Language/Standard-latvian/Vocabulary/Greetings-and-introductions

Standard Latvian Vocabulary → Daily life and routines → Greetings and introductions

Greetings are a fundamental part of any language, and Latvian is no exception. Latvians take pride in their unique language and will appreciate any effort made to learn and use it. In this lesson, you will learn how to introduce yourself and greet people in Latvian.

Consider exploring these related pages after completing this lesson: Days of the Week & Using public transport.

Basic Greetings

The most common way to say hello in Latvian is "sveiki". This word can be used in any situation, whether formal or informal. Another common greeting is "labdien", which is used during the daytime and literally means "good day".

When leaving, you can say "uz redzēšanos" which means "goodbye". Alternatively, you can use "atā" which is a more informal way of saying goodbye.

Here are some examples of basic greetings:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
Sveiki	svay-key	Hello
Labdien	lab-dyen	Good day
Uz redzēšanos	oos red-zay-sha-nos	Goodbye
Atā	ah-tah	Bye

Formal Introductions

In formal situations, it is important to introduce yourself politely. When introducing yourself, you can say "mani sauc" followed by your name. This translates to "my name is". For example, "Mani sauc Anna" means "My name is Anna".

If you want to ask someone's name, you can use "kā jums ir uzvārds?" which means "what is your surname?". Alternatively, you can say "kā jūs sauc?" which means "what is your name?".

Here are some examples of formal introductions:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
Mani sauc Anda.	mah-nee sautz ahn-dah	My name is Anda.
Kā jums ir uzvārds?	kah yoos eer ooz-vahrdz	What is your surname?
Kā jūs sauc?	kah yoos sautz	What is your name?

Informal Introductions

In informal situations, such as meeting friends or family, you can use a more casual approach. When introducing yourself, you can simply say "es esmu" followed by your name. This translates to "I am". For example, "es esmu Anna" means "I am Anna".

If you want to ask someone's name informally, you can use "kā tevi sauc?" which means "what's your name?".

Here are some examples of informal introductions:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
Es esmu Andris.	ess es-moo ahn-dris	I am Andris.
Kā tevi sauc?	kah teh-vee sautz	What is your name?

Formal vs. Informal Addressing

It is important to distinguish formal and informal addressing in Latvian, as the grammar and vocabulary differ accordingly.

In formal situations, people are addressed as "jūs" which is the formal version of "you". When speaking informally, especially with friends and family, the informal version "tu" is used instead.

Here are some examples of formal and informal addressing:

Formal	Informal	English
Kurš jums ir vārds?	Kas tev ir vārds?	What is your name?
Kā jums klājas?	Kā tev klājas?	How are you?
Paldies par jūsu palīdzību.	Paldies par tavu palīdzību.	Thank you for your help.

Conclusion

Learning how to introduce yourself and greet people in Latvian is an important step in mastering the language. By practicing these basic greetings and introductions, you will be able to start conversations and make new friends. Keep in mind the formal and informal distinctions, and you'll be well on your way to becoming proficient in Latvian!

With this lesson finished, you may want to explore these additional pages: Feelings and Emotions & Body parts and basic health issues.

Table of Contents - Standard Latvian Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Latvian grammar

• Nouns and their declensions
• The verb "to be" and basic sentence structure
• Adjectives and their agreement with nouns

  ---

Daily life and routines

• Greetings and introductions
• Numbers and time
• Family and relationships

  ---

Latvian traditions and customs

• Latvian holidays and celebrations
• Latvian cuisine
• Latvian folklore and crafts

  ---

Verbs and tenses

• Latvian verb conjugation in the present tense
• The past tense and other verb forms

  ---

Going shopping and using public transport

• Buying groceries and household items
• Using public transport

  ---

Latvian geography and landmarks

• Latvian cities and regions
• Latvian nature and national parks

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Adverbs and prepositions

• Adverbs of time and location
• Prepositions and their cases

  ---

Leisure activities and hobbies

• Free time activities and sports
• Music, films and books

  ---

Latvian arts and museums

• Latvian art and architecture
• Latvian museums and exhibitions

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The accusative case and indirect objects

• The accusative case and direct objects
• Indirect objects and the dative case

  ---

Education and employment

• School subjects and degrees
• Jobs and professions

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Latvian history and politics

• Major historical events and figures
• Modern politics and society

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Conditional and subjunctive mood

• The conditional mood and hypothetical situations
• The subjunctive mood and wishes

  ---

Travel and tourism

• Means of transport and directions
• Accommodation and booking

  ---

Latvian culture and identity

• Latvian language and literature
• Latvian music and dance traditions

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The genitive and possessive forms

• The genitive case and possession
• The possessive forms and characteristics

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Health and wellness

• Body parts and basic health issues
• Healthy living and habits

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Latvian sports and outdoor activities

• Popular sports and events
• Nature and outdoor recreation

Other Lessons

• Jobs and professions
• Drinks
• Colors
• Family
• Using public transport
• Education
• Clothes
• Free time activities and sports
• How to say Good Bye?
• Idiomatic Expressions