# lek
## Translingual
### Symbol

lek
* (international standards) ISO 639-3 language code for Leipon.

### See also

* Wiktionary's coverage of Leipon terms

## English
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lɛk/
* Audio (US):(file)
* Rhymes: -ɛk

### Alternative forms

* laike (Yorkshire)

### Etymology 1

From Germanic roots meaning "play". In the biology sense, it comes specifically from Swedish lek (“child's play”), by means of Swedish leka (“to play”). The verb is first attested in English in 1871 and the noun at least as early as 1867.

#### Noun

lek (plural leks)
* (biology) An aggregation of male animals for the purposes of courtship and display.
** 1975, Edward O. Wilson, Sociobiology: The New Synthesis, figure caption, 2000, page 333,
    Each of the three displaying cocks occupies a small territory at the mating center of the lek.
** 1997, John Kricher, A Neotropical Companion, →ISBN, page 278:Given that a combination of factors have "released" males from attending nests, why have some species organized their courtship bouts in leks, especially the tightly clumped leks that are typical of manakins and cocks-of-the-rock?
** 2007, Kentwood D. Wells, The Ecology and Behavior of Amphibians, page 352:Nevertheless, it does appear that many of the processes of mate choice and sexual selection described for bird and mammal leks also apply to anuran choruses.

##### Derived terms

* lek paradox

##### Translations
#### Verb

lek (third-person singular simple present leks, present participle lekking, simple past and past participle lekked)
* (biology, intransitive) To take part in the courtship and display behaviour of a lek.
** 1994, M. B. Andersson, Sexual Selection, page 164:Males in many lekking species have conspicuous morphological ornaments that may be targets of female choice, but male contest competition may also be involved.
** 2000, George Barlow, The Cichlid Fishes: Nature's Grand Experiment In Evolution, page 79:The second reason lekking is so fascinating is because the males aggregate.
** 2010, Boaz Yuval, Jorge Hendrichs 17: Behavior of Fruit Fly in the Genus Ceratitis (Dacinae: Ceratitidini), Martin Aluja, Allen Norrbom (editors), Fruit Flies (Tephritidae): Phylogeny and Evolution of Behavior, page 437,
    In a recent study (Yuval et al. 1998), the size and weight of males captured either lekking or resting at the same time in the vicinity of leks were measured.
** 2010, Robert Michael Pyle, Mariposa Road: The First Butterfly Big Year, unnumbered page:Half a dozen of the thumbnail-size males lekked in a sunny glade.
* (UK, dialect, Yorkshire, colloquial) To play.
    T’lads is lekkin i t’park.

##### Translations
#### Usage notes

* A user suggests that this English entry be cleaned up, giving the reason: “clarify ‘lek’ vs ‘laik’ areas”.
* Please see the discussion on Requests for cleanup or the talk page for more information and remove this template after the problem has been dealt with.
The Yorkshire dialect word is rarely written and is pronounced differently in the different Ridings of Yorkshire. Compare laik, layk.

### Etymology 2

From Albanian lek, named after Alexander the Great, whose name is often shortened to Leka in Albanian.

#### Noun

lek (plural leks or lek or leku or lekë)
* The currency unit of Albania, divided into 100 qindarka.
** 1992, Mario I. Bléjer, Albania: From Isolation Toward Reform, page 56:With the loss of control by the Government over foreign exchange surrender requirements and the almost complete depletion of foreign exchange reserves, in early 1992 the official rate was further devalued to leks 50 = $1.
** 1997, Igor Artimiev, Gary J. Fine, Country Studies: Albania, Ira W. Lieberman, Stilpon S. Nestor, Raj M. Desai, Between State and Market: Mass Privatization in Transition Economies, page 178,
    Enterprise shares are sold at voucher auctions in exchange for either immaterial privatization leks (through a bank transfer from the bidder's privatization lek account) or through privatization vouchers, which are submitted at the time of bidding.
** 2003, Iraj Hoshi, Ewa Balcerowicz, Leszek Balcerowicz, Barriers to Entry and Growth of New Firms in Early Transition, page 253:Value Added Tax is another tax imposed on all enterprises with a yearly turnover of more than 2 million Leks. VAT was introduced in the Albanian tax system in 1995 replacing the old turnover tax.

