At the B2 level, you should be comfortable with everyday conversations on topics such as hobbies, work, travel, and family. Here are some essential words and phrases:

1. Draugs (Friend) – Having friends is important, and knowing how to refer to them is crucial.
2. Ģimene (Family) – Family is a common topic in conversations, and this word will come in handy.
3. Hobiji (Hobbies) – Talking about your hobbies is a great way to connect with others.
4. Darbs (Work) – Work is another frequent subject in discussions, so knowing this term is essential.
5. Ceļojums (Journey/Trip) – Whether you are talking about past travels or planning future ones, this word is useful.
6. Laiks (Time) – Being able to discuss time is fundamental in any language.
7. Laikapstākļi (Weather) – Small talk often revolves around the weather, so this word will be frequently used.

Describing People and Things

Being able to describe people and things in detail is a key skill at the B2 level. Here are some descriptive words:

1. Skaists/skaista (Beautiful) – Useful for describing people, places, and things.
2. Gudrs/gudra (Smart) – Often used to compliment someone’s intelligence.
3. Jauks/jauka (Nice) – A versatile word that can describe people, experiences, and more.
4. Vecs/veca (Old) – Important for describing age.
5. Jauns/jauna (Young/New) – Useful for discussing both age and novelty.
6. Liels/liela (Big) – Handy for describing size.
7. Mazs/maza (Small) – Another term for size, often used in various contexts.

Expressing Emotions

At the B2 level, you should be able to express a wide range of emotions. Here are some words that will help you articulate your feelings:

1. Priecīgs/priecīga (Happy) – Essential for expressing joy.
2. Skumjš/skumja (Sad) – Important for discussing sadness or disappointment.
3. Pārsteigts/pārsteigta (Surprised) – Useful for conveying astonishment.
4. Dusmīgs/dusmīga (Angry) – Handy for expressing anger.
5. Bažīgs/bažīga (Worried) – Important for discussing concerns or anxiety.
6. Lepns/lepna (Proud) – Useful for expressing pride.
7. Saturs/satura (Content) – Handy for describing a state of satisfaction.

Verbs for Daily Activities

Verbs are the backbone of any language. Here are some essential verbs that you should know:

1. Runāt (To speak) – Fundamental for communication.
2. Rakstīt (To write) – Important for both formal and informal communication.
3. Lasīt (To read) – Essential for understanding written texts.
4. Dzīvot (To live) – Crucial for discussing your residence or lifestyle.
5. Strādāt (To work) – Important for conversations about your job.
6. Spēlēt (To play) – Useful for discussing games and sports.
7. Mācīties (To learn) – Essential for discussing education and personal growth.

Complex Sentences and Conjunctions

At the B2 level, you should be able to form complex sentences using conjunctions. Here are some useful conjunctions:

1. Un (And) – Basic but essential for connecting ideas.
2. Bet (But) – Important for contrasting statements.
3. Tāpēc (Therefore) – Useful for providing reasons or explanations.
4. Jo (Because) – Another conjunction for giving reasons.
5. Tomēr (However) – Handy for contrasting ideas.
6. Tā kā (As/Since) – Useful for causal statements.
7. Lai gan (Although) – Important for expressing contrast.

Idiomatic Expressions

Idiomatic expressions can add color to your language and make you sound more like a native speaker. Here are some common Latvian idioms:

1. Uz kājas (On foot) – Equivalent to “by foot” in English, used to describe walking.
2. Noslaucīt putekļus (To dust off the dust) – Equivalent to “cleaning up.”
3. Pielikt roku (To lend a hand) – Means to help someone.
4. Uzturēt sakarus (To keep in touch) – Used for maintaining communication.
5. Uzvilkt kauliņus (To pull strings) – Means to use influence to get something done.
6. Izsist no sliedēm (To throw off track) – Means to disrupt someone’s plans.
7. Galva iet riņķī (Head is spinning) – Equivalent to being confused or overwhelmed.

Formal and Informal Registers

Understanding when to use formal and informal language is crucial at the B2 level. Here are some examples:

Formal:
1. Labdien (Good day) – A formal greeting.
2. Lūdzu (Please) – Used in polite requests.
3. Paldies (Thank you) – Formal way to express gratitude.
4. Atvainojiet (Excuse me) – Used to apologize or get someone’s attention.
5. Kā Jūs jūtaties? (How do you feel?) – Formal way to ask about someone’s well-being.

Informal:
1. Čau (Hi/Bye) – An informal greeting.
2. Jā (Yes) – Informal way to agree.
3. Nē (No) – Informal way to disagree.
4. Piedod (Sorry) – Informal way to apologize.
5. Kā tu jūties? (How do you feel?) – Informal way to ask about someone’s well-being.

Advanced Vocabulary for Specific Contexts

At the B2 level, you should be able to discuss more specialized topics. Here are some advanced words for specific contexts:

Business:
1. Uzņēmums (Company) – Important for discussing business contexts.
2. Darījums (Deal) – Essential for business transactions.
3. Kolēģis (Colleague) – Useful for workplace conversations.
4. Sanāksme (Meeting) – Important for business settings.
5. Prezentācija (Presentation) – Useful for formal business contexts.

Health:
1. Veselība (Health) – Essential for discussing well-being.
2. Ārsts (Doctor) – Important for medical contexts.
3. Zāles (Medicine) – Useful for discussing treatments.
4. Simptomi (Symptoms) – Important for describing health issues.
5. Diagnoze (Diagnosis) – Essential for medical discussions.

Education:
1. Skola (School) – Important for educational contexts.
2. Skolotājs (Teacher) – Essential for discussing education.
3. Student (Student) – Useful for academic settings.
4. Eksāmens (Exam) – Important for educational discussions.
5. Stipendija (Scholarship) – Useful for higher education contexts.

Practice Makes Perfect

To solidify your knowledge of these words and phrases, it’s essential to practice regularly. Here are some tips for effective practice:

1. **Engage in Conversations**: Try to use these words in your daily conversations. The more you use them, the more comfortable you will become.
2. **Write Essays**: Practice writing essays on various topics, using the vocabulary you’ve learned.
3. **Read Books and Articles**: Reading will expose you to new words and help reinforce the ones you already know.
4. **Watch Latvian Media**: Watching movies, TV shows, and news in Latvian will help you understand how these words are used in different contexts.
5. **Join Language Exchange Programs**: These programs can provide you with opportunities to practice speaking with native Latvian speakers.

Conclusion

Reaching a B2 level in Latvian is a significant milestone that opens up new opportunities for communication and understanding. By mastering these essential words and phrases, you will be well-equipped to handle a variety of conversations and texts. Remember, the key to language learning is consistent practice and exposure. So, keep practicing, and soon you’ll find yourself speaking Latvian with confidence and ease.