Emergency

1. Palīgā!

   PA-lī-gā!

   Help!

   Usage

   Used to call for help in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   Locative of "palīgs" (help), literally "to the aid!". Used as an urgent shout

2. Izsauciet ātro palīdzību!

   IZ-sau-ciet ĀT-ro PA-lī-dzī-bu!

   Call an ambulance!

   Usage

   Used when an ambulance is needed urgently

   Grammar Note

   "ātrā palīdzība" literally means "quick help" (ambulance). Emergency number in Latvia is 113

3. Izsauciet policiju!

   IZ-sau-ciet PO-li-ci-ju!

   Call the police!

   Usage

   Used when police assistance is needed

   Grammar Note

   "policija" is the nominative. Latvia's emergency numbers: 110 (police), 112 (EU emergency)

4. Man ir sāpes krūtīs

   man ir SĀ-pes KRŪ-tīs

   I have chest pain

   Usage

   Used to describe a medical emergency symptom

   Grammar Note

   "sāpes" (pain) is typically used in plural in Latvian. "krūtīs" is the locative plural

5. Man ir pazaudēta pase

   man ir PA-zau-dē-ta PA-se

   I have lost my passport

   Usage

   Used when a passport has been lost

   Grammar Note

   The passive participle agrees with the subject; pase is feminine, hence "pazaudēta". Embassy: "vēstniecība", police: "policija"

6. Kur ir tuvākā slimnīca?

   kur ir TU-vā-kā SLIM-nī-ca?

   Where is the nearest hospital?

   Usage

   Used to find the nearest hospital in an emergency

   Grammar Note

   "slimnīca" literally means "house of the sick". Pharmacy: "aptieka"

7. Man nozaga maku

   man NO-za-ga MA-ku

   My wallet was stolen

   Usage

   Used when reporting a theft

   Grammar Note

   Use "nozagt" for stealing an object: dative victim + accusative object. "apzagt" takes the victim in the accusative ("Mani apzaga" = I was robbed), so it cannot govern "maku" here. For bag: "somu"

8. Man nav labi

   man nav LA-bi

   I am not well

   Usage

   Used to say you are feeling unwell

   Grammar Note

   Latvian states how you feel with a dative construction: "Man nav labi". "Es neesmu labi" is ungrammatical. "Jūtos slikti" (I feel bad) is an alternative

9. Man ir alerģija pret penicilīnu

   man ir A-ler-ģi-ja pret PE-ni-ci-lī-nu

   I am allergic to penicillin

   Usage

   Used to inform medical staff about a penicillin allergy

   Grammar Note

   "pret" + accusative expresses "allergy to something". Works with any medication name

10. Lūdzu sazinieties ar manu vēstniecību

    LŪ-dzu SA-zi-nie-ties ar MA-nu VĒST-nie-cī-bu

    Please contact my embassy

    Usage

    Used to request contact with your embassy in an emergency

    Grammar Note

    "sazinieties" is the formal imperative of "sazināties" (to contact). "ar" means "with"

11. Beidziet!

    Stop it!

    Usage

    A firm silent refusal for touts or aggressive vendors

12. Neaiztieciet mani!

    Don't touch me!

    Usage

    Refuses physical contact outright; "ne-" is the negative prefix

13. Ejiet prom!

    Go away!

    Usage

    Makes someone following you back off; polite in form, unambiguous in intent

14. Mani apzaga

    I've been robbed

    Usage

    Report a theft to police or bystanders, then point at what was taken

15. Ugunsgrēks

    Fire

    Usage

    A fire that is out of control; a candle or cooking flame is "uguns"

16. Zaglis

    Thief

    Usage

    The person who steals; the act is "zādzība" (the offence in Criminal Law Section 175)

17. Laupīšana

    Robbery

    Usage

    Taking property with violence or the threat of it — Criminal Law Section 176; theft without violence is "zādzība"

18. Kabatzaglis

    Pickpocket

    Usage

    A thief who steals from pockets; kabata (pocket) + zaglis (thief)

19. Cilvēka nolaupīšana

    Kidnapping

    Usage

    Names the carrying off of a person; "nolaupīšana" alone reads as hijacking a vehicle, so keep "cilvēka" (of a person). The offence in Criminal Law Section 153 is the legal term "personas nolaupīšana"

20. Slepkavība

    Murder

    Usage

    The offence in Criminal Law Section 116; aggravated forms are separate offences in Sections 117 and 118

21. Nemieri

    Riot

    Usage

    The everyday word for mass disorder in the streets; in this sense it is always plural, while the singular "nemiers" means anxiety. The offence in Criminal Law Section 225 is the legal term "masu nekārtības"

22. Spridzeklis

    Bomb

    Usage

    A device made to explode; "bumba" also means a bomb, but on its own it reads as "ball"

23. Ugunsgrēks! Skrieniet prom!

    U-guns-grēks! SKRIE-niet prom!

