# zems
## English
### Noun

zems
* plural of zem

## Latvian
### Etymology

From the same stem as zeme (“land”), of which it is an adjectival form. Cognates include Lithuanian žẽmas, Old Prussian semmai (adverbial form).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [zæms]
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### Adjective

zems (definite zemais, comparative zemāks, superlative viszemākais, adverb zemu, zemi)
* low, short (having relatively little distance from top to bottom; having low height)
    zems sols, galds ― low bench, table
    zema gulta, sēta ― low bed, fence
    zems pakalns ― low hill
    zemi pakāpieni ― low stairs
    zābaki ar zemiem papēžiem ― boots with low heels
    saimniece ir zema un kupla kā tējas rožu krūms ― the landlady is short and round like a tea rose bush
    durvis šķūnim bija zemas; izejot vajadzēja stipri saliekties ― the barn door was low; (when) going out, (one) had to bend
* low (having lower height than the average individual of its type)
    zemais bērzs ― low birch tree
    zemie ķirši ― low cherry trees
    vairums mūsu kultūras ābeļu cēlušās no Dienvideiropā augošās zemās ābeles ― most of our cultures of apple trees have developed from low apple trees (that) grow in Southern Europe
* low (located relatively close to the floor, or to the ground, a surface of water, etc.)
    klēts ar zemām sijām ― a barn with low beams
    pāri jūrai uz krasta pusi nāca zemi mākoņi ― over the sea, from the coast side, low clouds were coming
* low (located close to the horizon)
    zemā ziemas saule auksti spīdēja starp kokiem ― the low winter sun shone coldly between the trees
* low (situated at a level below that of the rest of the landscape)
    zema pļava ― low meadow
    kad pāriet pār upi, sākas zems, sīkiem alkšņiem klāts līdzenums ― when one goes across the river, (there) starts a low plain, covered with small alder trees
* low, small, not important; not reaching the normal level
    zems piena izslaukums ― low milk yield
    zemas cenas ― low prices
    zems spiediens ― low pressure
    zems strāvas spriegums ― low voltage (lit. low current tension)
    zema temperatūra ― low temperature
    zems gaisa mitrums ― low air humidity
    zems prestižs ― low prestige
    zema kvalitāte ― low quality
    zema dienesta pakāpe ― low service level
    zemas prasības ― low requirements
    matrožiem un citiem kuģa strādniekiem ir zemas algas ― the sailors and other ship workers have low wages
* low (not satisfying certain requirements or expectations)
    zems kultūras līmenis ― low level of culture
    zems dzīves līmenis ― low level of life
    zema iglītība ― low education
    priekšsēdētājs runā par zemu darba disciplīnu ― the president is talking about the low level of discipline
* (of people) low (not having a respectable or important position in society, at work, etc.)
    zems amats ― low (= unimportant) office, position
    zemas kārtas ļaudis ― low class people
    uz Ģertrūdes ielas es panācu pusmūža vīrieti, kādu zemu ierēdni ― on Ģertrūde street I met a middle-aged man, some low official
* low, shallow, unworthy, unimportant
    mana dzīve, tu to par seklu nosauci, par zemu ― my life, you call it shallow, low
    prāts lai zemākās lietas šķir, augstās šķir likteņa iegriba! ― let the mind resolve the lower things, the higher ones will be resolved by the caprices of fate
* low (not respectful; not following accepted norms)
    “zemā stila” vārdi ― low style words
* (music, notes, voices) low, deep (having sounds from the lower octaves)
    zemais alts ― low alto
    zemais do ― low do (= low C)
    viņai bija zema un klusa balss ― she had a deep, quiet voice
    dziedot zemās skaņas krūšu reģistrā, dziedātājam vispirms jābūt sajūtai, ka skaņa it kā rodas un atbalsojas krūtīs ― (when) singing in the low=sound chest register, the singer must first have the feeling that the sound arises and echoes in (his) chest
* low (expressing the opinion that something is low, shallow, unworthy, unimportant)
    zems novērtējums ― low estimation, opinion
    novērtēt pretinieku par zemu, tas vienmēr is bīstami ― to evaluate an opponent as low (= unimportant), this is always dangerous
* low, dishonest, cruel, immoral, ignoble; expressing such qualities
    zems cilvēks ― low, immoral person
    zemi nodomi ― low, immoral intentions
    zema rīcība ― low, immoral action
    tu esi zems cilvēks, Fēlikss Vilde; gļēvulis un blēdis ― you are a low person, Fēlikss Vilde; a coward and a swindler
    tad nāca cieti, zemi, nežēlīgi, tumsas aizklāti vārdi ― then came hard, low, cruel, darkness-covered words

#### Antonyms

* augsts

#### Derived terms

* zemisks, zemiskums
* zemūdene
* zemums
* zemup

#### Related terms

* zem
* zeme

#### See also

* leja, lejā, lejup

### References

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