Food & Drinks

1. Galdiņu vienam, lūdzu

   GAL-di-ņu VIE-nam, LŪ-dzu

   A table for one, please

   Usage

   Used when requesting a table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "galdiņš" is the diminutive of "galds" (table). For groups: "diviem" (2), "trim" (3)

2. Ēdienkarti, lūdzu

   Ē-dien-kar-ti, LŪ-dzu

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used when asking for the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Ēdienkarte" is the nominative. Accusative ending "-i" marks the direct object

3. Es esmu veģetārietis

   es ES-mu VE-ģe-tā-rie-tis

   I am a vegetarian

   Usage

   Used to inform about dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   Feminine: "veģetāriete". Vegan: "vegāns" (m) / "vegāne" (f)

4. Rēķinu, lūdzu

   RĒ-ķi-nu, LŪ-dzu

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used when asking for the bill after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "Rēķins" is the nominative form. "Vai varu apmaksāt?" also means "Can I pay?"

5. Tas bija ļoti garšīgi

   tas BI-ja ĻO-ti GAR-šī-gi

   That was very delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment the food after eating

   Grammar Note

   "garšīgi" is an adverb (the -i ending); Latvian has no neuter gender. "Ļoti garšīgi!" alone means "Very delicious!"

6. Vai ir kādi vegānu ēdieni?

   vai ir KĀ-di VE-gā-nu Ē-die-ni?

   Are there any vegan dishes?

   Usage

   Used to ask about vegan options on the menu

   Grammar Note

   "vegānu" is the genitive used as a modifier. Genitive often functions as adjective in Latvian

7. Man ir alerģija pret riekstiem

   man ir A-ler-ģi-ja pret RIEK-stiem

   I have a nut allergy

   Usage

   Used to inform about a food allergy

   Grammar Note

   "Man ir" is the Latvian possessive construction using dative to express "I have"

8. Kāds ir šīs dienas piedāvājums?

   kāds ir šīs DIE-nas PIE-dā-vā-jums?

   What is today's special?

   Usage

   Used to ask about the daily special

   Grammar Note

   "šīs dienas" is the genitive of "šī diena" (this day). Noun "diena" takes "-s" in genitive

9. Vienu alu, lūdzu

   VIE-nu A-lu, LŪ-dzu

   One beer, please

   Usage

   Used to order a beer at a bar or restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Latvian beer is well-known. "Alus" is the nominative. "divus alus" for two beers

10. Vai šajā ēdienā ir gaļa?

    vai ŠA-jā Ē-die-nā ir GA-ļa?

    Does this dish contain meat?

    Usage

    Used to check if a dish contains meat

    Grammar Note

    "šajā ēdienā" uses the locative case meaning "in this dish". Latvian locative indicates location or content

11. Cūkgaļa

    CŪK-ga-ļa

    Pork

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish contains pork

12. Liellopu gaļa

    LIEL-lo-pu GA-ļa

    Beef

    Usage

    Literally "large-cattle meat"; the wording used on menus

13. Vistas gaļa

    VIS-tas GA-ļa

    Chicken (meat)

    Usage

    "Vista" alone is the bird, so "gaļa" (meat) is added

14. Zivs

    Fish

    Usage

    Singular; plural "zivis". Smoked fish ("kūpināta zivs") is a Latvian speciality

15. Rīsi

    RĪ-si

    Rice

    Usage

    Always plural; covers raw and cooked rice — say "vārīti rīsi" for cooked

16. Maize

    Bread

    Usage

    Defaults to dark rye bread in Latvia; white bread is "baltmaize"

17. Nūdeles

    NŪ-de-les

    Noodles

    Usage

    Always plural; pasta is a separate word, "makaroni"

18. Ass

    Spicy (hot)

    Usage

    Also means "sharp" for blades; about food it means chilli-hot. Mild spice is "pikants"

19. Salds

    Sweet

    Usage

    Masculine form; "salda" with feminine nouns

20. Jēls

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Not cooked through; cooked is "termiski apstrādāts"

21. Sviests

    Butter

    Usage

    Check for it if you avoid dairy

22. Siers

    Cheese

    Usage

    "Jāņu siers", a caraway cheese, is the midsummer speciality

23. Medus

    Honey

    Usage

    Also a standard market souvenir

24. Tofu

    Usage

    Same spelling in Latvian; sold in supermarkets

25. Zupa

    Soup

    Usage

    Also appears as a menu section heading

26. Augļi

    AUG-ļi

    Fruit

    Usage

    Plural for fruit in general; berries are counted separately as "ogas"

27. Jogurts

    Yogurt

    Usage

    The related cultured milk "kefīrs" is especially common in Latvia

28. Alkohols

    Alcohol

    Usage

    Point at it to check whether a dish contains alcohol; non-alcoholic is "bezalkoholisks"

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