “stifling,” and, dialectally, also “fast, quick” or “intensely, a lot.” It would seem that the meaning of this word first broadened (“heavy, hard(working)” > “(to hit) heavily, hard” > “strong” > “capable, competent” > “good, nice”) and then was restricted again to “heavy.” (Alternatively, the other uses might result from Lithuanian influence.) Cognates include Lithuanian smagùs (“good, nice, pleasant; joyful, cheerful; fast, quick; strong, agile, skillful; big, intensive; sonorous; rich, well-off; severe, angry, harsh; useful, handy; heavy; stifling”), smōgti (“to hit heavily, strongly; to throw”), Ancient Greek μογέω (mogéō, “I try, strive”), σμογερόν (smogerón, “difficult, painful”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [smaks]
* This entry needs an audio pronunciation. If you are a native speaker with a microphone, please record this word. The recorded pronunciation will appear here when it's ready.

### Adjective

smags (definite smagais, comparative smagāks, superlative vissmagākais, adverb smagi)
* heavy (such that it has great weight, a large mass)
    smags akmens ― heavy stone
    smags spainis ― heavy bucket
    smaga krava ― heavy load
    smaga viela ― heavy substance
    smaga augsne ― heavy (= thick, muddy) soil
    pacelt smagu nastu ― to lift a heavy burden
    lielais āmurs bija tik smags, ka Juris to tikko ar vienu roku cēla ― the big hammer was so heavy that Juris could barely lift it with one hand
* (with numeric measurement in the accusative) heavy
    vienu kilogramu smags atsvars ― a one-kilo (heavy) weight
    divas tonnas smaga krava ― a two-ton (heavy) load
* heavy (larger, more important, more powerful than others of its kind)
    smagie tanki ― heavy tanks
    smagie ieroči ― heavy weapons
    smagā artilērija ― heavy artillery
    smagā rūpniecība ― heavy industry
    smagie ķīmiskie elementi ― heavy chemical elements
    smagie metāli ― heavy metals
    smagi, smagie joni ― heavy ions
    smagais ūdens ― heavy water (with deuterium instead of common hydrogen)
* (of the sky, clouds) heavy (giving the appearance of greater weight, larger mass)
    debesis sedza smagi mākoņi ― heavy clouds covered the sky
    debesis bija zemas, pelēkas un smagas ka piens ar svinu ― the sky was low, gray and heavy like milk with lead
* (of gases, fog, smoke, smells) heavy (concentrated, thick, dense, strong)
    migla bija smaga un bieza un apēda daudz gaismas ― the fog was heavy and thick and ate (= absorbed) a lot of light
    gaiss kļuva smags un spiedīgs, un drīz vien pārņēm nogurums ― the air became heavy and muggy, and soon the fatigue took over
    skurbināja smagā sveķu smarža ― the heavy resinous odor was intoxicating
* (of darkness, night) heavy, dark
    smaga tumsa ― heavy darkness
    tumši, smagi toņi ― dark, heavy hues, shades (of color)
    violetā ir smaga, nomācoša krāsa ― violet is a heavy, depressing color
* (of food) heavy (difficult to digest)
    paēdis smagas vakariņas, Vītols atstāja ēdienu izgarojumiem, piesātinātās viesnīcas koptelpas ― having eaten a heavy dinner, Vītols left the hotel commons saturated (with) meal fumes
* heavy, hard, tough, difficult (such that it needs great physical effort to be carried out)
    smags darbs ― heavy, hard, difficult work
    smags nobrauciens no kalna ― a difficult descent from the mountain
    smaga cīņa ― hard, difficult struggle
    dežūra bija pagadījusies smaga, pa visu nakti viņa netika aizvērusi ne acu ― her shift had been hard, she didn't close her eyes even once during the whole night
    ceļš būs smags; jātiek pāri kalnu pārejai ― the road will be heavy (= difficult); (we) will have to go over the mountain pass
* heavy, hard, tough, difficult (such that it needs great mental or emotional effort for its realization, understanding)
    smaga mācību viela ― hard, difficult learning material
    smaga izvēle ― hard, difficult choice
    smags jautājums ― hard, difficult question
    smaga izskaidrošanās ― difficult explanation
    māte ir atnākusi atrunāt dēlu no brīvdomības: tas patiesībā ir vissmagākais pārbaudījums ― the mother came to dissuade her son from free thinking: this really is the hardest, toughest challenge
    smago klusumu primais pārtrauca mehāniķis Glūda; viņš ierunājās savā vecīgi mierīgajā balsī ― the mechanic Glūas was the first to break the heavy silence; he began to speak in (his) old, calm voice
* heavy, tough, hard, severe (relating to difficulty, hardships, misery, or embarrassment, concern with some situation or event)
    smagi dzīves apstākļi ― difficult, tough living conditions
    smaga nelaime ― severe unhappiness, misery
    smaga jaunība ― difficult youth
    sevišķi smags bija pilsētnieku saimnieciskais stāvoklis... produktus nebija iespējams nopirkt ― the economic situation of the townspeople was particularly difficult: (they) could not (even) buy groceries
    šajā smagajā brīdī viņam šķita, ka vienīgais dzīves atrisinājums ir pašnāvība ― in this difficult moment it seemed to him that the only solution to life was suicide
