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Latvian phrasebook

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Contents

  • [+] Pronunciation guide
    • Stress
    • Vowels
    • Consonants
    • Common diphthongs
  • [+] Phrase list
    • Basics
    • Problems
    • Numbers
    • [+] Time
      • Clock time
      • Duration
      • Days
      • Months
      • Writing time and date
    • Colors
    • [+] Transportation
      • Buying Tickets
      • Bus and Train
      • Directions
      • Taxi
    • Lodging
    • Money
    • Eating
    • Bars
    • Shopping
    • Driving
    • Authority
    • Emergencies
Latvian phrasebook

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Latvian is the official language in the Republic of Latvia, spoken natively by approximately 63% of the residents of Latvia, approximately 1,250,000 people. Worldwide it is estimated to be spoken by 1,504,880 people, a 2009 estimate from Ethnologue. It is an Indo-European language that shares its own Baltic language group with Lithuanian, New Curonian, Old Prussian, and Semigallian. The Baltic languages show closest relationship with the Slavic languages, and are commonly reconstructed to have passed through common Proto-Balto-Slavic stage, during which numerous Common Balto-Slavic lexical, phonological, morphological and accentological isoglosses developed. It is a relatively new language, its first written accounts date to 1530 A.D.

Written Latvian is based on the Latin alphabet and uses 33 letters: Aa, Āā, Bb, Cc, Čč, Dd, Ee, Ēē, Ff, Gg, Ģģ, Hh, Ii, Īī, Jj, Kk, Ķķ, Ll, Ļļ, Mm, Nn, Ņņ, Oo, Pp, Rr, Ss, Šš, Tt, Uu, Ūū, Vv, Zz, Žž.

Pronunciation guide[edit]

Stress[edit]

In Latvian, the stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Vowels[edit]

Notice that there are long and short vowel sounds in Latvian.

as in 'u' in "cup"
ā 
as in 'a' in "bark", a long sound
as in 'e' in "pet" and 'a' in "fat"
ē 
as in 'ai' in "fair" and 'a' in "spar", but longer
as in 'i' in "pin"
ī 
as in 'ee' in "speed", a long sound
as in 'o' in "pot" and 'oa' in "oats" or 'aw' in "law"
as in 'u' in "put"
ū 
as in 'oo' in "pool", a long sound

Consonants[edit]

as 'b' in "ball"
as 'ts' in "bits"
č 
as 'ch' in "chest"
as 'd' in "dog"
dz 
as 'ds' in "beds"
dž 
as 'j' in "job"
as 'f' in "fish"
as 'g' in "grass" [hard g sound]
ģ 
as 'ju' in "judge"
as 'h' in "hot"
as 'y' in "yes"
as 'k' in "kite"
ķ 
as 'c' in "cute"
as 'l' in "lid"
ļ 
as 'li' in "million"
as 'm' in "money"
as 'n' in "noise"
ņ 
as 'ny' in "new"
as 'p' in "pet"
trilled as spanish 'r'
as 's' in "sand"
š 
as 'sh' in "ship"
as 't' in "top"
as 'v' in "vest"
as z' in "zebra"
ž 
as 'su' in "pleasure"

Common diphthongs[edit]

ai 
as 'i' in "dive"
au 
as 'ow' in "now"
ei 
as 'ay' in "may"
ie 
as 'ea' in "fear"
oi 
as 'oy' in "toy"
ui 
as 'ui' in "Luis"

Phrase list[edit]

Basics[edit]

Common signs

OPEN 
ATVĒRTS
CLOSED 
SLĒGTS
ENTRANCE 
IEEJA
EXIT 
IZEJA
PUSH 
GRŪST
PULL 
VILKT
TOILET 
TUALETE
MEN 
VĪRIEŠIEM
WOMEN 
SIEVIETĒM
FORBIDDEN 
AIZLIEGTS


