The Latvian course
Learn Latvian ten words at a time
Latviešu
Ten games of ten words: the hundred most useful Latvian words and expressions you could live on for years, from greetings and ordering food to numbers, small talk and getting around. Play a lesson in the box beside its words, and the next one starts itself.
Latvian challenge
Do you know the essentials? 25 quick questions from across the course. Score high and you are ready for the trip.
Latvian · Lesson 1 of 10
Greetings and politeness
Hello, thanks, please: the ten openers everything else builds on.
- LabdienLAB-dyen
- Hello
- SveikiSVAY-kee
- Hi
- Labrītlab-REET
- Good morning
- Ar labu naktiar LA-bu NAK-ti
- Good night
- Liels paldieslyels PAL-dyes
- Thank you very much
- PaldiesPAL-dyes
- Thanks
- LūdzuLOO-dzu
- You're welcome
- LūdzuLOO-dzu
- Please
- AtvainojietAT-vai-no-yet
- Excuse me
- Uz redzēšanosooz re-DZEH-sha-nos
- Goodbye
Latvian · Lesson 2 of 10
Order anything by pointing
One beer please, one of these please, the bill: survive any menu.
- Vienu alu, lūdzuVYE-noo AH-loo LOOD-zoo
- One beer please
- Vienu no šiem, lūdzuVYE-noo naw SHYEM LOOD-zoo
- One of these please
- Vienu kafiju, lūdzuVYE-noo KAH-fee-yoo LOOD-zoo
- One coffee please
- Divus, lūdzuDEE-voos LOOD-zoo
- Two please
- Vēl vienu, lūdzuvehl VYE-noo LOOD-zoo
- One more please
- Cik tas maksā?tsik tas MAK-sah
- How much is it?
- Rēķinu, lūdzuREHK-ee-noo LOOD-zoo
- The bill please
- Tas ir visstas eer vees
- That's everything
- Priekā!PRYE-kah
- Cheers!
- Uz veselību!ooz ve-se-LEE-bu
- Bless you
Latvian · Lesson 3 of 10
Yes, no and the essentials
The tiny words that carry half of every conversation.
- Jāyah
- Yes
- Nēneh
- No
- LabiLA-bee
- Okay
- Protams, nav problēmuPRO-tams nav pro-BLEH-moo
- Sure no problem
- Es nezinues NEH-zee-noo
- I don't know
- Es nesaprotues neh-sa-PRO-too
- I don't understand
- Vai jūs runājat angliski?vai yoos roo-NAH-yat ANG-lees-kee
- Do you speak English?
- NedaudzNEH-dowdz
- A little
- ProtamsPRO-tams
- Of course
- Viss ir kārtībāvees eer KAHR-tee-bah
- Everything is fine
Latvian · Lesson 4 of 10
Numbers and money
Counting, prices, paying by card or cash.
- Viensvyens
- One
- DiviDEE-vee
- Two
- Trīstrees
- Three
- ČetriCHEH-tree
- Four
- PieciPYEH-tsee
- Five
- DesmitDES-mit
- Ten
- Simtssimts
- One hundred
- EiroAY-ro
- Euro (€)
- Ar kartiar KAR-tee
- By card
- Skaidrā naudāSKAID-rah NOW-dah
- In cash
Latvian · Lesson 5 of 10
At the supermarket
Bread, milk, a bag, nothing else thanks: the checkout routine.
- MaizeMY-zeh
- Bread
- Pienspyens
- Milk
- Sierssyerss
- Cheese
- ŪdensOO-dens
- Water
- Vai vajag maisiņu?vai VA-yag MAI-see-nyoo
- A bag?
- Vai jums ir...?vai yooms eer
- Do you have...?
- Kur atrodas...?koor at-RO-das
- Where is...?
- Šo, lūdzushaw LOOD-zoo
- This one
- Nekas citsNEH-kas tsits
- Nothing else
- Jauku dienuYOW-koo DYE-noo
- Have a nice day
Latvian · Lesson 6 of 10
Cafe and restaurant
A table, the menu, a compliment to the kitchen.