##### Translations
### Anagrams

* elk, Elk, ELK, Kel

## Albanian
### Etymology

From Lekë, after Leka i Madh (“Alexander the Great”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈlek/
* Rhymes: -ek

### Noun

lek m (plural lekë)
* lek (the currency unit of Albania)
* money, cash
    Synonyms: para, të holla

#### Descendants

* → English: lek

### References

* ↑ Newmark, L., Hubbard, P., Prifti, P. (1982) Standard Albanian: a reference grammar for students, Stanford University Press, →ISBN, § 3.2.1 A, page 127

### Further reading

* leku on the Albanian Wikipedia.Wikipedia $^{sq}$

## Czech
### Etymology

Deverbal from lekat.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈlɛk]

### Noun

lek m inan
* Synonym of leknutí

#### Declension
### Further reading

* “lek”, in Příruční slovník jazyka českého (in Czech), 1935–1957
* “lek”, in Slovník spisovného jazyka českého (in Czech), 1960–1971, 1989
* “lek”, in Internetová jazyková příručka (in Czech), 2008–2025

## Dutch
### Pronunciation

* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -ɛk

### Etymology 1

From Middle Dutch lek, from Old Dutch *lek, from Proto-West Germanic *lek, from Proto-Germanic *lekaz; compare Old English hlec, Icelandic lekur.

#### Adjective

lek (comparative lekker, superlative lekst)
* leaky

##### Declension
### Etymology 2

From Middle Dutch lek, either a substantivization of the adjective at Etymology 1 above, or a deverbal from lecken, lēken.

#### Noun

lek n (plural lekken, diminutive lekje n)
* leak

### Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

lek
* inflection of lekken:
** first-person singular present indicative
** (in case of inversion) second-person singular present indicative
** imperative

### Anagrams

* elk

## French
### Noun

lek m (plural leks)
* lek (currency)

## Hungarian
### Pronunciation

* IPA: [ˈlɛk]
* Hyphenation: lek
* Rhymes: -ɛk

### Noun

lek (plural lekek)
* lek (the currency unit of Albania)

#### Declension
### Anagrams

* kel

## Isthmus Mixe
### Noun

lek
* toad

### References

* Dieterman, Julia, McCarty, James Michael, Jr., Castañón López, Victoriano, Castañón Eugenio, María Dolores (2018) Breve diccionario del mixe del Istmo: Mogoñé Viejo, Oaxaca (Serie de vocabularios y diccionarios indígenas “Mariano Silva y Aceves”; 52)‎ (in Spanish), Instituto Lingüístico de Verano, A.C., page 37

## Middle English
### Alternative forms

* leek, leeke, leke, leyke

### Etymology

Inherited from Old English lēac, lēc, from Proto-West Germanic *lauk, from Proto-Germanic *laukaz.

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /leːk/, /lɛːk/

### Noun

lek (plural lekes)
* A plant in the genus Allium (often used as vegetables):
** Garlic (Allium sativum)
** Leek (Allium ampeloprasum)
* (in expressions) Something of little value.

#### Related terms

* garlek
* houslek

#### Descendants

* English: leek
** → Maori: riki
* Scots: leke, leik

### References

* “lẹ̄k, n.”, in MED Online, Ann Arbor, Mich.: University of Michigan, 2007, retrieved 2018-07-26.

## Norwegian Bokmål
### Etymology 1

From Old Norse leikr.