Hello (to a woman
Sveika! (SVYEH-kah)
Hello (to a man)
Sveiks! (SVEH-eeks)
How are you? 
Kā jums klājas?(kahh yooms KLAHH-yuhs?)
Fine, thank you. 
Labi, paldies. (LAH-bee, PUHL-dyehs)
What is your name? 
Kā jūs sauc? (kaah yoos sowts?)
My name is ______ . 
Mani sauc______ . (MAH-nee sowts_____ .)
I'm pleased to meet you. 
Prieks iepazīties. (pryehks EA-puh-zee-tyehs)
Please 
Lūdzu. (LOO-dzoo)
Thank you 
Paldies. (PUHL-dyehs)
You're welcome. 
Lūdzu. (LOO-dzoo)
Yes. 
Jā.(yahh)
No. 
Nē. (neh)
Excuse me. 
Atvainojiet. (UHT-vay-noh-yeht)
I'm sorry. 
Piedodiet.(pyeh-DOH-dyeht)
Goodbye 
Uz redzēšanos. (ooz REHD-zehh-shuh-nohs)
Goodbye (informal
Atā. (UH-tahh)
I can't speak Latvian [well]. 
Es nemāku latviešu valodu [labi]. (ehs neh-MAA-koo luht-VYEH-shoo vuh-LOH-doo [luh-bee])
Do you speak English? 
Vai Jūs runājat angliski? (VUH-ee yoos ROO-nyaaht UHN-glys-kee?)
Is there someone here who speaks English? 
Vai te ir kāds, kurš runā angliski? (VUH-ee teh eer kaads, kursh ROO-naa AHN-glys-kee?)
Help! 
Palīgā! (PUH-lee-gaah!)
Look out! 
Uzmanies! (OOZ-mah-nyehs!)
Good morning 
Labrīt (luh-BREET)
Good day 
Labdien (luhb-DYEHN)
Good evening 
Labvakar (luhd-VUH-kuhr)
Good night (to sleep
Ar labu nakti. (uhr LUH-boo NUHK-tee)
I don't understand. 
Es nesaprotu. (ehs NEH-suh-proh-too)
Where is the toilet? 
Kur ir tualete? (koor eer TWAH-leh-teh?)

Problems[edit]

Leave me alone. 
Ej prom. (ey prohm)
Don't touch me! 
Neaizskar mani! (neh-AYZS-kahr MAH-nee)
I'll call the police. 
Es izsaukšu policiju. (ehs EEZ-sowk-shoo poh-LEE-tsyoo)
Police! 
Policija! (poh-LEE-tsyah)
Stop! Thief! 
Ķeriet zagli! (KYEH-ryeht ZAH-glee)
I need your help. 
Man vajag jūsu palīdzību. (mahn VAY-ahg YOO-soo pah-LEE-jee-boo)
It's an emergency. 
Ir avārijas situācija. (ihr ah-VAA-ryahs see-TWAA-tsyah)
I'm lost. 
Esmu apmaldījies (male)/apmaldījusies (female). (EHS-moo ahp-MAHL-dee-yehs/ ahp-MAHL-dee-yoo-syehs)
I lost my bag. 
Es pazaudēju savu somu. (ehs pah-ZOW-dehh-yoo SAH-voo SOH-moo)
I lost my wallet. 
Es pazaudēju savu maku. (ehs pah-ZOW-dehh-yoo SAH-voo MAH-koo)
I'm sick. 
Esmu slims (male)/slima (female). (EHS-moo sleems/ SLEE-mah)
I've been injured. 
Es esmu ievainots. (ehs EHS-moo ie-VAI-nohts)
I need a doctor. 
Man vajag ārstu. (mahn VAI-ahg AARS-too)
Can I use your phone? 
Vai es drīkstu izmantot jūsu telefonu? (vai ehs DREEKS-too eez-MAHN-toht YOO-soo teh-leh-FOH-noo?)

Numbers[edit]

