Latvian

Noun

nerātnība f (4th declension)

1. (usually in the singular) naughtiness, bad behavior, boldness; (the quality of one who is naughty, who is bold, who likes to joke, to play pranks)

   Vanags viņu paturēja, jo kurš cits gan būtu pieņēmis mazo zēnu, kura nesavaldāmība un nerātnība bija tapusi par parunu?‎ ― Vanags kept him, because who else would take a little boy whose uncontrollability and naughtiness had become proverbial?

   vēl gan gribētos mazliet aktiera bērnības stāsta, kur aktiera valodā un intonācijā, tik daudz šķelmīgas nerātnības un humora‎ ― indeed I wanted a little more of the actor's childhood story, where the actor's language and intonation had so much roguish boldness and humor

2. (also plural) instance of bad behavior; prank

   kāpelējām pa trepēm kā matroži, darījām visādas nerātnības, spēlējām kārtis, smēķējām papirosus...‎ ― we (the boys) climbed the stairs like sailors, we did all kinds of bad things, we played cards, we smoked cigarettes...

3. naughty, obscene words or expressions

   tad nāca runas pakaļ runai, kurās slavēja jauno pāri un iepina arī vienu otru nerātnību; pie šīm pēdējām jaunavas bikli nodūra galviņas, bet jaunekļi skaļi ierēcās‎ ― then (at the wedding) came (more) speeches after the speech, in which the young couple was praised but also some naughty words were mixed; at (= hearing) them, the maidens timidly bowed (their) heads, while the young men roared (= laughed) loud

Declension

Synonyms

• draiskums, draiskulība
• nebēdnīgums, nebēdnība

Related terms

• nerātnis, nerātne