Pertraukos

Pertraukos is a Lithuanian noun meaning breaks or pauses. It is the plural form of pertrauka and refers to intervals during which activity is suspended or slowed. The term is used across many contexts, including education, employment, sports, broadcasting, and everyday life.

Etymology and meaning: Pertraukti, the verb from which the word is derived, means to interrupt or to break through. The prefix per- conveys completion or crossing of an action, and pertrauka denotes the instance or period of interrupting a continuous activity. Pertraukos thus describe moments when regular work, study, or sequence is temporarily paused.

Contexts and usage: In the workplace, pertraukos cover rest periods such as coffee breaks and lunch breaks, with durations and timing often governed by labor law or company policy. In schools, they designate breaks between lessons and midday meals. In sports and performing arts, a pertraukos can be an intermission or halftime between segments of a game or show. In broadcasting or publishing, pertraukos refer to scheduled breaks in programming or between articles. In everyday language, the term also denotes informal pauses taken during tasks or conversations.

Usage notes: Pertraukos emphasize the interruption of ongoing activity rather than mere silence, though the two ideas can overlap. The related term pauzė is more commonly used for musical or formal pauses. Pertraukos is a standard, neutral term in Lithuanian-language texts and official documents, and it appears in schedules, policies, and media discussions.

See also: pertrauka; pauzė.