nulle (NOOL-leh)
viens (vyehns)
divi (DIH-vih)
trīs (trees)
četri (CHEH-trih)
pieci (PYEH-tsih)
seši (SEH-shih)
septiņi (SEHP-tih-nyih)
astoņi (UHS-toa-nyih)
deviņi (DEH-vee-nyih)
10 
desmit (DEHS-miht)
11 
vienpadsmit (VYEH-puhds-miht)
12 
divpadsmit (DIHV-puhds-miht)
13 
trīspadsmit (TREES-puhds-miht)
14 
četrpadsmit (CHEHTR-puhds-miht)
15 
piecpadsmit (PYEHTS-puhds-miht)
16 
sešpadsmit (SEHSH-puhds-miht)
17 
septiņpadsmit (SEHP-tihny-puhds-miht)
18 
astoņpadsmit (UHS-tawny-puhds-miht)
19 
deviņpadsmit (DEH-vihny-puhds-miht)
20 
divdesmit (DIHV-dehs-miht)
21 
divdesmit viens (DIHV-dehs-miht vyehns)
22 
divdesmit divi (DIHV-dehs-miht DIH-vih)
23 
divdesmit trīs (DIHV-dehs-miht trees)
30 
trīsdesmit (TREES-dehs-miht)
40 
četrdesmit (CHEHTR-dehs-miht)
50 
piecdesmit (PYEHTS-dehs-miht)
60 
sešdesmit (SEHSH-dehs-miht)
70 
septiņdesmit (SEHP-teeny-dehs-miht)
80 
astoņdesmit (UHS-tohny-dehs-miht)
90 
deviņdesmit (DEH-veeny-dehs-miht)
100 
simts (sihmts)
200 
divi simti (DIH-vih SIHM-tih)
300 
trīs simti (trees SIHM-tih)
1000 
tūkstots (TOOKS-tohts)
1,000,000 
miljons (MIH-lyohns')
1,000,000,000 
miljards (MIH-lyahrds)
1,000,000,000,000 
biljons (BIH-lyohns)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.
numurs _____ (NOO-moors)
half 
pus (poos)
less 
mazāk (MUH-zahk)
more 
vairāk (VAY-rahk)

Time[edit]

The 24 hour clock is used in Latvia.

What time is it? 
Cik ir pulkstenis? (tsihk ihr PUHLKS-teh-nihs)
What time? 
Cikos? (TSIH-kohs)
When?
Kad? (kahd)
now 
tagad (TAH-gahd)
later 
vēlāk (VAA-lahk)
second
sekunde (SEH-koon-deh)
minute 
minūte (MIH-noo-teh)
half an hour 
pusstunda (PUHSS-tuhn-duh)
hour 
stunda (STUHN-duh)
morning 
rīts (reet)
in the morning 
no rīta (naw reetah)
evening 
vakars (VUH-kuhrs)
in the evening
vakarā (VUH-kuh-rah)
night 
nakts (nuhkts)

Clock time[edit]

one o'clock 
pulkstens viens (POOLKS-tehns vyehns)
two o'clock 
pulkstens divi (POOLKS-tehns DIH-vih)
three o'clock 
pulkstens trīs (POOLKS-tehns trees)
four o'clock 
pulkstens četri (POOLKS-tehns CHEH-trih)
five o'clock 
pulkstens pieci (POOLKS-tehns PYEH-tsih)
six o'clock 
pulkstens seši (POOLKS-tehns SEH-shih)
seven o'clock 
pulkstens septiņi (POOLKS-tehns SEHP-tih-nyih)
eight o'clock 
pulkstens astoņi (POOLKS-tehns UHS-toh-nyih )
nine o'clock 
pulkstens deviņi (POOLKS-tehns DEH-vih-nyih)
ten o'clock 
pulkstens desmit (POOLKS-tehns DEHS-miht)
eleven o'clock 
pulkstens vienpadsmit (POOLKS-tehns VYEHN-puhds-miht)
twelve o'clock 
pulkstens divpadsmit (POOLKS-tehns DIHV-puhds-miht)
quarter to six, 17:45 
bez piecpadsmit minūtēm seši (behz PYEHTS-pahds-miht MIH-noo-tehm SEH-shih)
quarter past six, 18:15 
piecpadsmit minūtes pāri sešiem
half past seven, 18:30 
pusseptiņi

Duration[edit]

_____ minute(s) 
_____ minūte(s) (MIH-noo-teh)
_____ hour(s) 
_____ stunda(s) (STOON-dah(s))
_____ day(s) 
_____ diena(s) (DYEH-nah(s))
_____ week(s) 
_____ nedēļa(s) (NEH-dehh-lyah(s))
_____ month(s) 
_____ mēnesis(mēneši) (MEHH-neh-sees(MEHH-neh-shih))
_____ year(s) 
_____ gads(gadi) (gahds(GAH-dih))

