Language/Standard-latvian/Vocabulary/Numbers-and-time

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Standard Latvian → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and time

Welcome to our lesson on Standard Latvian Vocabulary, where we will explore the essential topics of numbers and telling time. Mastering these concepts is crucial for everyday conversations, shopping, scheduling, and understanding the rhythm of daily life in Latvia. Whether you're planning a trip, making a new friend, or just want to expand your language skills, knowing how to use numbers and tell time in Latvian will serve you well.

In this lesson, we will break down the following topics:

Cardinal Numbers

We will start with cardinal numbers, which are the basic counting numbers we use in everyday situations.

Introduction to Cardinal Numbers

Cardinal numbers are used for counting (one, two, three, etc.). They are fundamental in various contexts, such as shopping, telling someone your age, or discussing quantities.

Cardinal Numbers in Standard Latvian

Let’s look at the cardinal numbers from one to ten, along with their pronunciation and English translations:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
viens	viɛns	one
divi	diːvi	two
trīs	triːs	three
četri	t͡ʃɛtri	four
pieci	pjeːtsi	five
seši	sεʃi	six
septiņi	sεptiɲi	seven
astoņi	aːstoɲi	eight
deviņi	dεviɲi	nine
desmit	dɛsmit	ten

As you move on, you'll notice a pattern in the formation of numbers. For instance, eleven to nineteen is formed by adding the suffix "-padsmit" (meaning "teen") to the base number.

Here are a few examples:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
vienpadsmit	viɛn.pɑd.smɪt	eleven
divpadsmit	diːv.pɑd.smɪt	twelve
trīspadsmit	triːs.pɑd.smɪt	thirteen
četri padsmit	t͡ʃɛtri.pɑd.smɪt	fourteen
piecpadsmit	pjeːts.pɑd.smɪt	fifteen
sešpadsmit	sεʃ.pɑd.smɪt	sixteen
septiņpadsmit	sεptiɲ.pɑd.smɪt	seventeen
astoņpadsmit	aːstoɲ.pɑd.smɪt	eighteen
deviņpadsmit	dεviɲ.pɑd.smɪt	nineteen

The number twenty is divdesmit (diːv.dɛs.mɪt), and you can build upon this to create higher numbers, for instance:

• Twenty-one: divdesmit viens (diːv.dɛs.mɪt viɛns)

• Twenty-two: divdesmit divi (diːv.dɛs.mɪt diːvi)

And so on, continuing this pattern for each decade.

Larger Numbers

When you reach hundreds and thousands, the structure is similar.

• One hundred: simts (sɪmts)

• Two hundred: divsimti (diːv.sɪm.ti)

• One thousand: tūkstotis (tuːk.sto.tis)

You can combine these numbers similarly to create larger ones.

Ordinal Numbers

Next, we’ll explore ordinal numbers, which are used to indicate position or order (first, second, third, etc.).

Introduction to Ordinal Numbers

Ordinal numbers are essential when you are discussing dates, rankings, or sequences.

Ordinal Numbers in Standard Latvian

Here are the first ten ordinal numbers in Latvian:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
pirmais	pɪr.mɛjs	first
otrais	ɔ.trais	second
trešais	trɛ.ʃais	third
ceturtais	t͡sɛ.tur.tais	fourth
piektais	pjeːk.tais	fifth
sesto	sεs.tɔ	sixth
septītais	sεp.ti.tais	seventh
astotais	aːs.tɔ.tais	eighth
devītais	dε.vī.tais	ninth
desmitais	dɛs.mi.tais	tenth

As you can see, the formation of ordinal numbers is relatively straightforward. For numbers beyond ten, you simply continue the pattern. For example:

• Eleventh: vienpadsmitais (viɛn.pɑd.smɪt.ais)

• Twelfth: divpadsmitais (diːv.pɑd.smɪt.ais)

You can use ordinal numbers when describing days of the month as well. For instance, the first of April would translate to pirmais aprīlis (pɪr.mɛjs a.priː.lis).

Telling Time

Now that we've covered numbers, let's tackle telling time in Latvian.

Introduction to Telling Time

Being able to tell the time is a vital skill for any language learner. It allows you to engage in conversations about plans, appointments, and routines.

How to Tell Time in Standard Latvian

In Latvian, the structure for telling time is quite straightforward. You typically start with "ir" (is) followed by the hour and then the minutes.

