The verb **ēst** means “to eat.” It’s an irregular verb, which means its conjugation doesn’t follow the usual patterns, making it a bit tricky for beginners. Similarly, the verb **dzert** means “to drink.” Both verbs are essential for everyday conversation.

ēst – to eat
Es gribu ēst ābolu.
I want to eat an apple.

dzert – to drink
Viņš dzer ūdeni.
He is drinking water.

Conjugation of Ēst

Here is the present tense conjugation for **ēst**:

– **Es ēdu** – I eat
– **Tu ēd** – You eat (singular, informal)
– **Viņš/Viņa ēd** – He/She eats
– **Mēs ēdam** – We eat
– **Jūs ēdat** – You eat (plural, formal)
– **Viņi/Viņas ēd** – They eat (male/female)

ēdu – I eat
Es ēdu brokastis katru rītu.
I eat breakfast every morning.

ēd – You eat/He eats/She eats/They eat
Tu ēd ābolu.
You are eating an apple.

ēdam – We eat
Mēs ēdam vakariņas sešos.
We eat dinner at six.

ēdat – You eat (plural, formal)
Jūs ēdat ļoti ātri.
You (plural) eat very quickly.

Conjugation of Dzert

Here is the present tense conjugation for **dzert**:

– **Es dzeru** – I drink
– **Tu dzer** – You drink (singular, informal)
– **Viņš/Viņa dzer** – He/She drinks
– **Mēs dzeram** – We drink
– **Jūs dzerat** – You drink (plural, formal)
– **Viņi/Viņas dzer** – They drink (male/female)

dzeru – I drink
Es dzeru kafiju katru rītu.
I drink coffee every morning.

dzer – You drink/He drinks/She drinks/They drink
Tu dzer sulu.
You are drinking juice.

dzeram – We drink
Mēs dzeram tēju pēc vakariņām.
We drink tea after dinner.

dzerat – You drink (plural, formal)
Jūs dzerat daudz ūdens.
You (plural) drink a lot of water.

Useful Vocabulary Related to Eating and Drinking

Understanding how to use **ēst** and **dzert** in sentences is crucial, but expanding your vocabulary will make your conversations more fluent and natural. Here are some essential Latvian words related to eating and drinking:

ēdiens – food
Mums ir daudz ēdiena svētkiem.
We have a lot of food for the celebration.

dzēriens – drink/beverage
Vai tu vēlies kādu dzērienu?
Would you like a drink?

brokastis – breakfast
Brokastis ir svarīgākā dienas maltīte.
Breakfast is the most important meal of the day.

pusdienas – lunch
Pusdienas parasti ēdu darbā.
I usually eat lunch at work.

vakariņas – dinner
Vakariņas mums ir sešos vakarā.
We have dinner at six in the evening.

uzkodas – snacks
Man patīk uzkodas starp ēdienreizēm.
I like snacks between meals.

augļi – fruits
Es ēdu daudz augļu, lai būtu veselīgs.
I eat a lot of fruits to stay healthy.

dārzeņi – vegetables
Dārzeņi ir svarīga uztura daļa.
Vegetables are an important part of the diet.

maize – bread
Maize ir ļoti populāra Latvijā.
Bread is very popular in Latvia.

gaļa – meat
Es neēdu gaļu, es esmu veģetārietis.
I don’t eat meat, I am a vegetarian.

zivs – fish
Zivs ir laba olbaltumvielu avots.
Fish is a good source of protein.

piens – milk
Man patīk dzert pienu ar brokastīm.
I like to drink milk with breakfast.

sula – juice
Apelsīnu sula ir mana mīļākā.
Orange juice is my favorite.

ūdens – water
Ūdens ir svarīgs veselībai.
Water is important for health.

kafija – coffee
Daudzi cilvēki sāk dienu ar kafiju.
Many people start their day with coffee.

tēja – tea
Es dzeru tēju, kad esmu saaukstējies.
I drink tea when I have a cold.

alus – beer
Latvijā ir daudz labu alus zīmolu.
There are many good beer brands in Latvia.

vīns – wine
Sarkanvīns labi sader ar sarkanvīna steiku.
Red wine goes well with steak.

Common Phrases and Idioms

To sound more like a native speaker, it’s helpful to learn some common phrases and idioms related to eating and drinking in Latvian.

Es esmu izsalcis / Es esmu izsalkusi – I am hungry (male/female)
Es esmu izsalcis pēc garas pastaigas.
I am hungry after a long walk.

Es esmu izslāpis / Es esmu izslāpusi – I am thirsty (male/female)
Es esmu izslāpis pēc sporta zāles.
I am thirsty after the gym.

Labs apetīte – Bon appétit / Enjoy your meal
Labs apetīte! Ceru, ka tev patiks ēdiens.
Bon appétit! I hope you enjoy the food.

Uz veselību – Cheers / To your health
Uz veselību! Lai tev laba diena.
Cheers! Have a great day.

Practice Makes Perfect

To truly master the use of **ēst** and **dzert** in Latvian, practice is essential. Try to incorporate these verbs and related vocabulary into your daily conversations. Here are a few tips:

1. **Practice with a Partner**: Find a language partner or join a Latvian language group. Practice asking and answering questions about meals and drinks.

2. **Use Flashcards**: Create flashcards with the vocabulary words and their translations. Practice regularly to reinforce your memory.

3. **Listen and Repeat**: Listen to Latvian speakers using these verbs in context. Repeat after them to improve your pronunciation and fluency.

4. **Write in Latvian**: Keep a journal and write about your daily meals and drinks. This will help you practice the conjugation and usage of **ēst** and **dzert**.

5. **Label Items**: Label food and drink items in your kitchen with their Latvian names. This will help you become more familiar with the vocabulary.

Conclusion

Understanding and using the verbs **ēst** and **dzert** is fundamental for communicating in Latvian. By learning their conjugations, related vocabulary, and common phrases, you’ll be well-equipped to talk about eating and drinking in various contexts. Remember, practice is key, so make an effort to use these words regularly. Happy learning, and **Labs apetīte**!