Days[edit]

today 
šodien (SHAW-dyehn)
yesterday 
vakar (VUH-kuhr)
tomorrow 
rīt (reet)
this week 
šo nedēļu (shaw NEH-deh-lyoo)
last week 
pagājuša nedēļu (PUH-gah-yoo-shah NEH-deh-lyoo)
next week 
nākam nedēļu (NAH-kuhm NEH-deh-lyoo)
Monday 
pirmdiena (PIHRM-dyeh-nuh)
Tuesday 
otrdiena (AWTR-dyeh-nuh)
Wednesday 
trešdiena (TREHSH-dyeh-nuh)
Thursday 
ceturtdiena (TSAH-tuhrt-dyeh-nuh)
Friday 
piektdiena (PYEHKT-dyeh-nuh)
Saturday 
sestdiena (SAHST-dyeh-nuh)
Sunday 
svētdiena (SVEHT-dyeh-nuh)

Months[edit]

January 
janvāris (YUHN-vah-rihs)
February 
februāris (FEH-brwah-rihs)
March 
marts (muhrts)
April 
aprīlis (UH-pree-lihs)
May 
maijs (maiys)
June 
jūnijs (YOO-niys)
July 
jūlijs (YOO-liys)
August 
augusts (OW-guhsts)
September 
septembris (SEHP-tehm-brihs)
October 
oktobris (OHK-toh-brihs)
November 
novembris (NOH-vehm-brihs)
December 
decembris (DEHT-sehm-brihs)

Writing time and date[edit]

The 24-hour clock is used in Latvia. You may find that Latvians also use it when speaking. The easiest way to tell time in Latvian is to say the hour and then the minutes, e.g. ' three-twenty '.

hour 
stunda (STUHN-duh)
minute 
minūte (MIH-noo-teh)
seconds 
sekundes (SEH-koon-dehs)
o'clock 
pulkstenis/ pulksten (PUHLK-steh-nihs/ PUHLK-stehn)
What time (is it)? 
Kāda laika (tas ir)? (KAH-dah LAI-kah (tahs ihr))
It's______o'clock. 
Ir pulkstenis_____. (ihr PUHLK-steh-nihs)

Colors[edit]

black 
melns (mahlns)
white 
balts (buhlts)
gray 
pelēks (PEH-lehhks)
red 
sarkans (SUHR-kuhns)
blue 
zils (zihls)
yellow 
dzeltens (DZAHL-tahns)
green 
zaļš (zuhlysh)
orange 
oranžs (OH-ruhnzh)
purple 
violets/lillā (VYOH-lehts/LIHL-lahh)
brown 
brūns (broons)
pink 
sārts (sahrts)

Transportation[edit]

car 
mašīna (MAH-shee-nah)
taxi 
taksometrs (TAHK-soh-mehtrs)
bus 
autobuss (OW-toh-boos)
van 
furgons (FOOR-gohns)
truck 
automašīna (OW-toh-mah-shee-nah)
trolley 
trolejbuss (TROH-lei-boos)
tram 
tramvajs (TRAHM-vais)
train 
vilciens (VIHL-tsyehns)
subway 
Metro (MEH-troh)
ship 
kuģis (KUH-yihs)
boat 
laiva (LAI-vah)
helicopter 
helikopters (HEH-lih-kohp-tehrs)
airplane/airline 
lidmašīna (LIHD-mah-shee-nah)
bicycle 
velosipēds (VEH-loh-sih-pehhds)
motorcycle 
motocikls (MOH-toh-tsihkls)
carriage 
pārvadāšanas (PAHHR-vah-dahh-shah-nahs)

Buying Tickets[edit]

