Learning Latvian can be an exciting and rewarding journey, especially as you progress to the B1 level, where you start to gain more confidence in using the language in everyday situations. To help you on your way, we’ve compiled a list of 50 essential words that you need to know at the B1 level. These words will enable you to communicate more effectively and understand a wider range of conversations. Let’s dive in!

Everyday Verbs

1. **Dzīvot** – To live
– Example: Es dzīvoju Rīgā. (I live in Riga.)

2. **Strādāt** – To work
– Example: Viņš strādā birojā. (He works in an office.)

3. **Mācīties** – To study/learn
– Example: Mēs mācāmies latviešu valodu. (We are learning Latvian.)

4. **Runāt** – To speak
– Example: Vai tu runā angliski? (Do you speak English?)

5. **Ēst** – To eat
– Example: Es ēdu pusdienas. (I am eating lunch.)

6. **Dzert** – To drink
– Example: Vai tu dzer ūdeni? (Are you drinking water?)

7. **Lasīt** – To read
– Example: Viņa lasa grāmatu. (She is reading a book.)

8. **Rakstīt** – To write
– Example: Es rakstu vēstuli. (I am writing a letter.)

9. **Redzēt** – To see
– Example: Vai tu redzi šo māju? (Do you see this house?)

10. **Dzirdēt** – To hear
– Example: Es dzirdu mūziku. (I hear music.)

Common Nouns

11. **Ģimene** – Family
– Example: Man ir liela ģimene. (I have a large family.)

12. **Draugs** – Friend
– Example: Viņš ir mans draugs. (He is my friend.)

13. **Darbs** – Job/Work
– Example: Viņa atrada jaunu darbu. (She found a new job.)

14. **Skola** – School
– Example: Bērni iet skolā. (Children go to school.)

15. **Māja** – House/Home
– Example: Tā ir mana māja. (That is my house.)

16. **Pilsēta** – City
– Example: Rīga ir liela pilsēta. (Riga is a big city.)

17. **Veikals** – Shop
– Example: Es eju uz veikalu. (I am going to the shop.)

18. **Mašīna** – Car
– Example: Man ir jauna mašīna. (I have a new car.)

19. **Grāmata** – Book
– Example: Es lasu grāmatu. (I am reading a book.)

20. **Nauda** – Money
– Example: Man nav naudas. (I don’t have money.)

Useful Adjectives

21. **Liels** – Big
– Example: Tā ir liela māja. (That is a big house.)

22. **Mazs** – Small
– Example: Šī ir maza istaba. (This is a small room.)

23. **Skaists** – Beautiful
– Example: Rīga ir skaista pilsēta. (Riga is a beautiful city.)

24. **Labs** – Good
– Example: Viņš ir labs draugs. (He is a good friend.)

25. **Slikts** – Bad
– Example: Tā bija slikta diena. (It was a bad day.)

26. **Jauns** – New/Young
– Example: Viņš ir jauns skolēns. (He is a new student.)

27. **Vecs** – Old
– Example: Šī ir veca mašīna. (This is an old car.)

28. **Grūts** – Difficult
– Example: Šis uzdevums ir grūts. (This task is difficult.)

29. **Viegls** – Easy/Light
– Example: Šis ir viegls jautājums. (This is an easy question.)

30. **Garš** – Long
– Example: Tas ir garš ceļš. (It is a long road.)

Important Adverbs

31. **Ātri** – Quickly
– Example: Viņš skrien ātri. (He runs quickly.)

32. **Lēni** – Slowly
– Example: Lūdzu runā lēni. (Please speak slowly.)

33. **Bieži** – Often
– Example: Es bieži apmeklēju muzeju. (I often visit the museum.)

34. **Retāk** – Less often
– Example: Viņa retāk nāk uz darbu. (She comes to work less often.)

35. **Tagad** – Now
– Example: Es tagad esmu mājās. (I am at home now.)

36. **Vakar** – Yesterday
– Example: Vakar es biju Rīgā. (Yesterday I was in Riga.)

37. **Šodien** – Today
– Example: Šodien ir saulains. (Today it is sunny.)

38. **Rīt** – Tomorrow
– Example: Rīt mēs brauksim uz jūru. (Tomorrow we will go to the sea.)

39. **Agrāk** – Earlier
– Example: Es agrāk dzīvoju citā pilsētā. (I used to live in another city.)

40. **Vēlāk** – Later
– Example: Es zvanīšu vēlāk. (I will call later.)

Expressions of Time and Place

41. **Gads** – Year
– Example: Viņš dzimis 1990. gadā. (He was born in 1990.)

42. **Mēnesis** – Month
– Example: Maijs ir mans mīļākais mēnesis. (May is my favorite month.)

43. **Nedēļa** – Week
– Example: Es palikšu uz vienu nedēļu. (I will stay for one week.)

44. **Diena** – Day
– Example: Šodien ir jauka diena. (Today is a nice day.)

45. **Stunda** – Hour
– Example: Mēs gaidījām vienu stundu. (We waited for one hour.)

46. **Minūte** – Minute
– Example: Es būšu atpakaļ pēc piecām minūtēm. (I will be back in five minutes.)

47. **Sekunde** – Second
– Example: Lūdzu, uzgaidi vienu sekundi. (Please wait one second.)

48. **Vieta** – Place
– Example: Šī ir laba vieta piknikam. (This is a good place for a picnic.)

49. **Attālums** – Distance
– Example: Attālums starp Rīgu un Jūrmalu ir neliels. (The distance between Riga and Jurmala is small.)

50. **Ceļš** – Road
– Example: Ceļš uz mājām ir garš. (The road home is long.)

Conclusion

Mastering these 50 essential words will significantly boost your Latvian language skills at the B1 level. By incorporating these words into your daily practice, you’ll find it easier to engage in conversations, understand spoken and written Latvian, and express yourself more clearly. Keep practicing, and you’ll continue to see progress in your language learning journey. Vielu veiksmi! (Good luck!)