#### Alternative forms

* leik (Nynorsk also)

#### Noun

lek m (definite singular leken, indefinite plural leker, definite plural lekene)
* play, playing
* a game, contest
    de olympiske leker ― the Olympic Games

##### Derived terms

* drikkelek
* Samveldelekene

##### Related terms

* leke

### Etymology 2

From Albanian lek.

#### Noun

lek m (indeclinable)
* the lek, currency of Albania.

### Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

lek
* imperative of leke

### References

* “lek” in The Bokmål Dictionary.

### Anagrams

* kle

## Norwegian Nynorsk
### Etymology 1

From Old Norse leikr, through Middle Low German from Ancient Greek λαϊκός (laïkós, “popular”).

#### Adjective

lek (neuter lekt, definite singular and plural leke, comparative lekare, indefinite superlative lekast, definite superlative lekaste)
* lay

### Etymology 2

From Old Norse lekr.

#### Alternative forms

* lekk (adjective and noun)

#### Adjective

lek (neuter lekt, definite singular and plural leke, comparative lekare, indefinite superlative lekast, definite superlative lekaste)
* leaky

#### Noun

lek m (definite singular leken, indefinite plural lekar, definite plural lekane)
* a leak

### Etymology 3

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.

#### Verb

lek
* inflection of leka:
** present
** imperative

### References

* “lek” in The Nynorsk Dictionary.

### Anagrams

* elk, kle

## Old Javanese
### Etymology

Unknown, probably from Proto-Mon-Khmer *leh (“to go down, go out”).

### Pronunciation

* IPA: /lɛk/

### Noun

lek
* moon; month
    Synonyms: candra, śaśi, soma, wulan, windu

#### Derived terms

* lekan
* linekakĕn
* malekan
* pĕjah lek
* tan palekan

#### Descendants

* Javanese: ꦭꦺꦏ꧀ (lék)
* → Balinese: ᬮᬾᬓ᭄ (lék, “moon; month”)

## Old Norse
### Adjective

lek
* inflection of lekr:
** positive degree strong feminine nominative singular
** positive degree strong neuter nominative/accusative plural

### Verb

lek
* inflection of leka:
** first-person singular present indicative
** second-person singular imperative

## Polish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /ˈlɛk/
* Audio:(file)
* Rhymes: -ɛk
* Syllabification: lek
* Homophones: Lek, leg

### Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *lěkъ.

#### Alternative forms

* lik (Kielce)

#### Noun

lek m inan (related adjective lekowy)
* (medicine) medicine, drug (substance which promotes healing)
    Synonyms: lekarstwo, medykament, specyfik

##### Declension
### Etymology 2

Borrowed from Albanian lek.

#### Noun

lek m animal
* lek (currency of Albania)

##### Declension
### Further reading

* lek in Wielki słownik języka polskiego, Instytut Języka Polskiego PAN
* lek in Polish dictionaries at PWN

## Samoan Plantation Pidgin
### Etymology

From English leg.

### Noun

lek
* leg, foot (of a human)
* limb (of an animal)

### References

* Mosel, Ulrike (1980) Tolai and Tok Pisin: the influence of the substratum on the development of New Guinea Pidgin (Pacific Linguistics; Series B, no. 73)‎, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN

## Serbo-Croatian
### Alternative forms

* lijȇk (Ijekavian)

### Etymology 1

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *lěkъ, borrowed from Gothic 𐌻𐌴𐌺𐌴𐌹𐍃 (lēkeis, “physician”). Compare Old Norse læknir, Old High German lahhi, Danish læge.

#### Noun

lȇk m (Cyrillic spelling ле̑к)
* medicine

##### Related terms

* liječnik, lečnik
* ljèkārna

#### References

* ↑ Petar Skok, Etimologijski rječnik hrvatskoga ili srpskoga jezika, Z., 1971, v. 2, p. 296: Obično se uzimlje da je praslavenska riječ posuđena iz gotske radne imenice lekeis

### Etymology 2

Inherited from Proto-Slavic *lěkъ, from Proto-Indo-European *loykʷós.