Where can I buy tickets? 
Kur var nopirkt biļetes? (koor vuhr NAW-pihrkt BIH-lyeh-tehs?)
I want to travel to... 
Vēlos ceļot uz ... (VAI-lohs TSEH-lyoht uhz)
Do I need to book/make a reservation? 
Vai man ir grāmatas/veikt rezervāciju? (vai muhn ihr GRAH-muh-tuhs/vaykt REH-zehr-vah-tsyoo?)
Is it sold out? 
Tas ir izpārdots? (tahs ihr IHZ-pahhr-dohts?)
Any tickets available? 
Jebkurš biļetes pieejamas? (YEHB-koorsh BIH-lyeh-tehs PYEH-eh-yah-mahs?)
I'd like to book/reserve a seat to... 
Es gribētu rezervēt/rezervēt vietu uz... (ehs GRIH-behh-too REH-zehr-veht/REH-zehr-veht VYEH-too ooz...)
I'd like (a)... 
Es gribētu (a).... (ehs GRIH-behh-too (ah))
...one-way ticket. 
...vienvirziena biļešu. (VYEHN-vihr-zyeh-nah BIH-lyeh-shoo)
...return ticket. 
...atgriešanās biļete. (AHT-gryeh-shah-nahhs BIH-lyeh-teh)
...two tickets. 
...divas biļetes. (DEE-vahs BIH-lyeh-tehs)
...1st. class ticket. 
...2nd. class ticket. 

Bus and Train[edit]

How much is a ticket to _____? 
Cik maksā biļete uz _____? (tsihk MUHK-sahh BIH-lyeh-teh oohz?)
One ticket to _____, please. 
Vienu biļeti uz _____, lūdzu. (VYEH-nuh BIH-lyeh-tih oohz...,LOOD-zoo)
Where does this train/bus go? 
Kur tas vilciens / autobuss iet? (koohr tahs VIHL-tsyenhs/OW-taw-buhs iet?)
Where is the train/bus to _____? 
Kur ir vilciens/autobuss, kas brauc uz _____? (koohr ihr VIHL-tsyehns/OW-taw-booss, kahs browts uhz?)
Does this train/bus stop in _____? 
Vai vilciens/autobuss pietur _____? (vai VIHL-tsyehns/OW-toh-booss PYEH-tuhr?)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave? 
Kad atiet vilciens/autobuss uz _____? (kahd AH-tyeht VIHL-tsyehns/OW-toh-booss uhz?)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____? 
Kad vilciens/autobuss būs _____? (kahd VIHL-tsyehns/OW-toh-booss boos?)

Directions[edit]

How do I get to _____ ? 
Kā lai es tieku uz _____ ? (kah lai ehs TYEH-koo ooz...?)
...the train station? 
...vilcienu staciju? (VIHL-tsyeh-noo STAH-tsyoo?)
...the bus station? 
...autoostu? (OW-toh-aws-too?)
...the airport? 
...lidostu? (LIH-daws-too?)
...downtown? 
...centra virzienā? (TSEHN-trah VYEHR-zyeh-nah?)
...the youth hostel? 
...jauniešu viesnīcu? (YOW-nyeh-shuh VYEHS-nee-tsuh)
...the _____ hotel? 
..._____ viesnīcu? (VYEHS-nee-tsuh)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate? 
...Amerikas/Kanādas/Austrālijas/Lielbritānijas konsulātu? (AMEH-rih-kuhs/KUH-nah-duhs/OWS-trah-lyuhs/LYEHL-brih-tah-nyuhs KOHN-soo-lah-too)
Where are there a lot of... 
Kur te ir daudz... (kuhr teh ihr dowdz...)
...hotels? 
...viesnīcu? (VYEHS-nee-tsoo?)
...restaurants? 
...restorānu? (REHS-toh-rah-noo?)
...bars? 
...bāru? (BAH-roo?)
...sites to see? 
...apskates vietu? (AHPS-kah-tehs VYEH-too?)
Can you show me on the map? 
Vai jūs to varētu man parādīt uz kartes? (vai yoos taw VAH-rehh-too mahn PAH-rahh-deet ooz KAHR-tehs?)
street 
iela (IH-eh-lah)
road 
ceļu (TSEH-lyoo)
avenue 
avēnija (AH-veh-nyah)
boulevard 
bulvāris (BOOL-vahh-rihs)
highway 
automaģistrāle (...)
Turn left. 
Pagriezties pa kreisi. (...)
Turn right. 
Pagriezties pa labi. (...)
left 
pa kreisi (...)
right 
pa labi (...)
straight ahead 
tieši uz priekšu (...)
towards the _____ 
pret _____ (...)
past the _____ 
aiz _____ (...)
before the _____ 
pirms _____ (...)
Watch for the _____. 
Skaties, kur ir _____. (...)
intersection 
krustojums (...)
north 
ziemeļi (ZYEH-meh-lyih)
south 
dienvidi (DYEHN-vih-dih)
east 
austrumi (OWS-troo-mih)
west 
rietumi (RYEH-too-mih)
uphill 
kalnup (KAHL-noop)
downhill 
lejup (LAY-oop)

