Going to Lithuania? Learning how to say how are you in Lithuanian is a polite, respectful and touching way to start a conversation with the people you meet. The most common phrase is Kaip sekasi?, and there are several others for friends, family and more formal moments.
Asking someone how they are is one of the basic expressions you learn as a beginner. It is not only a form of greeting but also a form of respect, politeness and, most of all, concern.
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What Are The Different Ways To Say How Are You In Lithuanian?
In past blogs, you have learned basic greetings in the Lithuanian language, such as:
- Welcome: Sveiki atvykę
- Hello / Hi: Labas
- Good morning: Labas rytas
- Goodbye: Viso gero / Iki pasimatymo!
- Good night: Labanakt
These greetings are essential to daily conversations and make an excellent icebreaker. Asking how are you is different and deeper: it aims to know what the other person is up to or how they have been doing recently. It is also a way of asking, “Are you okay?”
Practice the pronunciation properly to avoid misunderstandings, and if you slip, you can always say sorry in Lithuanian. Here are the different ways to say how are you in Lithuanian.
1. Kaip Sekasi?
This is the most common way to say how are you in the Lithuanian language, so if you are a beginner, learn this one first. You might also hear Kaip tau sekasi? and Kaip einasi? These phrases are used interchangeably to say “How are you?” or “How is it going?”
It can also be used when introducing yourself. It is usually followed by the phrase Mano vardas yra ____, which means “My name is ___” in English.
2. Kaip Gyvuojate?
Remember the iconic line from Joey, a character in the hit sitcom Friends? If you want to say it in Lithuanian, use Kaip gyvuojate? This expression means “How are you doing?” in English.
It is more formal than the first one, and it is in plural form. You can use it in a situation like visiting relatives you haven’t seen for a long time.
3. Kaip Reikalai?
If you want to go a bit informal with your close friends, family members and relatives, you can use Kaip reikalai? This means “What’s up?” in English.
4. Kas Naujo?
Suppose you’re talking to someone you see almost every day but rarely talk to, and you can’t find the right words to start the conversation. You can add Kas naujo? to your Lithuanian vocabulary, which means “What’s new?” in English. Asking someone what’s new will make them think of something good that happened recently.
5. Ar Tau Viskas Gerai?
It feels good when people want to know if you are okay. If you feel like someone is having a bad day or going through a hard situation, it would be nice to ask them, Ar tau viskas gerai? This is another way to ask how are you in Lithuanian, and it means “Are you okay?”
6. Kaip Praėjo Tavo Diena?
You will usually hear this at home when families are having dinner, or when a couple is talking before going to bed. Kaip praėjo tavo diena? means “How was your day?” in English. After a long day, it is nice to have someone who will listen to how your day went.
7. Kaip Tu Jautiesi?
Kaip tu jautiesi? means “How are you feeling?” This Lithuanian expression shows a lot of concern for the other person. Remember that not everyone will say how they feel. If they don’t want to talk about it, respect that and let them know you care.
8. Ilgai Nesimatėme
If you haven’t seen someone for a long time, you can say Ilgai nesimatėme. This phrase means “Long time no see” in English, and like in many other cultures, it is a common way to open a “How are you?” conversation. Not seeing each other for a long time means you have a lot of catching up to do, so when you set a time and date to meet, keep them updated about yourself.
9. Kas Vyksta?
This Lithuanian phrase means “What’s happening?” in English. It may not be used often in conversations, but it is still a way of asking someone how they are, and it might tell you about the things happening in the other person’s life.
10. Kiek Laiko Praėjo?
Kiek laiko praėjo? means “How long has it been?” It is a common question between people who meet again after a long time. It is an indirect way of asking how are you, but the conversation will surely head that way.
Researchers from Harvard say there are other ways to check in with someone and start a conversation. According to CNBC, a plain “How are you?” is often a lost opportunity that leads to a meaningless exchange with zero connection, which is why the article lists other ways to check in with someone.
How Do You Respond To How Are You In Lithuanian?
Now that you have learned how to say how are you in Lithuanian, you should also learn how to respond. Here are some words and phrases you can use when someone asks you:
| Lithuanian | English Translation |
|---|---|
| Gerai | I’m fine. |
| Viskas gerai, ačiū. | I’m fine, thank you! |
| Aš laimingas. | I’m happy. |
| Aš liūdnas. | I’m sad. |
| Man viskas gerai. | I’m okay. |
| O kaip tau? | And you? |
Why Learn To Say How Are You In Lithuanian?
With about 4 million speakers, Lithuanian is an interesting language to learn. It may not be the most spoken language in Europe, but its history can make you fall in love with it. Checking in with someone does not take much effort, so why not make it a habit, and why not do it in their native language?
Frequently Asked Questions About How Are You In Lithuanian
What Does Kaip Sekasi Mean?
Kaip sekasi? means “How are you?” or “How is it going?” in Lithuanian. It is the most common way to ask how someone is, and beginners should learn it first.
How Do You Answer Kaip Sekasi?
You can answer with Gerai (I’m fine), Viskas gerai, ačiū (I’m fine, thank you) or Man viskas gerai (I’m okay). To return the question, add O kaip tau? (And you?).
Is Kaip Gyvuojate Formal?
Yes. Kaip gyvuojate? means “How are you doing?” and is more formal than Kaip sekasi? It is in plural form, so it suits a visit to relatives you haven’t seen for a long time.
How Do You Say Long Time No See In Lithuanian?
Say Ilgai nesimatėme, which means “Long time no see.” You can follow it with Kiek laiko praėjo? (How long has it been?) when you meet someone again after a long time.
How Are You In Lithuanian Recap: What Should You Remember?
Start with Kaip sekasi?, switch to Kaip gyvuojate? for a more formal moment, and use Kaip reikalai? or Kas naujo? with friends. You don’t have to be as fluent as a native speaker: with these words, phrases and expressions, your check-ins will feel more polite and sincere.
Learn Lithuanian With Ling
Great job getting through all these ways to ask how someone is doing! With flashcards, native speaker audio, fun mini-games and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling makes it easy to keep practicing a little every day, and daily reminders help you keep your streak going. Start learning Lithuanian today and greet your next friend with a warm Kaip sekasi?
