it

it sevišķi

it nekas

it nekur

it nemaz

it kā

used to assign accentuation to expression


tak

particle used to reinforce or emphasize a certain word or idea, usually by reducing doubts about it; but... (really), in fact, surely, just


ir

From Proto-Baltic *ir, from the reduced grade *h₂r̥ of Proto-Indo-European *h₂er- (“so, then; question particle”) (whence also Latvian ar (“with”); see there for more). The original meaning “and” (compare Lithuanian cognate) is found in 16th- and 17th-century texts, but from the 18th century on ir was no longer used in this sense. Cognates include Lithuanian ir̃ (“and”), Old Prussian ir (“also”), er (“(along) with”), Ancient Greek ἄρα, ἄρ’, ῥά (ára, ár’, rhá, “so, then, therefore”).

cog

ἄρα, ἄρ', ῥά

gribējas ir smieties, ir raudāt

nāca ir jaunie, ir vecie

tolaik ir tēvs, ir māte bija miruši

at that time, both the father and the mother had died

tā bija droša, interesanta un glīta meitene, kas prata būt ir jautra, ir nopietna

that was a brave, fun (lit. interesting) and pretty girl, who knew how to be both cheerful and serious

nakts kā jau nakts: ir mēness spīd, ir tālē rūsa plaiksnī

the night is like the night (= as usual): the moon shines and also in the distance silent lightning flashes

additive conjunction used to join several similar sentence elements, indicating their similar nature: both ... and ..., ... and also ..., ... as well as ...


diez

Tas nav diez cik grūti.


nez

(colloquial) use in combinations like nez vai, nez no kurienes, nez cik, nez kā and so on


lai

Traditionally, lai is derived from the imperative form of the verb laist (“to allow, to permit”) (quod vide): laid → lai, an evolution reminiscent of Russian пускай (puskaj), пусть (pustʹ, “let, so be”) from пускать (puskatʹ, “to allow, to permit”). The form laid is indeed attested as a conjunction in the earliest sources. This view, however, has been recently criticized on the basis that Latvian lai, Lithuanian lai̇̃ are clearly related to Old Prussian -lai, which is added to (usually infinitive) verbs to indicate volitive or conditional mood. This suggests a Proto-Baltic form *lai, probably related to the final -le of Latvian reinforcing particles jele ~ jel, nule, and (dialectal) nele, and to Old Prussian -le, apparently a variant of -lai. This *le would then have the same origin as Proto-Slavic *li (compare Polish li (“only”) Russian ли (li)), with cognates in other languages (Albanian, Tocharian) from a basic Proto-Indo-European *l-. After this criticism, the relationship between lai and laist has become unclear. Maybe Proto-Indo-European *l- was an old verb, or maybe laist was derived from an older particle.

zīlītes vairs negaidīja, lai Ilzīte viņas baro

the titmice no longer waited for Ilzīte to feed them

nē, viņa lūdza, lai es apturu mašīnu

vai nevajadzētu paziņot, lai atbrauc viņa piederīgie?

couldn't (you) have informed (us) that his people would come back?

bērnu stomatoloģiskajā poliklīnikā galvenokārt rūpējas par to, lai zobi tiktu savlaicīgi salaboti

in the children's dental clinic, one cares primarily that the (children's) teeth will be repaired in time

after certain verbs, introducing a direct object clause; that, for ... to, to


ka

Originally an old neuter nominative singular form of kas (“who, what”) that acquired the function of a conjunction. Cognates include Old Prussian ka (“who, what”).

(a) subject:

labi, ka darbs padarīts

viņam nepatika, ka tagad viņi ar Plienu bija palikuši tikai divi

he didn't like that now only he and Pliens had remained

aplam darīts arī tas, ka divās dienās nopļāva visu Spilvas pļavu

wrongly done was also that (= the fact) that (he) mowed the entire Spilva meadow in two days

tveice bija tāda, ka šķita - tīrums smaržo kā liela rudzu kalte

the heat was such that one felt (as if) the field smelled like a big rye drier

pienāca ziņa, ka tēvs saslimis

viņi nolaida karogus per zīmi, ka demonstrācija beigusies

they lowered the flags as a sign that the protest was over

vēl vairāk sirdi nospeiž sāpes, / ka atkal apkārt tikai mežs

even more the heart is oppressed by the pain / that again (there is) only forest around

ir tāds karstums, ka pat putniņi paslēpušies

(there) is such a heat that even the little birds are hiding

viņš teica, ka varam iet

Ģirts redzēja, ka Artūrs nekā neapjēdz, ka labāk runāt par ko citu

Ģirts saw that Artūrs would never realize that it would be better to talk about something else

