Lithuanian Out Loud 0029 - Perkūnas Thundergod

According to Wikipedia, in the ancient Lithuanian religion, Perkūnas is the Lithuanian God of thunder, the God of the sky, the Lord of rain, mountains, oak trees and storms.  Quite a powerful god indeed. In songs about a “heavenly wedding" Saulė (the Sun) cheats on Perkūnas with Mėnulis (the Moon); Perkūnas splits Mėnulis in half with a sword. According to another, more popular, version, Mėnulis cheats on the Sun with Aušrinė (the morning star) just after the wedding, and Perkūnas punishes it. However, Mėnulis does not learn and repeats the adultery and is punished again every month. Other explanations say it is why the Sun shines during the day and the Moon at night. Though divorced, both want to see their daughter Žemyna (the Earth). In other songs Perkūnas, on the way to the wedding of Aušra (dawn; the daughter of the Sun), strikes a golden oak, most likely in order to expel evil spirits, Velnias or snakes, that usually hide below the roots of an oak. The oak is a tree of the thunder god in the Lithuanian tradition. Don’t you just love Lithuanian culture? This week we’re doing a lesson we hadn’t planned to do, but since we have so many listeners from unexpected places, we’ll customize this lesson for our students who’re listening in Australia, Egypt, The Netherlands, Ireland, Botswana and Brazil. Now, we’ve already learned how to say, for example, I’m Lithuanian or I’m English.  Let’s do our new nationalities…

First, let’s go over the vardininkas or nominative declension of the country’s names in Lithuanian.

prašom pakartoti

Egiptas                                    Egypt

Australija                                 Australia

Nyderlandai                             Netherlands

Airija                                       Ireland

Botsvana                                 Botswana

Brazilija                                    Brazil

Now, to say, “I’m from…", we use the genitive or kilmininkas.  Prašom pakartoti…

I’m from Egypt                     Aš iš Egipto

I’m from Australia                Aš iš Australijos

I’m from The Netherlands     Aš iš Nyderlandų

I’m from Ireland                  Aš iš Airijos

I’m from Botswana                Aš iš Botsvanos

I’m from Brazil                     Aš iš Brazilijos

Great, now let’s say “I’m Australian" or “I’m Brazilian" from a man and a woman’s perspective…

I’m Egyptian                       Aš Egiptietis

I’m Egyptian                      Aš Egiptietė

I’m Australian                    Aš Australas

I’m Australian                    Aš Australė

I’m a Dutchman                Aš Olandas

I’m a Dutchwoman            Aš Olandė

I’m Irish                            Aš Airis

I’m Irish                            Aš Airė

I’m Botswanan                  Aš Botsvanietis

I’m Botswanan                 Aš Botsvanietė

I’m Brazilian                    Aš Brazilas

I’m Brazilian                    Aš Brazilė

Fantastic, now keep in mind, that later on, it might be easier if, just for fun, you “Lithuanianize" your name.  For example, I use Džiakas when I’m in Lithuania because it’s easier.  If you’re not sure how to make your name into something that makes sense in Lithuanian, just contact us and we can help.

Saulė                             the Sun

Perkūnas                      God of thunder

Mėnulis                          the Moon

Aušrinė                          the Morning Star

Žemyna                        the Earth

Aušra                            Dawn; the daughter of the Sun

Velnias                         God of evil