Latvian phrasebook

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Latvian or Lettish is the language is spoken natively by most of the 1.4 million residents of Latvia. It is an Indo-European language that shares its own Baltic branch of that linguistic family with Lithuanian.

[edit] 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.

[edit] 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

[edit] 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"

[edit] 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"

[edit] Phrase list

[edit] Basics

Hello. 

Sveika! [f](sveh_ee-kah)

Hello. 

Sveiks! [m] (sveh_eeks)

How are you? 

Kā jums klājas?(kaah yooms KLAA-yahs?)

Fine, thank you. 

Labi, paldies. (LAH-bee, pahl-DEAS )

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. (preaks EA-pah-zee-teas)

Please 

Lūdzu. (LOO-dzuh)

Thank you 

Paldies. (pahl-DEAS)

You're welcome. 

Lūdzu. (LOO-dzuh)

Yes. 

Jā.(yaa)

No. 

Nē. (neh)

Excuse me. 

Atvainojiet. (AHT-vay-noh-yeat)

I'm sorry. 

Piedodiet.(peeah-DOH-deeaht)

Goodbye 

Uz redzēšanos. ( )

Goodbye (informal) 

Atā. ( )

I can't speak Latvian [well]. 

Es nemāku latviešu valodu [labi]. ( [ ])

Do you speak English? 

Vai jūs runājat angliski? ( ?)

Is there someone here who speaks English? 

Vai te ir kāds, kas māk angļu valodu? ( ?)

Help! 

Palīgā! ( !)

Look out! 

Uzmanies! ( !)

Good morning 

Labrīt

Good day 

Labdien

Good evening 

Labvakar

Good night. 

. ( )

Good night (to sleep) 

Arlabunakti. ( )

I don't understand. 

Es nesaprotu. ( )

Where is the toilet? 

Kur ir tualete? ( ?)

[edit] Problems

Leave me alone. 

Ej prom. (...)

Don't touch me! 

Neaizskar mani! (...)

I'll call the police. 

Es zvanīšu policijai. (...)

Police! 

Policija! (...)

Stop! Thief! 

Ķeriet zagli! (...)

I need your help. 

Man vajag jūsu palīdzību. (...)

It's an emergency. 

Ir avārijas situācija. (...)

I'm lost. 

Esmu apmaldījies (male)/apmaldījusies (female). (...)

I lost my bag. 

Es pazaudēju savu somu. (...)

I lost my wallet. 

Es pazaudēju savu maku. (...)

I'm sick. 

Esmu slims (male)/slima (female). (...)

I've been injured. 

Es esmu ievainots. (...)

I need a doctor. 

Man vajag ārstu. (...)

Can I use your phone? 

Vai es drīkstu izmantot jūsu telefonu? (...)

[edit] Numbers

1 

viens (veans)

2 

divi (divi)

3 

trīs (trees)

4 

četri (chet-ri)

5 

pieci (pea-tsi)

6 

seši (se-shi)

7 

septiņi (sep-ti-nyi)

8 

astoņi (us-toa-nyi)

9 

deviņi (de-vi-nyi)

10 

desmit (...)

11 

vienpadsmit (...)

12 

divpadsmit (...)

13 

trīspadsmit (...)

14 

četrpadsmit (...)

15 

piecpadsmit (...)

16 

sešpadsmit (...)

17 

septiņpadsmit (...)

18 

astoņpadsmit (...)

19 

deviņpadsmit (...)

20 

divdesmit (...)

21 

divdesmit viens (...)

22 

divdesmit divi (...)

23 

divdesmit trīs (...)

30 

trīsdesmit (...)

40 

četrdesmit (...)

50 

piecdesmit (...)

60 

sešdesmit (...)

70 

septiņdesmit (...)

80 

astoņdesmit (...)

90 

deviņdesmit (...)

100 

simts (...)

200 

divi simti (...)

300 

trīs simti (...)

1000 

tūkstotis (...)

2000 

divi tūkstoši (...)

1,000,000 

miljons (...')

1,000,000,000 

miljards (...)

1,000,000,000,000 

biljons (...)

number _____ (train, bus, etc.) 

numurs _____ (...)

half 

daļēji; pus (...)

less 

mazāk (...)

more 

vairāk (...)

[edit] Time

What time is it? 

Cik ir pulkstenis? (...)

What time? 

Cikos? (...)

When?

Kad? (...)

Now 

tagad (...)

Later 

vēlāk (...)

second

sekunde (...)

minute 

minūte (...)

half an hour 

pusstunda (...)

hour 

stunda (...)

morning 

rīts (...)

in the morning 

no rīta (...)

evening 

vakars (...)

in the evening

vakarā (...)

night 

nakts (...)

[edit] 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

[edit] 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) (...)

[edit] Days

today 

šodien (...)

yesterday 

vakar (...)

tomorrow 

rīt (...)

this week 

šonedēļ (...)

last week 

pagājušonedēļ (...)

next week 

nākošnedēļ (...)

Monday 

pirmdiena (...)

Tuesday 

otrdiena (...)

Wednesday 

trešdiena (...)

Thursday 

ceturtdiena (...)

Friday 

piektdiena (...)

Saturday 

sestdiena (...)

Sunday 

svētdiena (...)

[edit] 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 (...)

[edit] Writing time and date

[edit] Colors

black 

melns (...)

white 

balts (...)

gray 

pelēks (...)

red 

sarkans (...)

blue 

zils (...)

yellow 

dzeltens (...)

green 

zaļš (...)

orange 

oranžs (...)

purple 

violets/lillā (...)

brown 

brūns (...)

[edit] Transportation

[edit] 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 _____? (...)

[edit] 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 (...)

[edit] 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. (...)

[edit] 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?

[edit] Money

[edit] Eating

Breakfast 

Brokastis

Dinner 

Pusdienas

Supper 

Vakariņas

[edit] Bars

Beer 

Alus

[edit] Shopping

Do you have this in my size? 

Jums ir mans izmērs?

How much is this? 

Cik tas maksā?

That's too expensive. 

Tas ir pārāk dārgi.

Would you take _____? 

Jūs pieņemat _____?

expensive 

dārgi

cheap 

lēti

I can't afford it. 

Es to nevaru atļauties.

I don't want it. 

Es to nevēlos.

You're cheating me. 

Jūs mani krāpjat.

I'm not interested. 

Mani tas neinteresē.

OK, I'll take it. 

Labi, es to ņemšu.

I need... 

Man vajag/vajadzētu...

...toothpaste. 

...zobu pastu.

...a toothbrush. 

...zobu birsti.

...tampons. 

...tamponus.

...soap. 

...ziepes.

...shampoo. 

...šampūnu.

...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen) 

...atsāpinošas tabletes.

...cold medicine. 

...zāles pret saaukstēšanos.

...an umbrella. 

...lietussargu.

...postage stamps. 

...pastmarkas.

...batteries. 

...baterijas.

...a pen. 

...pildspalvu.

...English-language books. 

...grāmatas angļu valodā.

[edit] Driving

[edit] Authority

I haven't done anything wrong. 

Es neesmu darījis[male]/darījusi[female] neko sliktu.

It was a misunderstanding. 

Ir radies pārpratums.

Where are you taking me? 

Uz kurieni jūs mani vedat?

Am I under arrest? 

Vai es esmu arestēts[male]/arestēta[female]?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen. 

Es esmu Amerikas/Austrālijas/Lielbritānijas/Kanādas pilsonis[male]/pilsone[female].

I want to talk to a lawyer. 

Es gribu runāt ar advokātu.

Can I just pay a fine now? 

Es varu samaksāt sodu tagad?

[edit] Learning more