#### Noun

lȇk m (Cyrillic spelling ле̑к)
* little quantity
    Nema mesta ni za lek(a). ― There is absolutely no place.

##### Declension
## Slovene
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /léːk/

### Noun

lẹ̑k m inan
* medicine

#### Inflection
## Swedish
### Pronunciation

* IPA: /leːk/
* Audio (Gotland); “en lek” [ɛn̪ l̪eə̯cʰ]:(file)
* Rhymes: -eːk

### Etymology 1

From Old Norse leikr.

#### Noun

lek c
* (uncountable) (child's) play; typically denotes pleasurable and less rule-bound games and activities – "play" more in the sense of "engage in play" than "play a game"
    De iakttog barnens lekThey watched the children's play(ing)
* (countable) a particular game or activity (associated with child's play)
    Ska vi leka en lek? Vi kan låtsas vara björnar.Want to play a game? (Or, "Want to engage in a type of play?") We can pretend to be bears.
* a game, playing (more generally, sometimes with relaxed or nonchalant connotations)
    en lek med dödenplaying with death ("a play(ing) with death")
    vindens lek med löventhe wind playing with the leaves ("the wind's play(ing) with the leaves")
* a deck of cards
    Synonym: kortlek
    Hur många kort är det i leken?How many cards are in the deck?
* (biology) lek

##### Usage notes

Not restricted to children by definition, but has childish connotations. See also leka.

##### Derived terms

* barnlek
* den som ger sig in i leken får leken tåla
* fartlek
* katt-och-råtta-lek
* kattens lek med råttan
* kortlek
* kärlek
* lekfull
* leksak
* lekstuga

### Etymology 2
#### Verb

lek
* imperative of leka

### References

* lek in Svensk ordbok (SO)
* lek in Svenska Akademiens ordlista (SAOL)
* lek in Svenska Akademiens ordbok (SAOB)

## Tok Pisin
### Etymology

From English leg.

### Noun

lek
* leg, foot
** 1989, Buk Baibel long Tok Pisin, Port Moresby: Bible Society of Papua New Guinea, Jenesis 3:15:Na bai mi mekim yu i stap birua bilong meri, na meri i stap birua bilong yu. Na bai mi mekim ol lain bilong yu i birua long lain bilong meri. Bai ol i krungutim het bilong yu, na bai yu kaikaim lek bilong ol.”→New International Version translation
* footprint
* hindleg (of an animal)

### References

* Mosel, Ulrike (1980) Tolai and Tok Pisin: the influence of the substratum on the development of New Guinea Pidgin (Pacific Linguistics; Series B, no. 73)‎, Canberra: Australian National University, →ISBN

## Tzotzil
### Pronunciation

* (Zinacantán) IPA: /lɛkʰ/

### Adjective

lek
* good
    Antonym: chopol

#### Derived terms

(Verbal phrases)
* leklek ba

### References

* Laughlin, Robert M. (1975) The Great Tzotzil Dictionary of San Lorenzo Zinacantán. Washington: Smithsonian Institution Press.

## Zhuang
### Alternative forms

* lik

### Etymology

From Proto-Tai *ʰlekᴰ (“iron”), from Old Chinese 鐵 (OC *l̥ʰiːɡ, “iron”). Cognate with Thai เหล็ก (lèk), Lao ເຫຼັກ (lek), Shan လဵၵ်း (láek), Lü ᦵᦜᧅ (l̇ek), Tai Nüa ᥘᥥᥐᥱ (lěk), Ahom 𑜎𑜢𑜀𑜫 (lik), Nong Zhuang liak. Doublet of diet.

### Pronunciation

* (Standard Zhuang) IPA: /leːk˧˥/
* Tone numbers: lek$^7$
* Hyphenation: lek

### Noun

lek (1957–1982 spelling lek)
* (dialectal) iron (metal)
    Synonym: diet