Examples of Telling Time:

Standard Latvian	Pronunciation	English
Ir viens	ir viɛns	It is one o'clock
Ir divi	ir diːvi	It is two o'clock
Ir trīs	ir triːs	It is three o'clock
Ir četri	ir t͡ʃɛtri	It is four o'clock
Ir pieci	ir pjeːtsi	It is five o'clock
Ir seši	ir sεʃi	It is six o'clock
Ir septiņi	ir sεptiɲi	It is seven o'clock
Ir astoņi	ir aːstoɲi	It is eight o'clock
Ir deviņi	ir dεviɲi	It is nine o'clock
Ir desmit	ir dɛsmit	It is ten o'clock

When it comes to minutes, you can add them after the hour.

For example:

• It is one fifteen would be Ir viens un piecpadsmit (ir viɛns un pjeːk.pɑd.smɪt).

• It is two thirty would be Ir divi un trīsdesmit (ir diːvi un triːs.dɛs.mɪt).

If you are telling time using the half-hour, you can use the phrase pusstundas (half an hour).

• It is one thirty: Ir viens un pusstundas (ir viɛns un pus.stun.das).

Asking for the Time

To ask for the time, you can simply say:

• Cik ir pulkstenis? (t͡sik ir pulk.ste.nis?) – What time is it?

Practice Exercises

Now that we've covered the basics, let’s put your new knowledge to the test with some exercises!

Exercise 1: Fill in the Blanks

Fill in the blanks with the correct cardinal number.

1. Man ir _____ gadi. (I am ___ years old.)

2. Mums ir _____ kaķi. (We have ___ cats.)

Answers:

1. viens (one)

2. divi (two)

Exercise 2: Translate the Numbers

Translate the following numbers from English to Latvian.

1. Seven

2. Eleven

3. Eighteen

Answers:

1. septiņi

2. vienpadsmit

3. astoņpadsmit

Exercise 3: Ordering the Days

Write out the following ordinal numbers in Latvian.

1. Fourth

2. Sixth

3. Tenth

Answers:

1. ceturtais

2. sestais

3. desmitais

Exercise 4: Telling Time

Translate the following sentences into Latvian.

1. It is three o'clock.

2. It is one thirty.

Answers:

1. Ir trīs.

2. Ir viens un pusstundas.

Exercise 5: Ask for the Time

Practice asking for the time in Latvian.

1. How do you say "What time is it?" in Latvian?

Answer:

Cik ir pulkstenis?

Exercise 6: Describe Your Day

Use the cardinal numbers to describe your daily schedule as follows:

• I wake up at seven.

• I eat breakfast at eight.

Example Answers:

• Es mostos septiņos.

• Es ēdu brokastis astoņos.

Exercise 7: Create a Dialogue

Write a short dialogue using numbers and telling time.

Example:

A: Cik ir pulkstenis? (What time is it?)

B: Ir pieci. (It is five.)

Exercise 8: Number Combinations

Combine the numbers to create larger numbers.

1. Twenty-three

2. Thirty-five

Answers:

1. divdesmit trīs

2. trīsdesmit pieci

Exercise 9: Arrange in Order

Put the following ordinal numbers in order:

1. Fifth

2. First

3. Third

Answers:

1. pirmais

2. trešais

3. piektais

Exercise 10: Time Practice

How would you say the following times in Latvian?

1. It is four fifteen.

2. It is seven thirty.

Answers:

1. Ir četri un piecpadsmit.

2. Ir septiņi un trīsdesmit.

Conclusion

Congratulations! You've just taken significant steps toward mastering the basic vocabulary of numbers and telling time in Standard Latvian. These skills will enrich your conversations and daily interactions as you continue on your language learning journey. Remember, practice makes perfect, so don’t hesitate to use numbers and time in your conversations as often as you can.

Keep challenging yourself, and soon you'll find that communicating in Latvian becomes second nature. Happy learning!

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

  ---

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

  ---

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

  ---

Latvian history and politics

• Major historical events and figures
• Modern politics and society

  ---

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

  ---

The genitive and possessive forms

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

  ---

Health and wellness

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

  ---

Latvian sports and outdoor activities

• Popular sports and events
• Nature and outdoor recreation

Other Lessons

• Means of transport and directions
• Health
• Free time activities and sports
• Family and relationships
• Jobs and professions
• School subjects and degrees
• Days of the Week
• Drinks
• Food

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