Latvian phrasebook

Pronunciation guide / Vowels / Consonants / Common diphthongs / Phrase list / Basics / Problems / Numbers / Time / Clock time / Duration / Days / Months / Writing time and date / Colors / Transportation / Bus and train / Directions / Taxi / Lodging / Money / Eating / Latvian phrasebook nightlife, bars, clubs and pubs. / Shopping / Driving / Authority

Latvian is the official language in the Republic of Latvia, spoken natively by approximately 60% of the residents of Latvia. It is an Indo-European language that shares its own Baltic language group with Lithuanian, and is not a slavic, nor germanic language, therefore having nothing in common with Russian or German, except the fact that they are all Indo-European languages. Baltic languages are the most ancient of them.

Pronunciation guide

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.

Vowels

a: as in 'u' in "cup"
ā: as in 'a' in "another" long sound

e: as in 'e' in "pet" and 'a' in "fat"
ē: as in 'ai' in "fair" and 'a' in "spar" but longer
i: as in 'i' in "pin"
ī: as in 'ee' in "speed" long sound
o: as in 'o' in "pot" and 'oa' in "oats"
u: as in 'u' in "pull"
ū: as in 'oo' in "pool" long sound

Consonants

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

Common diphthongs

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

Basics

Hello.: Sveika! [f](SVYEH-kah)
Hello.: Sveiks! [m] (SVEH-eeks)
How are you?: Kā jums klājas?(kaah yooms KLAA-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.(yaa)
No.: Nē. (neh)
Excuse me.: Atvainojiet. (AHT-vay-noh-yeht)
I'm sorry.: Piedodiet.(pyeh-DOH-dyeht)
Goodbye: Uz redzēšanos. (ooz REHD-zehh-shuh-nohs)
Goodbye (informal): Atā. (UH-taah)
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, kas māk angļu valodu? (VUH-ee teh eer kaads, kuhs maak AHN-glyoo VUH-loh-doo?)
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

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

0: nulle (NOOL-leh)
1: viens (vyehns)
2: divi (DIH-vih)
3: trīs (trees)
4: četri (CHEH-trih)
5: pieci (PYEH-tsih)
6: seši (SEH-shih)
7: septiņi (SEHP-tih-nyih)
8: astoņi (UHS-toa-nyih)
9: 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

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

one o'clock: pulkstens viens (...)
two o'clock: pulkstens divi (...)
three o'clock: pulkstens trīs (...)
four o'clock: pulkstens četri (...)
five o'clock: pulkstens pieci (...)
six o'clock: pulkstens seši (...)
seven o'clock: pulkstens septiņi (...)
eight o'clock: pulkstens astoņi (...)
nine o'clock: pulkstens deviņi (...)
ten o'clock: pulkstens desmit (...)
eleven o'clock: pulkstens vienpadsmit (...)
twelve o'clock: pulkstens divpadsmit (...)

quarter to seven, 17:45: bez piecpadsmit minūtēm seši
quarter past seven, 18:15: piecpadsmit minūtes pāri sešiem
half past seven, 18:30: pusseptiņi

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minūte(s) (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ stunda(s) (...)
_____ day(s): _____ diena(s) (...)
_____ week(s): _____ nedēļa(s) (...)
_____ month(s): _____ mēnesis(mēneši) (...)
_____ year(s): _____ gads(gadi) (...)

Days

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

January: janvāris (...)
February: februāris (...)
March: marts (...)
April: aprīlis (...)
May: maijs (...)
June: jūnijs (...)
July: jūlijs (...)
August: augusts (...)
September: septembris (...)
October: oktobris (...)
November: novembris (...)
December: decembris (...)

Writing time and date

Colors

black: melns (...)
white: balts (...)
gray: pelēks (...)
red: sarkans (...)
blue: zils (...)
yellow: dzeltens (...)
green: zaļš (...)
orange: oranžs (...)
purple: violets/lillā (...)
brown: brūns (...)

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?: Cik maksā biļete uz _____? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: Vienu biļeti uz _____, lūdzu. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: Uz kurieni/kurp dodas šis vilciens/autobuss? (...)
Where is the train/bus to _____?: Kur ir vilciens/autobuss, kas brauc uz _____? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: Vai vilciens/autobuss pietur _____? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Kad atiet vilciens/autobuss uz _____? (...)
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: Kad vilciens/autobuss būs _____? (...)

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: Kā lai es tieku uz _____ ? (...)
...the train station?: ...vilcienu staciju? (...)
...the bus station?: ...autoostu? (...)
...the airport?: ...lidostu? (...)
...downtown?: ...centra virzienā? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...jauniešu viesnīcu? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ..._____ viesnīcu? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...Amerikas/Kanādas/Austrālijas/Lielbritānijas konsulātu? (...)
Where are there a lot of...: Kur te ir daudz... (...)
...hotels?: ...viesnīcu? (...)
...restaurants?: ...restorānu? (...)
...bars?: ...bāru? (...)
...sites to see?: ...apskates vietu? (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Vai jūs to varētu man parādīt uz kartes? (...)
street: iela (...)
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 (...)
south: dienvidi (...)
east: austrumi (...)
west: rietumi (...)
uphill: kalnup (...)
downhill: lejup (...)

Taxi

Taxi.: Taksometrs. (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Aizvediet mani uz _____, lūdzu. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Cik maksā brauciens līdz _____? (...)
Take me there, please.: Aizvediet mani uz turieni, lūdzu. (...)

Lodging

Hotel: Viesnīca
Do you have any rooms available?: Vai jums ir kāda brīva istaba?
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

Eating

Breakfast: Brokastis
Dinner: Pusdienas
Supper: Vakariņas