gerti

Etymology

From Proto-Balto-Slavic *gerˀtei (“devour, lap up”); compare Latvian dzer̂t (“drink”), Old Church Slavonic пожрѣти, пожьрѫ (požrěti, požĭrǫ, “swallow, devour”), Polish żreć (“eat greedily”). Also consider Russian demotic нажраться (nažratʹsja, “to eat a lot; get drunk”). From Proto-Indo-European *gʷerh₃- (“to devour”). Cognates include Sanskrit गिरति (giráti, “devour”), Ancient Greek βιβρώσκω (bibrṓskō, “eat up”) and Latin vorō (“devour, swallow”). The present tense stem of the Slavic words < *gir- comes from the zero-grade of the root; compare girti (“get drunk”), girtas (“drunk”). See also gurklỹs (“craw, throat”) and gerklė (“throat”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈɡʲɛrʲ.tʲɪ]

Verb

gérti (third-person present tense gẽria, third-person past tense gė́rė)

1. drink (consume liquid to quench thirst)

   Jìs nóri gérti alaũs - He wants to drink some beer

2. drink (of alcoholic beverages), booze
3. soak up, absorb

   Kempìnė gẽria vándenį - The sponge soaks up water