dziesma

From the same stem as dziedāt (q.v.), i.e., either from an earlier verb *dziet, or directly from a stem like *gied-, with an extra -s +‎ -ma. Cognates include Lithuanian giesmė̃ (“spiritual, solemn song”). A connection between dziesma and gaisma (“light”) has been suggested, given the similarity between their basic Proto-Indo-European stems (*gēy- “to sing, to call, to shout” and *gʰēy- “shiny, bright”) and the idea of saluting the dawn: an original verb *gēy-t(e)y may have meant both “to become light” and “to salute the light (by singing)” (cf. also gailis (“cock, rooster”), a word also possibly related to gaisma and dziesma).[1]

• IPA^(key): [dziɛ̂sma]

dziesma f (4th declension)

1. song (piece of vocal music with lyrics)

   solo dziesma ― solo song

   kora dziesma ― choir song

   masu dziesma ― mass song, hymn

   liriski romantiska dziesma ― lyric romantic song

   šūpļa dziesma, šūpuļdziesma ― lullaby (lit. cradle song)

   dziesmas teksts ― lyrics (lit. song text)

   dziesmas melodija ― song melody

   tautas dziesma ― folk song

   dziesmu krājums ― song collection

   dziesmu svētki ― song festival

   dziesmu grāmata ― song book, hymn book, hymnal

   dziesma bez vārdiem ― song without lyrics (instrumental music)

2. (of birds, some insects) song (melodious sounds produced by the male to find and attract females)

   klausīties lakstīgalas dziesmā ― to listen to the nightingale song

   gaiļa dziesma ― cockcrow (lit. rooster song)

   circeņa dziesma ― cricket song

3. (poetic) noise made by air, water, vibrating objects

   vēja dziesma ― the song of the wind

   kuļmašīna sāka dūkt, un tās gaudulīgā dziesma Silāres laukos neapklusa līdz pat pusdienlaikam ― the thresher began to hum, and its plaintive song didn't go silent in the fields of Silāre until noon

• dziedājums
• dziedāt
• dziedātājs, dziedātāja
• dziedonis, dziedone