Krančelis izrādīja visu savu nemieru ar to, ka nevarēja meiteni iepriecināt

Krančelis showed all his concern with that (= the fact) that he could not cheer up the girl

kas gan var būt vēl skaistāks pasaulē par to, ka cilvēks palīdz cilvēkam un draugs - draugam!

what can be more beautiful in (this) world than that (= the fact) that a person helps (another) person and a friend - (another) friend!

viņpus upes krastā Preimanis lādējās, ka visa pamale skanēja

on the shore, on the other side of the river, Preimanis cursed (in such a way) that the whole horizon resounded (with his curses)

Saulītis krāca tā, ka ārā varēja dzirdēt

Saulītis snored so (= in such a way) that one could hear it outside

viņai kļūst kauns par sevi, ka pat domās pieļāvusi salīdzinājumu

she felt ashamed of herself, that (= because) she had allowed herself (to make) this comparison even in thought

publicisti uzbruka rakstniekiem, ka tie bez īstas kvēles un dedzības ķeras pagatavot lugas

the publishers attacked the writers that (= because) they tried to prepare (= write) plays without real fervor and zeal

“bet varbūt tāpēc līst, ka man sāp zobs”, viņš iedomājās

“but maybe it is raining for that reason, that (= because) my tooth hurts,” he thought

krievu valoda mums jāprot tādēļ, ka tā ir mūsu kaimiņu un draugu valoda

we must know Russian for that reason, that (= because) it is the language of our neighbors and friends

Ješka nepaguva atbildēt, tāpēc ka papriekš gribēja iedzert

Ješka couldn't answer, because he first wanted to drink

tu, tēvoc, daudz ko nedzirdi, tādēļ ka kurls esi palicis

you, uncle, haven't heard much, because you have become deaf

otrā rītā sāp mugura, ka tīri vai jāraud

the next morning (his) back was in pain, (so much) that (he) simply had to cry

visi bija tik satraukti, ka nemanīja, vai viņš atsveicinās vai ne

everybody was so excited that (they) did not noticed whether or not he said goodbye

Ainas acis vērāas tik mierīgas un vēas, ka viņš atmeta šādu domu

(but) Aina's eyes were so peaceful and cool (= calm) that he abandoned such thought(s)

dejotāju kājas bija noru noblietējušas tā, ka zeme sāka skanēt

the dancers' feet had stomped the (forest) glade so (= in such a way) that the earth began to resound

vējš gaudoja aizvien stiprāk, tā ka sāka jau drebēt majas jumts

the wind howled more and more strongly, so that the house roof began to shake

vecais zvirbulis bija ļoti noskumis un kļuva pat neuzmanīgs, tā ka to gandrīz noķēra pelēkais Minka

the old sparrow had become very sad and even inattentive, so that the gray Minka (= cat) almost caught him

pēc malkas ej, ka var kurināt tam akmenim virsū!

go find wood, (so) that we can burn it on (top of) that rock

skrien kā traks, ka tikai izraut lielāku normu

I run (= work) like crazy, (so) that I may get a larger margin (= advantage)

tūlīt pēc kara pievairojis bija pelēču, ka mudž

immediately after the war the grays (= landowners) became many, (so much) that (they) were swarming

viņa steidzās tik ļoti, ka neievēroja vaļējās klēts durvis un tajās sēdošo cilvēku

she hurried so much that (she) did not notice the open barn door and the person sitting in(side of) it

vai tik daudz sāpju sevī pārvarēji, / ka tikai prieku spēsi citiem sniegt?

have you overcome so much pain in yourself / that you will be able to give only joy to others?

kas tas par draugu, ka nevar palīdzēt?

what kind of friend is he, that (= if) he can't help?

kur gan esat, zilie ceriņi, ka nekur vairs nesatieku jūs?

where are you, blue lilac, that (= if) I don't find you anywhere?

that; used to link a subordinate clause to the main clause, sometimes with a pronominal antecedent (tas, tāds, tik, tādēļ, tāpēc), with various different functions:


vai

Borrowed from Livonian vȯi or dialectal Estonian vai; compare other Finnic languages (Finnish vai, Standard Estonian või). First found occasionally in Latvian writings in the 17th century, initially as a conjunction, then as a particle, it became more frequent in the 18th century; but only in the 19th century did it really strike root in the language. Likely unrelated to Sanskrit वा (vā).

