Language/Standard-latvian/Vocabulary/Family-and-relationships
Family and Relationships in Standard Latvian
Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn how to talk about family members and various relationships in Standard Latvian. Family is very important in Latvian culture, and it is customary to have large extended families. Latvians also value personal relationships and friendships, so it is useful to know how to talk about them in Latvian.
Family Members
Here are some common family members and how to say them in Standard Latvian:
| Standard Latvian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| tētis | TEH-tis | father |
| māte | MAH-teh | mother |
| dēls | dehls | son |
| meita | MAY-tah | daughter |
| brālis | BRAH-lis | brother |
| māsa | MAH-sa | sister |
| vecmāmiņa | vets-MAH-mee-nya | grandmother |
| vectētis | vets-TEH-tis | grandfather |
| puisis | pwee-sis | boyfriend |
| meitene | MAY-teh-neh | girlfriend |
Family Relationships
Here are some common family relationships and how to say them in Standard Latvian:
- mana ģimene - my family
- mūsu ģimene - our family
- draudzene - female friend/girlfriend
- draugs - male friend/boyfriend
- sieva - wife
- vīrs - husband
- vecāki - parents
- bērni - children
- māsa - sister
- brālis - brother
- tēvs - father
- māte - mother
- meita - daughter
- dēls - son
- vectēvs - grandfather
- vecmāmiņa - grandmother
Important Phrases
Here are some useful phrases for talking about family and relationships in Latvian:
- Sveiki, mani vecāki ir... - Hello, my parents are...
- Man ir brālis/māsa. - I have a brother/sister.
- Es mīlu savu sievu/vīru. - I love my wife/husband.
- Man ir draudzene/draugs. - I have a girlfriend/boyfriend.
- Es mīlu savu bērnu. - I love my child.
- Mana ģimene ir man svarīga. - My family is important to me.
Conclusion
Learning how to talk about family members and relationships in Standard Latvian is an important step in becoming proficient in the language. It will allow you to communicate more effectively with Latvians and gain a deeper appreciation of their culture. Use the above vocabulary and phrases to start practicing today!