    Fire! Run!

    Usage

    Shout this to warn the people around you and send them outside when a fire breaks out

    Grammar Note

    The word "Ugunsgrēks" (fire) followed by the plural imperative of "skriet" (to run) and the adverb "prom" (away) taken from the example "Ejiet prom!"

24. Zaglis! Noķeriet viņu!

    ZAG-lis! NO-ķe-riet VI-ņu!

    Thief! Catch him!

    Usage

    Shout this right after a theft to ask bystanders to stop the thief

    Grammar Note

    Zaglis + plural imperative of noķert = thief + plural imperative of catch. Example: Noķert zagli

25. Izsauciet ugunsdzēsēju mašīnu!

    IZ-sau-ciet U-guns-dzē-sē-ju MA-šī-nu!

    Please call a fire engine

    Usage

    Ask bystanders to call the fire brigade; the emergency number is 112

    Grammar Note

    The same construction as the example "Izsauciet ātrās palīdzības mašīnu!" with the vehicle changed to "ugunsdzēsēju mašīna"; the object is accusative

26. Kur ir policijas iecirknis?

    kur ir PO-li-ci-jas IE-cirk-nis?

    Where is the police station?

    Usage

    Ask the way to the police station where you can file a report

    Grammar Note

    The "Kur ir X?" pattern of the example "Kur ir tuvākā slimnīca?" filled with the genitive of the word "Policija" plus "iecirknis" (district branch)

27. Man vajag izziņu par zādzību

    man VA-jag IZ-zi-ņu par ZĀ-dzī-bu

    I need a theft report

    Usage

    Show this at a police counter to ask for a certificate of the theft; an insurer asks for this document

    Grammar Note

    Man vajag + accusative = I need … pattern, stating a need. Izziņa means certificate. Example: Man vajag ārstu / Ārsta izziņa

28. Vai kāds runā japāņu valodā?

    vai kāds RU-nā JA-pā-ņu VA-lo-dā?

    Is there anyone who speaks Japanese?

    Usage

    Ask at a police or hospital counter whether anyone there speaks Japanese

    Grammar Note

    Vai + runāt + language = question pattern. Subject kāds means anyone or an unknown person (Nezināms cilvēks); valoda, language, is put in the locative. Example: Vai jūs runājat angliski? / Es mācos latviešu valodu

29. Šis cilvēks ir bezsamaņā

    šis CIL-vēks ir BEZ-sa-ma-ņā

    This person is unconscious

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or bystanders the condition of a person who has collapsed

    Grammar Note

    Šis + cilvēks = this + person as subject. bezsamaņā / bezsamaņa = locative / base form of unconsciousness. Example: Būt bezsamaņā / Cilvēka nolaupīšana

30. Kāds slīkst!

    Someone is drowning

    Usage

    Raise the alarm when you see someone going under at the waterside

    Grammar Note

    kāds + third-person present of slīkt = someone or an unknown person (Nezināms cilvēks) + third-person present of slīkt, to sink unable to stay above water. Both words are monosyllabic. The meaning of slīkt also includes water entering the airways.

31. Mani piekāva

    MA-ni PIE-kā-va

    I was beaten

    Usage

    Report being assaulted to the police or to medical staff

    Grammar Note

    The same "accusative Mani + past verb with an unstated subject" frame as the example "Mani apzaga"; "piekaut" means causing bodily harm by repeated blows

32. Mani sadūra

    MA-ni SA-dū-ra

    I was stabbed

    Usage

    Report having been stabbed; point to the wound as well if you are bleeding

    Grammar Note

    The same frame as the example "Mani apzaga"; "sadurt" means wounding by stabbing, with the example "Uzbrukumā sadurts jaunietis"

33. Manā istabā ielauzās

    MA-nā IS-ta-bā IE-lau-zās

    My room was broken into

    Usage

    Tell hotel staff or the police that your room was entered while you were out

    Grammar Note

    The same "past verb with an unstated subject" way of reporting a loss as the example "Mani apzaga", with the word "Istaba" (room) in the locative; "ielauzties" means forcing one's way in, usually to steal, with the example "Vasarnīcā ielauzušies zagļi"