nav zināms, vai to darījis viņš

es nezinu, vai to spēšu

pasaki, vai es esmu nodevējs

subordinate clause
subordinate clause#English

used to introduce conditional subordinate clauses; whether, if


ak

Borrowed from German ach (“oh”). In 16th- and 17th-century literature, o or oh was often used in this sense. In a text from 1638, German ach is translated as ok, which points to a borrowing from Russian ох (ox). The from ak, from German, was introduced in the 17th-18th century.

ak, cik lieliski!

ak, kāda laime!

ak, kas par prieku!

ak, kā patīk!

ak, briesmas!

ak, brīvība! tā ir vitamīns, kas dzelzij un akmenim cauri ēdas

ah! freedom! that is a vitamin that eats through stone and iron

vai tu viņus atradi? ak, mani bērni, mani bērniņi!

have you found them? oh, my children, my (poor) little children!

“matemātika”, zēns bubina un izņem grāmatu... ak vai, ak vai, un visi citi jau guļ!

“mathematics,” the boy whispered and took the book... oh, oh (= poor me!), and all others are already sleeping (but I must study)!

used to indicate various feelings: joy, excitement, fear, distress; oh! ah!

ak, ko es redzu!

ak, kas par godu!

ak, kā jāstrādā!

ak, kaut es dabūtu!

ak, tas tikai sīkums!

ak, vasara, vasara, kā tu vari mulsināt jaunu meiču sirdis!

ah! summer, summer, how you can confuse young girls' hearts!

used to express certain mental states — e.g., surprise, disappointment, disapproval — in an emotional but also intelligent, perceptive way; ah! oh!

ak (tu) neprāts!

ak tu palaidnis tāds!

ak (tu) kungs!

ak (tu) dievs!

ak (tu) velns!

ak (tu) ļauna pasaule!

nē, nē, māt, pavasarī gan grūti mirt; visas puķītes zied, putniņi dzied, ak tu jaukā pasaulīte!

no, no, mother, it is difficult to die in spring; all the little flowers are blooming, the birds are singing, oh (you) lovely world!

“ak tu mūžs, kas te to zvēru!” māte iesaucās, redzot pēdas sniegā

“ah life, what wild beast is that!” the mother exclaimed, seeing tracks in the snow

(often in combination with the pronoun tu (“you”)) used to reinforce an interjection by either literally or metaphorically attributing some characteristic to the hearer; (ah,) you ... ! you ... ! oh ...!


ak

ak tu tas esi!

ak tad tā!

ak paspēji gan!

ak tāds tu esi!

ak jā! ak nē! ak tā!

oh, yes! oh, no! oh!... (expressions used when suddenly remembering something)

ak jā, gandrīz būtu piemirsis: labasdienas, māt, no Līzes

oh yes, I had almost forgotten: greetings, mother, from Līze

“ak tad tur tā vaina!” Ozols beidzot saprata

“ooh, there then is the blame (= problem)!” Ozols finally understood

used to give an interjectional flavor to an utterance, especially when expressing surprise; oh!


tur

Traditionally, tur is derived from kur (“where”) by analogy with pairs like kas (“who, what”) : tas (“that”), kā (“how”) : tā (“thus, like that”). A more recent suggestion is that tur may come from Proto-Baltic *tur, from the zero grade *tr̥ of Proto-Indo-European *ter-, the source of several nouns, adverbs or prepositions meaning “through,” “across,” “away”: German durch (“through”) (compare Old High German duruh, from *tr̥-kʷe), Breton treu (“beyond”), dre (“through”) (*tre), Latin trāns (“over, across, beyond”). The meaning in Latvian would have been changed to “there” under the influence of kur.

kas tur ir?

tur augšā

redzi, tur tā ir bumbiere!... bet tur - divas ābeles!

look, there, that is a pear tree!... and there - two apple trees!

used to indicate an unnamed location relatively far from the speaker; there, in that place

mašīna iebrauca pagalmā un tur apstājās

the car came into the courtyard and stopped there

zēnam negribējās iet atpakaļ uz māju; tur tagad tumšs...

the boy didn't want to go back to the house; there it was now dark...

arī es esmu tur, kur stāvēja mājas

I, too, am there, where the houses used to be

used to refer back to a previously mentioned location, or to a place to be mentioned in a following subordinate clause; there

droši vien Toms arī labi pelna, bet viesnīcu dzīve un ceļojumi ir dārgi; tur maz kas var palikt pāri...

