Etymology

From Proto-BalticCategory:Latvian terms derived from Proto-Baltic#JELS *jel-, from Proto-Indo-EuropeanCategory:Latvian terms derived from Proto-Indo-European#JELS *yel- (“not ready, not processed”). Cognates include Lithuanian dialectal jė̃las (“unsalted, not sour, sweet, fresh”) (a possible borrowing from Latvian).^[1]

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [jæ̂ːls]Category:Latvian terms with IPA pronunciation#JELSCategory:Latvian words with level intonation#JELS

• Audio:

  (file)

  Category:Latvian terms with audio pronunciation#JELS

Adjective

jēls (definite jēlais, comparative jēlāks, superlative visjēlākais, adverb jēli)Category:Latvian lemmas#JELSCategory:Latvian adjectives#JELSCategory:Latvian entries with incorrect language header#JELSCategory:Pages with entries#JĒLSCategory:Pages with 1 entry#JĒLS

1. raw (not cooked, roasted, baked, fried, or affected by any food preparation process)

   jēla gaļa ― raw meatCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   jēlas olas ― raw eggsCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   jēlu zivju smaka man bija pretīga ― the smell of raw fish was disgusting to meCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   skaties, te ir arī olas... tikai nevar zināt, vārītas vai jēlas ― look, there are also eggs... but you can't tell if they are cooked or rawCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

2. raw, sore (bruised or irritated from abrasion or constant rubbing, pressure) (of skin)

   mugura un sāni slimniekam no ilgas gulēšanas bija jēli ― the back and the sides of the patient were raw from lying too longCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   Voldis pamanīja, ka labās rokas pirkstu locītavas cīņā nobrāztas jēlas... pirksti bija aplipuši asinīm ― Voldis noticed that (his) right hand finger joints were bruised raw in the fight... (his) fingers were sticky with bloodCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

3. humid, wet, miry, boggy, putrid (of land, soil)

   es gāju steidzīgi, ūdens šļakstēja zem manām kajām, kaut kur kurpes iegrima jēlos dubļos ― I went hurriedly, the water made noises under my feet, somewhere (my) shoes sank into raw mudCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   viņš dzina automašīnu pa jēliem, izmirkušiem ceļiem ― he drove the car on miry, wet roadsCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   degunā iesitās sasmakušā ūdens smirdoņa, bet rokām apvijās jēlas un sapuvušas ūdenszāles ― the stale water stink hit (his) nose, and (his) hands were entangled in raw, rotten algaeCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

4. (of words, expressions) raw, crude, rude, offensive, impolite

   jēli vārdi ― raw, crude wordsCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   lietot jēlu izteicienu ― to use a rude, impolite expressionCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   pārcēlājs lietoja tik jēlu valodu, ka ratos sēdētājas sievas sarka ― the ferryman used such raw language that the women sitting in the chariot blushedCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   romānists Alksnis nu varēja sākt stāstīt savas pikantās anekdotes... cigāru mutē, viņš atlaidās klubkrēslā un tīksminājās ar visjēlākām asprātībām ― the novelist Alksnis could begin telling his spicy anecdotes... with a cigar in his mouth, he sat on the armchair and delighted himself with the rawest, crudest witticismsCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

5. (colloquialCategory:Latvian colloquialisms#JELS) weak, feeble, clumsy

   tam jēli pirksti; viss krīt no rokām ārā ― he has raw (= weak, clumsy) fingers: everything falls off (his) handsCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

   tu gan esi jēls: līdz iziet ārā, tūliņ saaukstējas ― you are really raw (= weak, feeble): when you go out, you immediately catch a coldCategory:Latvian terms with usage examples#JELS

References