Belarusian, a beautiful East Slavic language, is rich with vocabulary that reflects the changing seasons. In this article, we’ll explore the words associated with two distinct seasons: весна (vyesna) and лета (leta). Understanding these words will not only enhance your vocabulary but also give you a deeper appreciation for the cultural and natural elements of Belarus.

Весна (Vyesna) – Spring

Весна is the Belarusian word for “spring.” This season is associated with renewal, blossoming flowers, and longer days. Below are some key terms related to spring:

Цвет – Flower
У весну ў садзе з’яўляюцца першыя кветкі.
In spring, the first flowers appear in the garden.

Птушка – Bird
Птушкі вяртаюцца з цёплых краін вясной.
Birds return from warm countries in spring.

Сонца – Sun
Весной сонца свеціць ярчэй.
In spring, the sun shines brighter.

Дождж – Rain
Весновы дождж спрыяе росту раслін.
Spring rain promotes plant growth.

Цёплы – Warm
Весной паветра становіцца цёплым.
In spring, the air becomes warm.

Зялёны – Green
Дрэвы пачынаюць пакрывацца зялёнымі лістамі ў весну.
Trees start to get covered with green leaves in spring.

Кветнік – Flowerbed
У весну мы садзім новыя расліны ў кветніку.
In spring, we plant new flowers in the flowerbed.

Цвісці – To blossom
Сады пачынаюць цвісці у весну.
Gardens start to blossom in spring.

Задзіночанне – Awakening
Весна – гэта час задзіночання прыроды.
Spring is a time of nature’s awakening.

Навальніца – Thunderstorm
Навальніцы часта адбываюцца ў весну.
Thunderstorms often occur in spring.

Лета (Leta) – Summer

Лета is the Belarusian word for “summer.” This season is characterized by warmth, long days, and often vacations. Here are some important words related to summer:

Цень – Shade
У цені дрэў можна знайсці прахалоду летам.
In the shade of trees, you can find coolness in summer.

Сонечны – Sunny
Летнія дні часта вельмі сонечныя.
Summer days are often very sunny.

Мора – Sea
Многія людзі едуць на мора падчас летняга адпачынку.
Many people go to the sea during summer vacation.

Пляж – Beach
Улетку мы часта ходзім на пляж.
In summer, we often go to the beach.

Плаванне – Swimming
Лета – ідэальны час для плавання.
Summer is the perfect time for swimming.

Спёка – Heat
Летам часта бывае вялікая спёка.
In summer, there is often a lot of heat.

Загар – Tan
Пасля адпачынку на пляжы, у мяне з’явіўся загар.
After a beach vacation, I got a tan.

Адпачынак – Vacation
Многія людзі бяруць адпачынак улетку.
Many people take a vacation in summer.

Марозіва – Ice cream
Летам я люблю есці марозіва.
In summer, I love eating ice cream.

Цёпла – Warmly
Летам людзі апранаюцца цёпла і лёгка.
In summer, people dress warmly and lightly.

Contrasts between Весна (Vyesna) and Лета (Leta)

Understanding the differences between весна and лета can help you use the right vocabulary in the right context.

Весна brings a sense of renewal and growth. Words like цвісці (to blossom), задзіночанне (awakening), and навальніца (thunderstorm) are distinctly spring-related. These words capture the essence of nature coming to life after a long winter.

On the other hand, лета is characterized by leisure and warmth. Words like пляж (beach), загар (tan), and марозіва (ice cream) are inherently summery. They represent the outdoor activities and relaxation that people enjoy during the hot months.

Using Весна (Vyesna) and Лета (Leta) in Sentences

Constructing sentences with seasonal words can enhance your conversational skills. Here are some examples:

Весна:
Весной я люблю глядзець, як птушкі вяртаюцца.
In spring, I love watching the birds return.

У весну сонца свеціць ярчэй і дні становяцца даўжэйшымі.
In spring, the sun shines brighter and the days get longer.

Лета:
Улетку мы часта ходзім на пляж і купаемся ў моры.
In summer, we often go to the beach and swim in the sea.

Летам я люблю есці марозіва пад сонцам.
In summer, I love eating ice cream under the sun.

Cultural Significance

Both весна and лета hold cultural significance in Belarus. Spring is often associated with traditional festivals and the celebration of Easter, known as Вялікдзень (Vyalikdzen). People engage in various cultural activities such as decorating eggs and preparing special dishes.

Summer, being a time of relaxation, is when many Belarusians travel to the countryside or the seaside. Festivals like Купалле (Kupalle), which celebrates the summer solstice, are marked by folk songs, dances, and rituals.

Вялікдзень – Easter
На Вялікдзень мы фарбуем яйкі і гатуем кулічы.
On Easter, we dye eggs and bake Easter bread.

Купалле – Kupalle
На Купалле мы скачам праз вогнішча і спяваем песні.
On Kupalle, we jump over bonfires and sing songs.

Conclusion

Learning seasonal words in Belarusian not only enhances your vocabulary but also provides insight into the cultural fabric of Belarus. Whether it’s the blooming flowers of весна or the sunny beaches of лета, each season has its unique charm and vocabulary. By mastering these words, you can more effectively communicate and appreciate the nuances of this beautiful language.