Latvia · Language
Useful Latvian phrases for travel
A few words of Latvian are useful in cafés, hotels, stations and smaller towns. Start with Paldies for thank you, Lūdzu for please, and Labdien for a polite daytime greeting.
The Latvian spellings and core expressions were checked against Latvian tourism and language-learning sources. The English pronunciation is an approximation for first-time visitors.
How to use the pronunciation guide
Capital letters mark the stressed part of each approximation. Long vowels are important in Latvian: ā, ē, ī and ū are held longer than a, e, i and u. The letters š and ž sound roughly like sh and the s in measure; č is like ch, and j is like y in yes. Select Listen to hear each phrase in Latvian.
Hear the Latvian
Select Listen beside any phrase.
Quick answers
How do you say hello in Latvian?
Sveiki! is a useful general hello. Labdien! is a polite greeting during the day, while Labrīt! means good morning.
How do you say thank you in Latvian?
Paldies means thank you. Liels paldies means many thanks or thank you very much.
How do you say please in Latvian?
Lūdzu means please. It is also used when offering something and as a reply to thanks.
How do you say goodbye in Latvian?
Uz redzēšanos! is the standard polite goodbye.
What is the emergency number in Latvia?
Call 112 when life, health, safety, the environment or property is in danger. The call is free from landlines and mobile phones in Latvia.
Greetings and basics
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sveiki! | PronunciationSVAY-kee | EnglishHello | |
| Labrīt! | Pronunciationlah-BREET | EnglishGood morning | |
| Labdien! | PronunciationLAHB-dyehn | EnglishGood day / Good afternoon | |
| Labvakar! | PronunciationLAHB-vah-kahr | EnglishGood evening | |
| Ar labu nakti! | Pronunciationahr LAH-boo NAHK-tee | EnglishGood night | |
| Uz redzēšanos! | Pronunciationooz REHD-zay-shah-nohs | EnglishGoodbye | |
| Jā | Pronunciationyah | EnglishYes | |
| Nē | Pronunciationneh | EnglishNo | |
| Lūdzu | PronunciationLOOD-zoo | EnglishPlease / You are welcome | |
| Paldies | PronunciationPAHL-dyehs | EnglishThank you | |
| Liels paldies | Pronunciationlyehls PAHL-dyehs | EnglishThank you very much | |
| Nav par ko | Pronunciationnahv pahr koo | EnglishYou are welcome | |
| Atvainojiet | Pronunciationaht-vai-noh-yeht | EnglishExcuse me / Sorry | |
| Es nesaprotu | Pronunciationehs neh-SAH-proh-too | EnglishI do not understand | |
| Lūdzu, runājiet lēnāk | PronunciationLOOD-zoo roo-NAH-yeht LAY-nahk | EnglishPlease speak more slowly | |
| Vai jūs runājat angliski? | Pronunciationvai yoos ROO-nah-yaht AHNG-lihs-kee | EnglishDo you speak English? |
Hotel and accommodation phrases
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Man ir rezervācija | Pronunciationmahn eer reh-zehr-VAH-tsi-yah | EnglishI have a reservation | |
| Mans vārds ir... | Pronunciationmahns vahrds eer | EnglishMy name is... | |
| Istaba | PronunciationEES-tah-bah | EnglishRoom | |
| Atslēga | PronunciationAHTS-lay-gah | EnglishKey | |
| Vai jums ir brīva istaba? | Pronunciationvai yooms eer BREE-vah EES-tah-bah | EnglishDo you have a room available? | |
| Vienu nakti | PronunciationVYEH-noo NAHK-tee | EnglishOne night | |
| Divas naktis | PronunciationDEE-vahs NAHK-tis | EnglishTwo nights | |
| Cik maksā par nakti? | Pronunciationtsik MAHK-sah pahr NAHK-tee | EnglishHow much is it per night? | |
| Cikos ir brokastis? | PronunciationTSI-kohs eer BROH-kahs-tis | EnglishWhat time is breakfast? | |
| Cikos ir izrakstīšanās? | PronunciationTSI-kohs eer eez-RAHK-stee-shah-nahs | EnglishWhat time is check-out? | |
| Vai brokastis ir iekļautas? | Pronunciationvai BROH-kahs-tis eer EEH-klyow-tahs | EnglishIs breakfast included? |
Transport and directions
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kur ir...? | Pronunciationkoor eer | EnglishWhere is...? | |
| Kur ir tualete? | Pronunciationkoor eer too-ah-LEH-teh | EnglishWhere is the toilet? | |