Toms probably earns well (= enough money), but a life of hotels and trips is expensive; there only little (money) can be left...

māt, neej tumsā, neej, māt! tur nav neviena paša klāt...

mother, don't go in the dark, don't go, mother! there is nobody present there...

used to refer to a situation, state, event, which is connected, often indirectly, to the speaker


jau

From Proto-Baltic *jau, from Proto-Indo-European *h₁yów, from the stem *éy (“that; he”) (whence also Latvian it, q.v.). Cognates include Lithuanian jaũ (“already”), Old Prussian iau (“ever”), Old Church Slavonic уже (uže), юже (juže), Russian уже́ (užé, “already”), Gothic 𐌾𐌿 (ju, “already”), Old High German ju (“already”).

saule jau aust

viņš jau atnāca

es šo grāmatu jau esmu lasījis

viņi jau bija izbraukuši no pilsētas, kad tēvocis atkal ierunājās

they had already left the city when (their) uncle spoke again

used to indicate that an action or event has started, happened before the time of speaking; already


jā

Borrowed from Middle High German ja, first mentioned in 16th-century religious works, especially catechisms, in answers to questions about faith. At that time, jā was not in colloquial use; the preferred way to answer a question affirmatively was to repeat its verb, as was done in Latin. The word took some time to become usual: 17th-century authors mention that it was used by Latvian speakers who lived near cities, and more frequently when talking to non-Latvians; among themselves, they would revert to agreeing by repeating the question verb. 18th-century authors continued to mention the frequency of the latter method and the relatively low frequency of jā. In northern Vidzeme, the word was still not used in the 18th and early 19th century. Only in the mid-19th century did jā really become usual everywhere.

“Nu viss pagalam, Birkenbaum? Ja?” “Laikam”, puisis atbildēja

“Well, it's all bygones, Birkenbaum? Right?” “probably ,” the young man answered

“Te jūs dzīvojat, bet otrā pusē Kaspartēvs, jā?” Ieva jautā. “Un Kasparmāte,”, zēns precizē

“Here you all live, and on the other side father Kaspar, right?” “And also mother Kaspar,” the young man stated

used in a question to invite confirmation, like an English tag question; yes? right?


nē

From Proto-Baltic *nē, from Proto-Indo-European *nē, a parallel form to *né “no, not,” the sentence negation particle. Cognates include Lithuanian nè, nė̃ (“neither, nor”), Old Church Slavonic не (ne), Russian, Ukrainian, Belarusian, Bulgarian не (ne), Czech ne, Polish nie, Gothic 𐌽𐌹 (ni), 𐌽𐌴 (nē), Hittite 𒈾𒀜𒋫 (/natta/, “not”), [Term?] (/nāwi/, “not yet”), Sanskrit न (ná), Latin ne-, nē.

vienam ieteicams sauļoties, otrs turpretī nedrīkst; viens var peldēties, cits nē

to one it is recommended to sit in the sun, the other, however, is not allowed; one may swim, the other no (= may not)

used instead of a negative verb form; no, ...not


arī

Formed from the particle ar with an extra ī (cf. Ancient Greek ἄρ (ár), ἄρα (ára, “so, then”), with an extra a).

galu galā tik slikti arī nemaz nebija, lai redz pasaule, ka viņi nekaunas no nabagiem radiem

in the end, it wasn't so bad either, let the world see that they were not ashamed of their poor relatives

no iesākuma gan Kārlēns pļaujot cirta sīkāk, palika drusku iepakaļus, bet drīz arī šī starpība nolīdzinājās

in the beginning Kārlēns, (while) mowing, cut more finely, he left a little bit behind, but soon also this gap was evened out

used to indicate addition and concession; too, also, (in negative sentences) either

Anneli nekur nelaida... kur viņai arī vajadzēja iet!

(they) didn't let Annele go anywhere... where could she go anyway!

viesulis reiz nopostīja mūsu māju; veca jau arī bija

a whirlwind once destroyed our house; indeed it was old

dzidrums tumšajās acīs neapdzisa arī tad, kad viņa tās nolaida zemāk

the gleam in (her) dark eyes did not go out even when she lowered them

used to mark emphasis, intensification; anyway, indeed, even

Anna nekā neatbildēja, arī Juris cieta kluss

Anna didn't answer anything, and Juris (also) kept silent

Vācieši raķetes vairs nelaida. Arī šāvienu nedzirdēja.

The Germans didn't shoot any more rockets. Also no (gun)shots were heard.