34. Tas cilvēks ir vainīgs

    tas CIL-vēks ir VAI-nīgs

    That person is the culprit

    Usage

    Point out the offender to the police; be sure you are pointing at the right person

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative "Tas" (that) with "cilvēks" (person) as subject; "vainīgs" means the one who has committed an offence punishable by law

35. Mani apkrāpa

    MA-ni AP-krā-pa

    I was deceived

    Usage

    Report a scam or being overcharged

    Grammar Note

    The same frame as the example "Mani apzaga"; "apkrāpt" means deceiving someone for material gain, with the example "Apkrāpt pircēju par veselu eiro"

36. Es aizmirsu savas mantas

    es AIZ-mir-su SA-vas MAN-tas

    I left my things behind

    Usage

    Say that you left your belongings in a shop or a vehicle; show a photo of the item as well

    Grammar Note

    savs = one’s own, reflexive possessive. aizmirst = also means leave something behind absent-mindedly or forget to bring it. Example: Lūdzu, uzrādiet savu pasi / Aizmirst lietussargu vilcienā

37. Mani notrieca automašīna

    MA-ni NO-trie-ca AU-to-ma-šī-na

    I was hit by a car

    Usage

    Tell paramedics or the police that a car hit you

    Grammar Note

    The accusative "Mani" of the example "Mani apzaga" with "automašīna" from the example "Automašīna nedarbojas" added as subject; "notriekt" means knocking someone down with a vehicle, with the example "Automašīna notriekusi velosipēdistu"

38. Lūdzu, izejiet pa avārijas izeju

    LŪ-dzu, IZ-e-jiet pa A-vā-ri-jas IZ-e-ju

    Please escape through the emergency exit

    Usage

    Direct the people around you to the emergency exit in a fire or a blackout

    Grammar Note

    The "Lūdzu, + plural imperative" frame of the example "Lūdzu, uzgaidiet" followed by the example "Avārijas izeja" in the accusative; the route taken is expressed with "pa" + accusative

39. Uzmanieties!

    UZ-ma-nie-ties!

    Watch out!

    Usage

    A one-word warning that there is danger right there

    Grammar Note

    The plural imperative of "uzmanīties" (to be careful so as to avoid something unwanted); it shares its root with the example "Lūdzu, esiet ļoti uzmanīgi", but is the form shouted at immediate danger

40. Lūdzu, steidzieties

    LŪ-dzu, STEI-dzie-ties

    Please hurry

    Usage

    Tell the other person that this is urgent, for instance while waiting for an ambulance or the police

    Grammar Note

    The same "Lūdzu, + plural imperative" frame as the example "Lūdzu, uzgaidiet", with the verb replaced by "steigties" (to hurry)

41. Lūdzu, nāciet tūlīt

    LŪ-dzu, NĀ-ciet TŪ-līt

    Please come right away

    Usage

    Ask someone on the phone or in person to come at once

    Grammar Note

    The "Lūdzu, + plural imperative" frame of the example "Lūdzu, uzgaidiet" followed by the word "Tūlīt" (right away); the verb is the example "Nākt" (to come)

42. Tas ir steidzami

    tas ir STEI-dza-mi

    It's an emergency

    Usage

    Say at a counter or on the phone that this cannot wait its turn

    Grammar Note

    The demonstrative "Tas" with the copula "ir" as in the example "Kāds ir jūsu vizītes mērķis?"; "steidzams" means something that must be done or dealt with at once

43. Lūdzu, aizvediet mani uz slimnīcu

    LŪ-dzu, AIZ-ve-diet MA-ni uz SLIM-nī-cu

    Please take me to a hospital

    Usage

    Ask to be taken to hospital when you cannot get there yourself

    Grammar Note

    The "Lūdzu, + plural imperative" frame of the example "Lūdzu, uzgaidiet", with the word "Slimnīca" (hospital) as the destination after the preposition "uz" + accusative

44. Ir noticis ceļu satiksmes negadījums

    ir NO-ti-cis CE-ļu SA-tik-smes NE-ga-dī-jums

    There has been a traffic accident

    Usage

    Tell the police, the ambulance service or bystanders that a traffic accident has happened

    Grammar Note

    Ir noticis … negadījums + ceļu + satiksmes = the pattern with genitives ceļu (as in ceļu policija) and satiksmes (from satiksme), forming the official term. negadījums = a chance event that can endanger health or life or cause material loss. satiksme = movement of vehicles and people along routes provided for that purpose. Example: Ir noticis negadījums — lūdzu, izsauciet slēpošanas patruļu!

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