skolotājs

From skolot (“to instruct”) +‎ -ājs. This word was first attested in the 19th century, at first co-existing with other expressions like skolmeistars, mācītājs, and even skolnieks, which some authors originally used to mean “schoolteacher.” By the beginning of the 20th century, skolotājs had become the usual term for this meaning.^[1]

skolotājs m (1st declension, feminine form: skolotāja)

1. (male) teacher (man who teaches schoolchildren at a school)

   stingrs, prasīgs skolotājs ― strict, demanding teacher

   vidusskolas skolotājs ― secondary school teacher

   mūzikas skolas skolotājs ― music school teacher

   matemātikas, vēstures skolotājs ― mathematics, history teacher

   skolotāju istaba ― teachers' room

2. (male) teacher (outstanding specialist, e.g., in an area of arts or sciences) from whom people learn, who has many followers, successors in his work)

   šo studiju beigušie aktieri veidojušies un izauguši Eduarda Smilga tiešā un dziļā ietekmē un arī šodien mākslā nav aizmirsuši skolotāja principus ― the actors graduating from this course have emerged and grown in the art under the direct and deep influence of Eduards Smilgs, and even today in (their) art they have not forgotten (their) teacher's principles

• skolēns
• skolnieks, skolniece