Latvian

Zivju zvīņas (1)

Čiekura zvīņas (2)

Alternative forms

• (dialectal forms) zvīna, zvīne, zvīnis

Noun

zvīņa m

1. (dialectal form) genitive singular form of zvīnis

zvīņa f (4th declension)

1. (chiefly in the plural) scales (little bone-like plates that cover and protect the body of fish, reptiles, etc.)

   raga zvīņas‎ ― bone scales

   zivju zvīņas‎ ― fish scales

   zivis ar spožām zvīņām‎ ― fish with shiny scales

   nokasīt zvīņas‎ ― to scrape off the scales

   zvīņu karpa‎ ― scaly carp (breed of carp with smooth, golden scales)

2. (chiefly in the plural) scales (diverse more or less flat growths on various plant organs; small, reduced plant organs or their parts)

   čiekura zvīņas‎ ― pine cone scales

   tas bija vecs dīķis, zaļām aļģu zvīņām klāts‎ ― it was an old pond, covered with green algae scales

   sīpols var būt līdz 7 cm garumā un līdz 3 cm diametrā, to klāj brūnas zvīņas‎ ― an onion can be up to 7 cm long and up to 3 cm in diameter, covered by brown scales

3. (chiefly in the plural) scale-like parts, layers (on a substance)

   plānas kārtainas ledus zvīņas‎ ― thin, laminated ice scales (on a puddle)

   tā sastāv no sīkām zvīņām, kas ir kristāliskā grafīta kārtas‎ ― it consists of tiny scales, which are the layers of crystalline graphite

4. (chiefly in the plural) skin flakes, scales (made of dead skin cells)

   blaugznu zvīņas‎ ― dandruff scales, flakes

   sausa āda ir jutīga, caurspīdīga, dažreiz tā viegli lobās, it kā būtu noklāta ar zvīņām‎ ― dry skin is sensitive, clear, sometimes it sheds easily, as if it were covered with scales

Declension

Usage notes

In all senses, the plural forms (zvīņas, etc.) are much more frequently used than the singular forms (zvīņa, etc.).

Derived terms

• zvīņains

References

1. ↑ Karulis, Konstantīns (1992), “zvīņa”, in Latviešu Etimoloģijas Vārdnīca (in Latvian), Rīga: AVOTS, ISBN 9984-700-12-7