Essential Latvian Phrases

Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.

Here are the bare minimum of Latvian words and phrases you need to know to survive.

Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.

If you need help with pronunciation,
please see the Pronunciation Guide below.

Here are ten easy phrases to get you started ...

The Top 10 ...

Sveiks. (to a man)
Sveika. (to a woman)

Hello.
Uz redzēšanos.
Goodbye.
Vai jūs runājat angliski?
Do you speak English?
Es nesaprotu.
I don't understand.
Nedaudz.
A little.
Jā. Nē.
Yes. No.
Cik maksā ...?

How much is ...?
Pārāk dārgs. Labi.
Too expensive. OK.
Lūdzu.
Please.
(Liels) paldies.
Thank you (very much).

Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ... The Top 20 ...
	Kā jūs sauc? What is your name? Mani sauc ... My name is ... Kā jums klājos? How are you? Labi. Un jums? Fine. And you? Kur ir ...? Where is ...? Kur ir tualetes? Vīriešu/Sievešu Where is the toilet? Men/Women Piedodiet. Atvainojiet. Sorry. Excuse me. Nekādu problēmu. No problem. Es vēlos ... I want ... Es nevēlos ... I don't want ...

Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...

The Top 30 ...

No kurienes jūs esat?
Where are you from?
Es esmu no Austrālijas.*
I am from Australia.
Lūdzu rēķinu.
The bill, please.
Es esmu apmaldījies. (man)
Es esmu apmaldījusies. (woman)
I'm lost.
Apsāties! Pagaidiet!
Stop! Wait!
Šeit, tur.
Here, there.
Taksometrs. Viesnīca. Lidosta. Stacija.
Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station.
Man patīk ...
I like ...
Man nepatīk ...
I don't like ...

viens, divi, trīs, četri, pieci.
one, two, three, four, five.
seši, septiņi, astoņi, deviņi, desmit.
six, seven, eight, nine, ten.

*Or choose your country:
no Amerikas - from America
no Kanādas - from Canada
no Anglijas - from England
no Īrijas - from Ireland
no Jaunzēlandes - from New Zealand

Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...

Useful Extras ...

Priekā!
Cheers!

labs / slikts
good / bad
liels / mazs
big / small
tuvu / tālu
near / far
mazāk / vairāk
less / more
vēl viens / pietiekami
another / enough

Es esmu veģetārietis. (man)
Es esmu veģetāriete. (woman)
I am vegetarian.
Es neēdu gaļu.
I don't eat meat.
... vistu.
... chicken.
... zivis.
... fish.

Es esmu alerģisks pret riekstiem. (man)
Es esmu alerģiska pret riekstiem. (woman)
I am allergic to nuts.
... zemesriekstiem.
... to peanuts.
... zivīm.
... to fish.
... jūras veltem.
... to seafood.
... olām.
... eggs.

Pronunciation Guide

Stress is usually on the first syllable of the word.

Vowels:
A macron indicates a long vowel (ie. ā is a long a, IPA ɑ:).
a is pronounced as a as in spa (ɑ)
e is pronounced a as in pat (æ) or e as in pet (ɛ)
o is pronounced as uo (uɔ)

Consonants:
č is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
ģ is pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
j is pronounced as y as in yell (IPA j)
ķ is pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
ļ is pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ)
ņ is pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
š is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
ž is pronounced as zh as in pleasure (ʒ)