* (of feelings, mental states) heavy, difficult, severe, gloomy (very unpleasant; implying, expressing suffering)
    smagas bēdas ― severe grief, sadness
    smags noskaņojums ― heavy, gloomy mood
    smaga nopūta ― heavy sigh
    smagas atmiņas ― heavy memories
    cilvēki var pēkšņi nosirmot smagu pārdzīvojumu ietekmē ― people can suddenly become gray(-haired) under the inluence of (= because of) heavy, difficult experiences
    Līzbete atvēra durvis plaši vaļa un teica smagā čukstā: “noliec to glāzi vienu brītiņu nost un iznāc laukā... tēvs ir nomiris” ― Līzbete opened the door wide and said in a heavy whipster: “leave this glass for a moment and come outside... father is dead”
    Vērdiņš iet un domā smagu domu... jau otro reizi savā mužā viņš nes mīļu biedru, kas kritis no vācieša lodes ― Vērdiņš walks and thinks heavy thoughts... for the second time in his life he is carrying a dear comrade who fell to the German bullets
* heavy, serious, severe, dangerous (especially dangerous or harmful to others)
    smags likuma pārkāpējs ― a dangerous criminal (lit. heavy law breaker)
    tīša slepkavība ir viens no smagākajiem noziegumiem ― deliberate homicide is one of the most serious crimes
* (of judgments, penalties) heavy, serious, strict, severe, merciless
    smags tiesas spriedums ― severe, strict judgment
    smags nosodījums ― heavy punishment, penalty
    smagi pārmetumi ― serious accusations
    vaigos sadzina asinis rupji, smagi vārdi ― the harsh, severe words made blood come to (his) cheeks
    sods nebija smags, bet pietiekams, lai atskurbtu Kristaps ― the punishment was not severe, (it was) enough to sober up Kristaps
* (of people) difficult (with whom it is difficult to communicate successfully; quarrelsome)
    biedri to uzskatīja par smagu un nebiedrisku cilvēku, jo viņš bija skarbs un mazrunīgs ― his colleagues considered him a difficult, non-social person, because he was gruff and uncommunicative
    Viktorijas raksturā ir kaut kas neizprotams un smags; Centim šķiet, ka viņai nevar uzticēties ― in Viktorija's character there is something incomprehensible and hard (= difficult to get by); it seemed to Centis that she couldn't be trusted
* heavy, serious (implying strong physical, mental or emotional pain, suffering; life-threatening)
    smags ievainojums ― heavy, serious injury
    smaga slimība ― serious illness, disease
    smaga saindēšanas ― heavy poisoning
    smaga operācija ― heavy, painful operation
    smaga depresija ― heavy, serious depression
    smags slimnieks ― severly sick person (lit. heavy patient)
    pirmdienas vakarā mūsu slimnīcā smagās dzemdībās kādai jaunai sievietei piedzima bērns ― on Monday evening in our hospital some woman gave birth to a child in a heavy, difficult delivery
* (of breath) heavy, difficult
    Ziemelis pēkšņi pieceļas, elpa viņam, nule pamanu, kļuvusi satraukta, smaga ― Ziemelis suddenly stood up, (and) his breath, I notice, has become troubled, heavy
* (of sleep) heavy, difficult
    kad uzlēca saule, viņš gāja uz mājām un, nokritis dažas stundas smagā, murgu pilnā miegā, devās atkal uz skolu ― when the sun rose, he went home and, after falling into heavy, nightmare-filled sleep for a few hours, went back to school
* (of bodies, their parts) heavy, tired, weak
    smagi plakstiņi ― heavy eyelids
    ak, cik smagas, nogurušas kājas! vai gan brīnums? ir jau tālu iets ― oh, what heavy, tired legs! is that a wonder? it has been, after all, a long way
* (of motion, actions) heavy (characterized by lack of agility or grace; slow, difficult)
    māte turpināja iet vienmuļā, smagā gaitā ― mother continued to walk in a monotonous, heavy gait
    Gundega dzirdēja, cik žēli čīkstēja kāpnes zem Ilmas smagajiem soļiem; parasti Ilma skrēja lejup pa trepēm viegli un ātri ― Gundega heard how sadly the stars crackd under Ilma's heavy steps; usually Ilma ran upstairs easily and quickly
* (of texts, words, style) heavy (difficult to follow or understand)
    smags stils ― heavy, difficult style
    smaga teikuma konstrukcija ― heavy, complex sentence construction
    viņa valoda ritēja smaga un gausa ― his language flowed heavy and sluggish
* (of sounds) low, low-pitched, hollow
    smags pērkoa dārdiens ― low thunder rumblings
    smagas egļu šalkas ― low, hollow rustling of spruce trees
    iedunējās baznīcas zvans; dobjas, smagas skaņas aizplūda pāri kalnam ― the church bell began tolling; the hollow, heavy sounds flowed over the hills
* (of weather) heavy (very unpleasant; unpleasantly strong)
    smags negaiss ― heavy storm
    smags, mitrs vējš skrien pār sniega laukiem ― a heavy, humid wind ran over the snowy countryside
    klimats Melvilas salā smags: musoni, vasaras lietus gāzes un karstums ― the climate on Melville island (is) heavy: monsoons, summer rainstorms and heat

#### Synonyms

* (of "heavy"): svarīgs (rare)
* (of "hard, difficult"): grūts, sarežģīts
* (of "heavy, difficult (breathing)"): smacīgs, spiedīgs
* (of sounds, "low", "hollow"): dobjš, zems

#### Antonyms

* viegls

#### Derived terms

* smagums

### References

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