- Galdiņu diviem, lūdzuGAL-dee-nyoo DEE-vyem LOOD-zoo
- A table for two
- Ēdienkarti, lūdzuEH-dyen-kar-tee LOOD-zoo
- The menu please
- Rīgas Melnais balzamsREE-gas MEL-nais BAL-zams
- Riga Black Balsam
- Glāzi vīna, lūdzuGLAH-zee VEE-na LOOD-zoo
- A glass of wine
- Uzvaras aluooz-VA-ras AH-loo
- Latvian craft beer
- SkābputraSKAHB-poot-rah
- Skābputra (sour porridge)
- Tas ir ļoti garšīgitas eer LYAW-tee gar-SHEE-gee
- It's delicious
- Bez cukurabez TSOO-koo-rah
- Without sugar
- LīdziLEED-zee
- To take away
- Paturiet atlikumupa-TOOR-yet at-LEE-koo-moo
- Keep the change
Latvian · Lesson 7 of 10
Small talk and neighbors
How are you, nice day, see you soon: superficial and proud of it.
- Kā jums klājas?kah yooms KLAH-yas
- How are you? (polite)
- Kā tev klājas?kah tev KLAH-yas
- How are you? (casual)
- Man iet labiman yet LA-bee
- I'm fine
- Un jums?oon yooms
- And you?
- Kas jaunums?kas YOW-noomss
- What's new?
- Labs laiks, vai ne?labs LAIKSS vai neh
- Nice weather huh?
- Tiekamies drīzTYE-ka-myes dreez
- See you soon
- Patīkamu vakarupa-TEE-ka-moo VA-ka-roo
- Have a nice evening
- Sveicini ģimeneiSVAY-tsee-nee GYEE-me-nay
- Say hi to the family
- Visu labuVEE-soo LA-boo
- All the best
Latvian · Lesson 8 of 10
Getting around
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet.
- Kur ir tualete?koor eer too-a-LEH-teh
- Where is the toilet?
- Pa kreisipa KRAY-see
- Left
- Pa labipa LA-bee
- Right
- TaisniTAIS-nee
- Straight ahead
- Šeitshayt
- Here
- Turtoor
- There
- TramvajsTRAM-vaiss
- Tram
- Centrālā stacijatsen-TRAH-lah STA-tsee-ya
- Central station
- Vienu biļeti, lūdzuVYE-noo bee-LYEH-tee LOOD-zoo
- One ticket please
- Apstājieties šeit, lūdzuap-STAH-yeh-tyes shayt LOOD-zoo
- Stop here please
Latvian · Lesson 9 of 10
Time and days
Today, tomorrow, later, the weekend.
- ŠodienSHAW-dyen
- Today
- Rītreet
- Tomorrow
- VakarVA-kar
- Yesterday
- TagadTA-gad
- Now
- VēlākVEH-lahk
- Later
- Cik ir pulkstenis?tsik eer POOLKS-teh-nis
- What time is it?
- PirmdienaPIRM-dye-na
- Monday
- SestdienaSEST-dye-na
- Saturday
- SvētdienaSVEHT-dye-na
- Sunday
- Nedēļas nogaleneh-DEH-lyas NO-ga-leh
- The weekend
Latvian · Lesson 10 of 10
Help and emergencies
The words you hope to never need.
- Palīgā!PA-lee-gah
- Help!
- Izsauciet ārstuiz-SOW-tsyet AHRSS-too
- Call a doctor
- Policijapo-LEE-tsee-ya
- Police
- Aptiekaap-TYE-ka
- Pharmacy
- SlimnīcaSLIM-nee-tsa
- Hospital
- Es esmu pazudises ES-moo pa-ZOO-dis
- I'm lost
- Man ir sliktiman eer SLIK-tee
- I don't feel well
- Mans maksmans maks
- My wallet
- To nozagataw NO-za-ga
- It was stolen
- Tas ir steidzamitas eer STAYD-za-mee
- It's urgent