Latvian survival kit

About this kit

Latvian (latviešu valoda) is spoken by around one and a half million people, mainly in Latvia where it is the official language. It is one of the two surviving Baltic languages, a cousin of Lithuanian and one of the oldest in Europe: with this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in Riga, Liepaja or Daugavpils.

Latvian (latviešu valoda) has about one and a half million native speakers and ranks among the most archaic Indo-European languages still spoken. Together with Lithuanian, it is one of the last two living Baltic languages: both have preserved a considerable portion of Proto-Indo-European nominal morphology, although Latvian has innovated more than its cousin. It is the official language of Latvia since independence and one of the twenty-four official languages of the European Union. The alphabet is Latin, enriched with eleven diacritic signs and a total of thirty-three letters. Pronunciation follows a simple rule that reassures: stress almost always falls on the first syllable, long vowels are marked with a macron, every letter is pronounced. Culturally, Latvians cultivate an initial reserve that may surprise, but once trust is established, a lasting warmth opens up. The country has a significant Russian-speaking community, especially in Riga and Daugavpils, and the language question remains politically sensitive. You remove your shoes when entering a home, bring flowers in odd numbers, respect punctuality. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Riga, a taxi ride, a restaurant order, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find indispensable greetings, survival phrases for orientation, key words for eating and sleeping, as well as cultural tips to avoid faux pas.