Culture & Etiquette

1. Rīga ir skaista pilsēta

   RĪ-ga ir SKAIS-ta PIL-sē-ta

   Riga is a beautiful city

   Usage

   Used to introduce Riga, the capital of Latvia, to a visitor

   Grammar Note

   Latvian is a Baltic Indo-European language. Nouns have gender (masculine/feminine) and 7 grammatical cases

2. Vecpilsēta ir UNESCO pasaules mantojuma objekts

   VEC-pil-sē-ta ir UNESCO PA-sau-les MAN-to-ju-ma OB-jekts

   The Old Town is a UNESCO heritage site

   Usage

   Used to mention that Riga's Old Town is a UNESCO World Heritage Site

   Grammar Note

   Riga's historic centre was listed as UNESCO World Heritage in 1997. The city is renowned for Art Nouveau architecture

3. Latvijas dziesmu svētki ir ievērojami

   LAT-vi-jas DZIES-mu SVĒT-ki ir IE-vē-ro-ja-mi

   The Latvian Song Festival is remarkable

   Usage

   Used to introduce the Latvian Song Festival (Dziesmu Svētki) to a visitor

   Grammar Note

   Latvia's Song and Dance Festival (Dziesmu un deju svētki) began in 1873 and is a UNESCO Intangible Heritage

4. Latviešu virtuves ēdieni ir garšīgi

   LAT-vie-šu VIR-tu-ves Ē-die-ni ir GAR-šī-gi

   Latvian cuisine dishes are delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment Latvian cuisine to a local person

   Grammar Note

   Latvian classics include grey peas with bacon (pelēkie zirņi), rye bread (rupjmaize), and smoked fish

5. Vasaras saulgriežu svētki ir Jāņi

   VA-sa-ras SAUL-grie-žu SVĒT-ki ir JĀ-ņi

   The Midsummer celebration is Jāņi

   Usage

   Used to introduce Jāņi, Latvia's most beloved traditional summer solstice celebration

   Grammar Note

   Jāņi (June 23-24) is Latvia's most cherished celebration. It features bonfires, Jāņi folk songs, and oak leaf garlands

6. Kur var apskatīt Rīgas jūgendstilu?

   kur var AP-ska-tīt RĪ-gas JŪ-gend-sti-lu?

   Where can you see Riga's Art Nouveau?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to see Riga's famous Art Nouveau architecture

   Grammar Note

   Riga has one of the world's highest concentrations of Art Nouveau buildings. Alberta and Elizabetes streets are notable

7. Latvijā ir daudz seno pilu

   LAT-vi-jā ir daudz SE-no PI-lu

   Latvia has many ancient castles

   Usage

   Used to describe Latvia's rich medieval castle heritage

   Grammar Note

   Latvia has over 400 medieval castle ruins. Livonian Order castles are prevalent; Cēsis and Sigulda are popular destinations

8. Latvieši ir lepni par savu kultūru

   LAT-vie-ši ir LEP-ni par SA-vu KUL-tū-ru

   Latvians are proud of their culture

   Usage

   Used to acknowledge Latvian cultural pride and identity

   Grammar Note

   Latvian adjectives agree with the noun in gender, number, and case. "Lepni" is masculine plural nominative

9. Brīvdabas muzejs ir brīnišķīgs

   BRĪV-da-bas MU-zejs ir BRĪ-niš-ķīgs

   The Open-Air Museum is magnificent

   Usage

   Used to praise the Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum near Riga

   Grammar Note

   The Latvian Ethnographic Open-Air Museum, founded in 1924, is the largest in the Baltic region. It features historic farmsteads

10. Rīga ir Latvijas galvaspilsēta

    RĪ-ga ir LAT-vi-jas GAL-vas-pil-sē-ta

    Riga is the capital of Latvia

    Usage

    Used to introduce Riga as the capital of Latvia

    Grammar Note

    Latvijas is the genitive of Latvija (Latvia). Galvaspilsēta combines galva (head) and pilsēta (city)

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