Latvian

Adverb

vēl

1. (in negative sentences) used to indicate that a given action, expected to happen, has not started up to the moment of speaking; yet, so far

   viņš vēl nav pārnācis‎ ― he hasn't come/arrived yet

   neesmu vēl redzējis, kā dedzina ogles un tecina darvu‎ ― I haven't seen yet how one burns coal and produces tar

   “Zigi, vai tu neesi vēl aizmidzis?” pēc brīža Vilnis iejautājās: “nē!”‎ ― “Zigi, aren't you asleep yet?” after a moment Vilins answered: “no!”

2. (in affirmative sentences) used to indicate that a certain action or states continues on at the time of speaking; still, on

   bija jau pāri pusnaktij; Robis vēl klimta pa kūtsaugšu‎ ― it was already past midnight; Robis was still doing nothing in the loft

   Antiņš ar cūkām vēl Auzukalnā‎ ― Antiņš and the pigs (are) still in Auzukalns

   arvien vēl, vēl arvien‎ ― all the time; uninterruptedly; still (lit. always still)

3. yet (one, once); again; in addition

   nogriezt vēl kādu šķēlīti‎ ― to cut yet another slice

   Ansis izdarīja vēl vienu neprātību‎ ― Ansis did yet another foolishness

   mēģināt vēl‎ ― to try still (= once more), to try again, to go on trying

   ieliet vēl kafiju?‎ ― (should I) pour still (= some more) coffee?

   palikt vēl kādu brīdi‎ ― to stay still one minute

   cik ilgi vēl būs jāgaida?‎ ― how long yet (= how much longer) will we have to wait?

4. still; once more; every time

   atkārtot vēl un vēlreiz to pašu‎ ― to repeat the same again and again

   viņa atskatās vienreiz, tad vēl un pēc tam neatskatās vairs‎ ― she looked back one time, then still (= again), and after that didn't look back anymore

Synonyms

• (of "still", "on"): joprojām, vēl arvien
• (of "again", "still (once)"): atkal, papildus, turklāt, vēlreiz

Antonyms

• jau

Related terms

• vēl arvien, arvien vēl
• vēlreiz
• vēls

Particle

vēl

1. used to emphasize or reinforce the meaning of an expression; still; yet; really

   to mēs vēl paspēsim‎ ― we will still (manage to) do it

   te vēl pietiek vietas trim cilvēkiem‎ ― there is still enough room for three people here

   Inga vēl pēdējā brīdī viņu bija izglābusi‎ ― Inga still saved (= managed to save) him at the last minute

   tagad vairs nav joki, Ģirts vēl ņems un tevi izkonkurēs‎ ― now it's not just for fun anymore, Ģirts will really compete with you

2. (with an adjective or adverb in the comparative) used to strengthen the degree of the adjective or adverb; still, yet, even

   jāstrādā vēl labāk‎ ― we must work better yet

   censties vēl vairāk‎ ― to try even more

   šis priekšlikums ir labs, bet tas ir vēl labāks‎ ― this proposal is good, but that (one) is even better

3. (in several expressions) used to reinforce the total meaning of the expression

   tas vēl nav nekas‎ ― but this is not nothing!

   un kā vēl‎ ― oh yes! no doubt! (lit. and how still!)

Verb

vēl

1. 3rd person singular present indicative form of vēlēt
2. 3rd person plural present indicative form of vēlēt
3. (with the particle lai) 3rd person singular imperative form of vēlēt
4. (with the particle lai) 3rd person plural imperative form of vēlēt

References

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