Greetings
Labas
LAH-bas
Hi. 'Laba diena' is the polite daytime greeting and the safer default with strangers.
Viso gero
VI-so GYE-ro
Goodbye. 'Iki' is the casual version you will hear most.
Social
Ačiū
AH-choo
Thank you. Said constantly; the single most useful word you can learn here.
Prašau
PRAH-shau
Please, and also 'here you are'. Does double duty the way Polish 'proszę' does.
Atsiprašau
at-si-PRAH-shau
Sorry / excuse me. Long, but worth memorising for trams and queues.
Į sveikatą
ee svay-KAH-tah
Cheers — literally 'to health'. Shortened to 'į sveikatą!' at every table.
Daily life
Asmens kodas
AS-mens KO-das
Your personal code — the 11-digit number that gates banking, health care, tax and every e-service. Nothing works before you have it.
Deklaruoti gyvenamąją vietą
de-kla-RUO-ti gy-ve-na-MAH-yah VYEH-tah
To declare your place of residence — done at your seniūnija or online, and required within a month of settling.
Šeimos gydytojas
SHAY-mos gy-DY-to-yas
Family doctor. You attach yourself to one specific clinic; everything else in the health system runs through them.
Sodra
SOD-ra
The State Social Insurance Fund Board. Your employer's Sodra registration is what switches on your health cover.
Food
Cepelinai
tse-pe-LI-nai
Potato dumplings stuffed with meat, the size of a fist and named after zeppelins. The national dish, and heavier than it looks.
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