| Kur ir autobusa pietura? | Pronunciationkoor eer ow-toh-BOO-sah PYEH-too-rah | EnglishWhere is the bus stop? | |
| Kā nokļūt līdz...? | Pronunciationkah NOHK-lyoot leeds | EnglishHow do I get to...? | |
| Pa kreisi | Pronunciationpah KRAY-see | EnglishTo the left | |
| Pa labi | Pronunciationpah LAH-bee | EnglishTo the right | |
| Taisni | PronunciationTAI-snee | EnglishStraight ahead | |
| Tuvu | PronunciationTOO-voo | EnglishNear | |
| Tālu | PronunciationTAH-loo | EnglishFar | |
| Vienu biļeti, lūdzu | PronunciationVYEH-noo BYI-lyeh-tee LOOD-zoo | EnglishOne ticket, please | |
| Uz Rīgu, lūdzu | Pronunciationooz REE-goo LOOD-zoo | EnglishTo Riga, please | |
| Cikos atiet autobuss? | PronunciationTSI-kohs AHT-ee-eht OW-toh-boos | EnglishWhat time does the bus leave? | |
| Cikos pienāk vilciens? | PronunciationTSI-kohs pyeh-NAHK VYIL-tsyehns | EnglishWhat time does the train arrive? | |
| Lidosta | PronunciationLEE-doh-stah | EnglishAirport | |
| Autoosta | PronunciationOW-toh-oh-stah | EnglishBus station | |
| Dzelzceļa stacija | PronunciationDZEHLZ-tseh-lya STAH-tsi-yah | EnglishRailway station | |
| Pietura | PronunciationPYEH-too-rah | EnglishStop | |
| Taksometrs | PronunciationTAHK-soh-mehtrs | EnglishTaxi |
Restaurant and allergy phrases
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Galdiņu, lūdzu | PronunciationGAHL-dee-nyoo LOOD-zoo | EnglishA table, please | |
| Ēdienkarti, lūdzu | PronunciationAY-dyehn-kahr-tee LOOD-zoo | EnglishThe menu, please | |
| Es vēlētos... | Pronunciationehs VEH-lay-tohs | EnglishI would like... | |
| Cik tas maksā? | Pronunciationtsik tahs MAHK-sah | EnglishHow much does it cost? | |
| Rēķinu, lūdzu | PronunciationRAY-kyi-noo LOOD-zoo | EnglishThe bill, please | |
| Ļoti garšīgi | PronunciationLYOH-tee GAHR-shee-gee | EnglishVery tasty / Delicious | |
| Ūdeni, lūdzu | PronunciationOO-deh-nee LOOD-zoo | EnglishWater, please | |
| Alu, lūdzu | PronunciationAH-loo LOOD-zoo | EnglishA beer, please | |
| Kafiju, lūdzu | PronunciationKAH-fi-yoo LOOD-zoo | EnglishA coffee, please | |
| Es neēdu gaļu | Pronunciationehs neh-AY-doo GAH-lyoo | EnglishI do not eat meat | |
| Bez gaļas | Pronunciationbehz GAH-lyahs | EnglishWithout meat | |
| Bez piena produktiem | Pronunciationbehz PYEH-nah proh-DOOK-tyehm | EnglishWithout dairy products | |
| Man ir alerģija pret... | Pronunciationmahn eer ah-LEHR-gyi-yah preht | EnglishI am allergic to... | |
| Man ir alerģija pret riekstiem | Pronunciationmahn eer ah-LEHR-gyi-yah preht RYEHK-styehm | EnglishI am allergic to nuts | |
| Vai šis ēdiens satur riekstus? | Pronunciationvai shis AY-dyehns SAH-toor RYEHK-stoos | EnglishDoes this dish contain nuts? | |
| Man ir celiakija | Pronunciationmahn eer tseh-li-AH-ki-yah | EnglishI have coeliac disease | |
| Vai jums ir bezglutēna ēdieni? | Pronunciationvai yooms eer behz-gloo-TAY-nah AY-dyeh-nee | EnglishDo you have gluten-free dishes? |
Shopping and payment
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cik tas maksā? | Pronunciationtsik tahs MAHK-sah | EnglishHow much does it cost? | |
| Vai var maksāt ar karti? | Pronunciationvai vahr MAHK-saht ahr KAHR-tee | EnglishCan I pay by card? | |
| Skaidrā naudā | PronunciationSKAI-drah NOW-dah | EnglishIn cash | |
| Ar karti | Pronunciationahr KAHR-tee | EnglishBy card | |
| Čeku, lūdzu | PronunciationCHEH-koo LOOD-zoo | EnglishA receipt, please | |
| Vai jums ir...? | Pronunciationvai yooms eer | EnglishDo you have...? | |
| Man vajag... | Pronunciationmahn VAH-yahg | EnglishI need... | |
| Vai ir lētāks variants? | Pronunciationvai eer LAY-tahks VAH-ri-ahnts | EnglishIs there a cheaper option? | |
| Kur ir kase? | Pronunciationkoor eer KAH-seh | EnglishWhere is the checkout? | |
| Maisiņu, lūdzu | PronunciationMAI-see-nyoo LOOD-zoo | EnglishA bag, please |
Numbers 1 to 10
The table uses the common masculine forms for one and two. Latvian number endings can change to agree with the noun.
