Latvian is an Indo-European (not Slavic) language similar to Lithuanian. It has six declensions and a lot of funny accents. Although the official local language is Latvian, you will easily get around with a command of Russian. Latvians, however, try avoid it, except to swear, as the Latvian language has a dearth of colourful curse words. Latvians also reshape foreign names to fit their language and add an ‘s’ to the end of all male names, i.e. Džastins Bībers (Justin Bieber). Females will get an ‘a’ or an ‘e’ on the end, as with pop star, Mailija Sairusa (Miley Cyrus). But our favourite is still Sids Višess. Hilarious!

Useful phrases
How are you? Kā jums klājas?
Pleased to meet you. Prieks iepazīties.
Do you speak English? Vai jūs runājiet angliski?
Where is the nearest shop, hotel, restaurant, café, bar, toilet?
Kur atrodas tuvākais veikals, viesnīca, restorāns, kafejnīca, bārs, tualete?
What’s your name? Kā Jūs/tevi sauc?
My name is ... Mani sauc ...
What time is it? Cik ir pulkstenis?
How much does this cost? Cik tas maksā?
Hello Labdien!
Hi Sveiks!
Good morning Labrīt!
Good evening Labvakar!
Goodnight Arlabunakti!
Goodbye! Uz redzēšanos!
Bye! Čau! Atā!
Yes Jā
No Nē
Maybe Varbūt
Cheers! Priekā!
All the best! Visu labu!
Thank you Paldies

Numbers
1 viens
2 divi
3 trīs
4 četri
5 pieci
6 seši
7 septiņi
8 astoņi
9 deviņi
10 desmit
11 vienpadsmit
20 divdesmit
21 divdesmit viens
50 piecdesmit
100 simts
1000 tūkstotis

Days of the week
Monday pirmdiena
Tuesday otrdiena
Wednesday trešdiena
Thursday ceturtdiena
Friday piektdiena
Saturday sestdiena
Sunday svētdiena

Street smarts
Street iela
Road ceļš
Highway šoseja
Boulevard bulvāris
Square laukums
Market tirgus
Airport lidosta
Bus station autoosta
Train station stacija
Taxi taksis

Directions
Left pa kreisi
Right pa labi
Straight taisni
Back atpakaļ

Menu decoder
salads salāti
soups zupas
appetisers uzkodas
mains otrie ēdieni
side dishes piedevas
sauces mērces
dessert saldais
pork cūkgaļa
beef liellopu gaļa
seafood jūras veltes
fish zivis
salmon lasis
chicken vista
duck pīle
potatoes kartupeļi
rice rīsi
vegetables dārzeņi
bread maize
butter sviests
wine vīns
water ūdens
beer alus
milk piens
cocktails kokteiļi

Beware the following Latvian phrases
Nopirksi man dzērienu? Buy me a drink?
Negribi lāpīties? Hair of the dog?