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From The Complete Latvian Phrasebook

Complete first practical phrase chapter, including every subsection and phrase.

Content language: English · Learning language: Latvian

Chapter 1

Survival Essentials

Basic Greetings

Hello.

Sveiki. (svay-kee)

Hello. (formal, to a group or respected person)

Sveicināti. (svay-tsee-naah-tee)

Good morning.

Labrīt. (lah-breat)

Good afternoon.

Labdien. (lahb-dee-an)

Good evening.

Labvakar. (lahb-vah-kahr)

Good night.

Ar labu nakti. (ahr lah-boo nahk-tee)

Goodbye.

Uz redzēšanos. (ooz red-zay-shah-noahs)

See you later.

Tiekamies vēlāk. (tee-kah-meas vay-lahk)

Nice to meet you.

Prieks iepazīties. (pree-aks ee-ah-pah-zee-teas)

Welcome. (Depending on the listener's gender)

To a male: Laipni lūgts. (laip-nee loogts) To a female: Laipni lūgta. (laip-nee loog-tah)

How are you?

Kā jums klājas? (kah yooms klaah-yahs)

How is it going?

Kā iet? (kah eat)

I'm fine.

Man klājas labi. (mahn klaah-yahs lah-bee)

I'm doing great.

Man klājas lieliski. (mahn klaah-yahs lee-ah-lis-kee)

And you?

Un jums? (oon yooms)

Long time no see.

Sen neredzēti. (san ne-red-zay-tee)

Have a nice day.

Jauku dienu. (yau-koo dee-ah-noo)

See you tomorrow.

Tiekamies rīt. (tee-kah-meas reat)

Bye. (casual)

Atā. (ah-tah)

Take care.

Saudzējiet sevi. (sau-dzay-yeat se-vee)

Politeness & Basics

Please.

Lūdzu. (loo-dzoo)

Thank you.

Paldies. (pahl-deas)

Thank you very much.

Liels paldies. (lee-als pahl-deas)

You're welcome.

Nav par ko. (nahu pahr ko)

Excuse me.

Atvainojiet. (aht-vai-noy-yeat)

I'm sorry.

Piedodiet. (pya-daw-dyeat)

No problem.

Nekādu problēmu. (ne-kaa-doo proab-lae-moo)

That's okay.

Viss kārtībā. (vees kaahr-tee-baa)

Of course.

Protams. (praw-tahms)

Don't worry.

Neuztraucieties. (ne-ooz-trau-tsyeat-eas)

Yes.

Jā. (yah)

No.

Nē. (nae)

Maybe.

Varbūt. (vahr-boot)

Okay.

Labi. (lah-bee)

I understand.

Es saprotu. (as sah-pro-too)

I don't understand.

Es nesaprotu. (as ne-sah-pro-too)

Do you speak English?

Vai jūs runājat angliski? (vai yoos roo-naa-yaht ahn-glis-kee)

I don't speak Latvian.

Es nerunāju latviski. (as ne-roo-naa-yoo laht-vis-kee)

Help me.

Palīdziet man. (pah-lead-zyeat mahn)

Congratulations.

Apsveicu. (ahp-svay-tsoo)

Core Survival Patterns

Pattern: I need …

I need a map.

Man vajag karti. (mahn vah-yahg kahr-tee)

I need help.

Man vajag palīdzību. (mahn vah-yahg pah-lead-zee-boo)

I need a doctor.

Man vajag ārstu. (mahn vah-yahg ahr-stoo)

I need water.

Man vajag ūdeni. (mahn vah-yahg oo-de-nee)

I need a taxi.

Man vajag taksometru. (mahn vah-yahg tahk-so-met-roo)

Pattern: I want …

I want this.

Es gribu šo. (as gree-boo shaw)

I want a ticket.

Es gribu biļeti. (as gree-boo bee-lye-tee)

I want coffee.

Es gribu kafiju. (as gree-boo kah-fee-yoo)

I want to pay.

Es gribu samaksāt. (as gree-boo sah-mahk-saat)

I want to sleep.

Es gribu gulēt. (as gree-boo goo-leat)

Pattern: I would like …

I would like a menu.

Es vēlētos ēdienkarti. (as vay-lae-toahs ae-dyan-kahr-tee)

I would like a tea.

Es vēlētos tēju. (as vay-lae-toahs tae-yoo)

I would like a room.

Es vēlētos istabu. (as vay-lae-toahs ees-tah-boo)

I would like some water.

Es vēlētos ūdeni. (as vay-lae-toahs oo-de-nee)

I would like to check out.

Es vēlētos izrakstīties. (as vay-lae-toahs eez-rahk-stee-tyeas)

Pattern: Can you …?

Can you help me?

Vai jūs varat man palīdzēt? (vai yoos vah-raht mahn pah-lead-zeat)

Can you repeat?

Vai jūs varat atkārtot? (vai yoos vah-raht aht-kaahr-tawt)

Can you write it down?

Vai jūs varat to pierakstīt? (vai yoos vah-raht taw pya-rahk-steat)

Can you speak slower?

Vai jūs varat runāt lēnāk? (vai yoos vah-raht roo-naat lae-naak)

Can you show me?

Vai jūs varat man parādīt? (vai yoos vah-raht mahn pah-raa-deat)

Pattern: Where is …?

Where is the bathroom?

Kur ir tualete? (koor eer twah-le-te)

Where is the hotel?

Kur ir viesnīca? (koor eer vyas-nee-tsah)

Where is the station?

Kur ir stacija? (koor eer stah-tsee-yah)

Where is the pharmacy?

Kur ir aptieka? (koor eer ahp-tye-kah)

Where is the exit?

Kur ir izeja? (koor eer ee-zay-yah)

This reading preserves the complete source section, including its original examples and any translations already in the book. It has not been rewritten or translated for this preview.