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Viens | Pronunciationvyehns | EnglishOne | |
| Divi | PronunciationDEE-vee | EnglishTwo | |
| Trīs | Pronunciationtrees | EnglishThree | |
| Četri | PronunciationCHEH-tree | EnglishFour | |
| Pieci | PronunciationPYEH-tsee | EnglishFive | |
| Seši | PronunciationSEH-shee | EnglishSix | |
| Septiņi | PronunciationSEHP-tee-nyee | EnglishSeven | |
| Astoņi | PronunciationAHS-toh-nyee | EnglishEight | |
| Deviņi | PronunciationDEH-vee-nyee | EnglishNine | |
| Desmit | PronunciationDEHS-mit | EnglishTen |
Emergency phrases
In an immediate emergency, call 112 first. Be ready to give your location, explain what happened and answer the dispatcher’s questions.
| Latvian | Pronunciation | English | Audio |
|---|---|---|---|
| Palīgā! | Pronunciationpah-LEE-gah | EnglishHelp! | |
| Zvaniet 112! | PronunciationZVAH-nyeht viens viens DEE-vee | EnglishCall 112! | |
| Izsauciet policiju! | PronunciationEES-sow-tsyeht poh-LEE-tsi-yoo | EnglishCall the police! | |
| Izsauciet ātro palīdzību! | PronunciationEES-sow-tsyeht AH-troh PAH-lee-dzee-boo | EnglishCall an ambulance! | |
| Man vajag ārstu | Pronunciationmahn VAH-yahg AHR-stoo | EnglishI need a doctor | |
| Es esmu apmaldījies / apmaldījusies | Pronunciationehs EHS-moo ahp-MAHL-dee-yees / ahp-MAHL-dee-yoo-syehs | EnglishI am lost (man / woman) | |
| Es nezinu, kur atrodos | Pronunciationehs NEH-zee-noo koor AHT-roh-dohs | EnglishI do not know where I am | |
| Slimnīca | PronunciationSLIM-nee-tsah | EnglishHospital | |
| Aptieka | PronunciationAHP-tyeh-kah | EnglishPharmacy | |
| Ugunsgrēks! | PronunciationOO-goons-grayks | EnglishFire! |
Practise before your trip
Test your Latvian phrases
Choose the meaning or find the Latvian phrase. Each round has ten questions, and your best score stays on this device.
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Check the primary information
Official sources and review information
This guide was last reviewed on 23 July 2026. Spellings and core phrases were checked against Latvia.travel and Latvian Language Agency materials. Emergency information comes from Latvia’s State Fire and Rescue Service.
Core visitor phrases
Latvia.travel: Language and useful words
Official Latvian tourism guidance for greetings, courtesy phrases and common visitor vocabulary.
Pronunciation and beginner language
Latvian Language Agency: Latvian alphabet
Official alphabet examples and audio pronunciation for Latvian letters.
Latvian Language Agency: Latvian as a foreign language programme
Beginner phrase patterns, everyday vocabulary, directions and practical communication topics.
Emergency information
State Fire and Rescue Service: the single emergency number 112
Official guidance on when and how to use Latvia’s emergency number.
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