(as a conjunction) used to link a clause, dependent or independent, to the preceding utterance; and, also, as well


arī

tomāti ir ne vien garšīgi, bet arī noderīgi un veselīgi

tomatoes are not only tasty but also useful and healthy

Rīgas alus ir slavens ne tikai savā dzimtenē, bet arī tālu aiz tās robežām

Riga beer is famous not only in its homeland, but also far from its borders

ne tikvien bērna gados, bet arī pieaugusi viņa paturēja to pašu prātu, kaut gan citādā ziņā nekā bērns

not only in (her) childhood years, but also (as a) grownup she kept the same mind, though in a different way than a child

coordinating conjunction
coordinating conjunction

(as part of the coordinating conjunctions ne vien ..., bet arī, ne tikai ..., bet arī, ne tikvien ..., bet arī, tiklab ... kā arī) not only ... but also, both ... and

mākoņi nekad nevar norimt, kaut arī liekas stāvam uz vietas

clouds never fade, though they seem to be (always) standing on the (same) place

Zaiga ar patiku noklausījās Kalnezera noteiktajos, kaut arī, ka viņai likās, savādajos spriedumos

Zaiga listened with pleasure to Kalnezers' resolute, albeit, as it seemed to her, bizarre, judgments (= observations, opinions)

lai arī dārzs ir mazliet nolaists, tas tomēr ir skaists

although the garden is a little neglected, it still is beautiful

(as part of the conjunctions kaut arī, lai arī) used to link a subordinate clause to a main clause, indicating a concessive relation between them; syn. lai gan, kaut gan); though, although, even though, albeit


tikai

Originally from tik (“such; only”) + tai (with loss of the second t), with tai being a form of the demonstrative pronoun tas (“that”); compare related particles tikko, tikām. Cognates include Lithuanian tiktai̇̃, dialectal tìktai.

nāk jauna diena? jā gan, un sola / ne tikai laimi, ne tikai prieku

is a new day coming? yes, and it promises / not only happiness, not only joy

darbs viņam kļuvis patiesi radošs, īsti radošs, ne tikai vārdos tāds

his work became creative, truly creative, not just such in words (i.e., this is not just empty praise)

(in the combination ne tikai) referring to other possibilities, alternatives; not only, not just


varbūt

varbūt jūs novilktu mēteli?

atnāciet varbūt ap pulksten pieciem!

Used to make a question or admirative exclamation weaker, less categoric; maybe, perhaps


vēl

Originally the adverbial form (< *vēli) of a palatalized i-stem parallel form of the u-stem adjective vēls (q.v.) (< *vēlus; cf. pronunciation [væ̂ls] with [æ], instead of the [ɛ] in the adverb [vɛ̂l]). Cognates include Lithuanian vė̃l (“again”).

bija jau pāri pusnaktij; Robis vēl klimta pa kūtsaugšu

it was already past midnight; Robis was still doing nothing in the loft

Antiņš ar cūkām vēl Auzukalnā

Antiņš and the pigs (are) still in Auzukalns

arvien vēl, vēl arvien

all the time; uninterruptedly; still (lit. always still)

(in affirmative sentences) used to indicate that a certain action or states continues on at the time of speaking; still, on


acīmredzot

From acīm (“eyes [dat.]”) + redzot (“seeing [part.]”), with acīm from acs (“eye”) and redzot from redzēt (“to see”).

compound

tā acīmredzot ir kļūda

viņš acīmredzot nenāks

acīmredzot tas ir pārpratums

this is apparently/clearly a misunderstanding

dzērām saldskābu vīnu no lielas pudeles, kas acīmredzot bija saglabājusies no pirmskara laikiem

we drank sweet-sour wine from a large bottlat that was apparently a relic from the pre-war times

acīmredzot akmeņogles sastāv no ļoti sarežģītiem lielmolekulāriem savienojumiem

coal is clearly composed of many complex macromolecular compounds

tā mūsu saimniecība ies acīmredzot uz augšu!

so our farm is obviously/clearly going forward (lit. up)!

apparently, seemingly; clearly, obviously


taču

From earlier (18th-century) tadšu, from the adverb tad (“then”) and an old particle *-šu, found also as the second element in jebšu, kauču (< kaut + šu), from earlier *-šau, from *-tyau. Cognates include Lithuanian tačiaũ.

tu taču saproti...

viņš taču nevarēja citādi

but he really couldn't (act) differently (= that was his only option)

nav taču svētdiena, kad laika diezgan

but it isn't Sunday, when there is enough time (= there is no time for this now)

atnācējs viesa Oskarā sajūsmu... nu taču bija cilvēks, ar ko varēja parunāties

the (new)comer (was) a delight (to) Oskar... but (that one) was really a person with whom one could talk

neaizmirstiet taču, ka šeit ir jaunatnes zeme!

but don't forget that this is the land of youth!

particle used to reinforce or emphasize a certain word or idea, usually by reducing doubts about it; but... (really), surely, just


tomēr

used to strengthen meaning of word or expression, assigned contrast or concession