mazs

From Proto-Baltic *maźas, from Proto-Indo-European *meǵʰ-, *moǵʰ- (“big, small, i.e., size extremes)”). Cognates include Lithuanian mãžas, Sudovian maz, Old Prussian massais ([mazais], “smaller”),, Gothic 𐌼𐌰𐌲𐌿𐍃 (magus, “boy (i.e., little)”), Old English micel (“large, big, great”) (English much), Albanian madh (“big”), Old Armenian մեծ (mec, “great, large”), Sanskrit मह (mahá, “great, mighty, strong, abundant”), Old Irish maige (“great, large”), Ancient Greek μέγας (mégas, “big, large”), Latin magnus (“big”).[1]

mazs (definite mazais, comparative mazāks, superlative vismazākais, adverb maz)

1. small, little (having less than the (average, fitting) size of other similar objects, beings, areas, etc.)

   mazs cilvēks, dzīvnieks, galds ― small person, animal, table

   mazas kājas ― small feet, legs

   cepure par mazu ― a hat too small

   mazais sikspārnis ― the small bat (smaller than other species)

   maza pļava ― small meadow

   mazs ciemats ― small village

2. small, short (having less than the (average) distance between start and end points)

   mazs atvēziens, palēciens ― small swing, jump

   maza amplitūda ― small amplitude

3. (of natural phenomena) small, little, low (weak, having low intensity)

   mazs vējiņš ― small, little breeze

   maza migla ― low fog

4. (of physical phenomena) small, short, low, weak (less in numerical value than (the average of) other measurements; less intense, faint)

   mazs ātrums, spriegums ― low speed, tension/voltage

   mazs garums ― short length

   mazs skaits ― small number

   mazs skaitlis ― low figure

   maza nauda ― (colloquial) small money sum (lit. little money)

   bet lai tu vairs neizlaistu pat vismazākās skaņas! ― but you won't let out even the smallest (= faintest) sound anymore!

5. (of time periods; of texts) little, short

   pēc maza brīža ― after a short moment

   mazs dzejolis ― little, short poem

6. small (with few members (people, animals, objects, elements))

   maza ģimene ― small family

   mazs ganāmpulks ― small herd

7. little, low (less than the normal or average level, limit, degree)

   mazs piena izlaukums ― low milk yield

   maza barības vērtība ― little, low nutritional value

8. little, small (with little influence or consequence; not worth much)

   mazas nepatikšanas ― little, small trouble

   saņemt mazas veltes ― to get small presents

9. small, short (not requiring much effort or energy)

   mazs pasākums ― small undertaking, enterprise

   maza pastaiga ― short walk, stroll

   mazi svētki ― small, unimportant holidays

10. small, little (indicating lack of freedom of action, constraints)

    mazas priekšrocības ― small advantage

    maza izvēle ― little choice

    man vairs nebija ne mazākās iespējas novākt slepenā darba pēdas ― I no longer had the slightest possibility of removing the traces of secret work

11. (of mental or physical states) small (not intense, not intensely felt)

    mazas sāpes' ― small pain

    mazs nogurums ― small fatigue, tiredness

12. (of people) small (selfish; having negative character traits)

    mazs nekauņa ― a little impudent, impertinent person

    mazs palaidnis ― a little rascal

    liels zinātnieks; tikai kā cilvēks diemžēl izrādījies mazs ― a great scientist; only as a person, unfortunately, he showed himself small

13. (of people) small (lacking self-confidence, humble)

    jutos maza un niecīga viņu priekšā ― I (female) felt small and insignificant in front of them

14. (of people) small (unimportant; not owning much property; poor)

    mazs muižnieks, namīpašnieks ― small landlord

15. (of children) small, little, young (infant, not having reached maturity)

    mazs bērns ― small child

    Ilzi es jau pazinu kā mazu meitenīti ― Ilze I already knew as a little girl

    mazā kaut ko gaida ― the little one (= girl) is waiting for something

    mazais jāliek gulēt ― the little one (= boy) must be put to sleep

16. small (not brilliant, not important, not significant)

    ir atzinumi lieli, mazi ― opinions there are big and small

    laiks aizšalc, aiznesdams izzūdībai visu mazo, niecīgo, nenozīmīgo ― time rustles (by), taking into non-existence all that is small, unimportant, insignificant

• neliels
• sīks

• liels
• milzīgs, gigantisks

• mazināt
• mazums
• mazulis