Taxi[edit]

Taxi. 
Taksometrs. (TAHK-soh-mehtrs)
Take me to _____, please. 
Aizvediet mani uz _____, lūdzu. (AYZ-veh-dyeht MAH-nih uhz...,LOO-dzuh)
How much does it cost to get to _____? 
Cik maksā brauciens līdz _____? (...)
Take me there, please. 
Aizvediet mani uz turieni, lūdzu. (...)

Lodging[edit]

Hotel 
Viesnīca (VYEHS-nee-tsah)
Do you have any rooms available? 
Vai jums ir kāda brīva istaba? (vay yuhms ihr KAH-dah BREE-vah IHS-tah-bah?)
Does the room come with... 
Vai šajā istabā ir...
...bedsheets? 
...palagi?
...a bathroom? 
...vannas istaba?
...a telephone? 
...telefons?
...a TV? 
...televizors?
How much is a room for one person/two people? 
Cik maksā istaba vienai personai/divām personām?
May I see the room first? 
Vai es varētu vispirms apskatīt istabu?
OK, I'll take it. 
Labi, es ņemšu.
I will stay for _____ night(s). 
Es palikšu ___ nakti(s).
Do you have a safe? 
Vai jums ir seifs?
Is breakfast/supper included? 
Vai brokastis/vakariņas ir iekļautas cenā?

Money[edit]

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars? 
Vai jūs pieņemat Amerikas/Austrālijas/Kanādas dolāru? (vai yoos PYEH-nyeh-mah AMEH-rih-kahs/OWS-trahh-lyahs/KAH-nahh-dahs DOH-lahh-ruh?)
Do you accept British pounds? 
Vai Jūs pieņemat Britu mārciņas? (...)
Do you accept credit cards? 
Vai Jūs pieņemat kredītkartes? (...)
Can you change money for me? 
Vai Jūs varētu man samainīt naudu? (...)
Where can I get money changed? 
Kur es varētu samainīt naudu? (...)
Can you change a traveler's check for me? 
Vai Jūs varētu man samainīt ceļojuma čekus? (...)
Where can I get a traveler's check changed? 
Kur es varētu samainīt ceļojuma čekus? (...)
What is the exchange rate? 
Kāds ir valūtas maiņas kurss? (...)
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)? 
Kur ir bankomāts? (...)

Eating[edit]

A table for one person/two people, please. 
Galds vienai personai/diviem cilvēkiem, lūdzu. (Gah-lts VYEH-nai PEHR-soh-nai/DIH-vyehm TSIHL-vehh-kyehm, LOO-dzuh)
Can I look at the menu, please? 
Vai es varu apskatīt ēdienkarti, lūdzu? (...)
Can I look in the kitchen? 
Vai es varu apskatīties virtuvē? (...)
Is there a house specialty? 
Vai ir māju specialitāte? (...)
Is there a local specialty? 
Vai ir vietējā specialitāte? (...)
I'm a vegetarian. 
Es esmu veģetārietis. (...)
I don't eat pork. 
Es neēdu cūkgaļu. (...)
I don't eat beef. 
Es neēdu liellopu gaļu (...)
I only eat kosher food. 
Es tikai ēdu kosher pārtiku. (...)
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard
Vai Jūs varētu to padarīt vieglāku, lūdzu? (...)
fixed-price meal 
fiksētas cenas ēdiens (...)
a la carte 
a la carte (...)
breakfast 
brokastis (...)
lunch 
pusdienas (...)
tea (meal
tēja (...)
supper 
vakariņas (...)
I want _____. 
Es gribu (...)
I want a dish containing _____. 
Es gribu ēdienu, kas satur _____. (...)
chicken 
cālis (...
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