Learning a new language can be a thrilling adventure and a way to connect with a culture on a more personal level. Latvian, the official language of Latvia, is no exception. For beginners, mastering basic phrases is usually the first step towards conversational fluency. Here are some essential Latvian phrases that you can start with. They cover greetings, gratitude, and other common expressions that are useful in everyday encounters.

Sveiki
This word means “Hello” and is a polite way to greet someone. It’s suitable for all times of the day and in formal as well as informal situations.
Sveiki, vai jūs runājat angļu valodā? – Hello, do you speak English?

Uz redzēšanos
Literally translating to “Until seeing,” this is how you say “Goodbye” in Latvian.
Paldies par laiku, uz redzēšanos! – Thank you for your time, goodbye!

Lūdzu
This is the Latvian word for “Please.” It’s an essential part of polite requests and expressions.
Viena kafija, lūdzu. – One coffee, please.

Paldies
When you want to express gratitude and say “Thank you,” use “Paldies.”
Paldies par jūsu palīdzību! – Thank you for your help!

Atvainojiet
If you need to get someone’s attention or apologize for a minor inconvenience, “Atvainojiet” means “Excuse me.”
Atvainojiet, kur ir tualete? – Excuse me, where is the bathroom?

Jā
The word for “Yes” in Latvian is “Jā.”
Vai jūs esat šeit pirmo reizi? Jā. – Are you here for the first time? Yes.

Nē
The Latvian word for “No” is “Nē.”
Vai jūs gribat vēl? Nē, paldies. – Would you like some more? No, thank you.

Kā tev iet?
To ask someone how they are doing, you say “Kā tev iet?” which means “How are you?”
Sveiki, Kā tev iet? – Hello, how are you?

Mani sauc …
When introducing yourself, use “Mani sauc …” followed by your name, which means “My name is …”
Mani sauc Anna. – My name is Anna.

Es nerunāju latviski
In case you need to indicate that your Latvian skills are limited, “Es nerunāju latviski” means “I do not speak Latvian.”
Atvainojiet, es nerunāju latviski. – Excuse me, I do not speak Latvian.

Vai jūs runājat angļu valodā?
This question, “Vai jūs runājat angļu valodā?” means “Do you speak English?” and can be quite useful for English-speaking tourists.
Atvainojiet, vai jūs runājat angļu valodā? – Excuse me, do you speak English?

With these basic Latvian phrases, you’ve taken your first steps into a broader linguistic world. Practice them regularly, and you’ll be ready to navigate through basic interactions on your visit to Latvia or when meeting Latvian speakers. Remember, speaking even a little bit of someone’s native language can go a long way in building friendships and understanding the culture. Veiksmi! (Good luck!)