Markets & Souvenirs

1. Cik tas maksā?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Cik maksā?" is the most common Latvian price question. "Tas" is masculine, "tā" is feminine

2. Vai var kaulēties par cenu?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether bargaining is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Kaulēties" is the Latvian verb for haggling. Bargaining is possible at Riga's Central Market

3. Es piedāvāju divdesmit eiro

   I'll offer twenty euros

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Piedāvāju" is the first-person present of "piedāvāt" (to offer). "Eiro" is an indeclinable noun

4. Vai varat dot atlaidi?

   Can you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Atlaidi" is the accusative of "atlaide" (discount, suffix -i). 5th-declension feminine nouns in "-e" take "-i" in the accusative (atlaide → atlaidi); "-a" nouns take "-u"

5. Vai tas ir rokdarbs?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Roka" (hand) + "darbs" (work). Latvian embroidery and amber jewelry are popular handmade crafts

6. No kāda materiāla tas ir izgatavots?

   What material is this made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Materiāla" is the genitive of "materiāls" (material). "Dzintars" (amber) is a signature Latvian material

7. Vai varat to iesaiņot kā dāvanu?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Dāvanu" is the accusative of "dāvana" (gift). "Kā dāvanu" means "as a gift"

8. Kur atrodas nakts tirgus?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Nakts" is the genitive of "nakts" (night) used as an adjective. "Tirgus" means market

9. Vai es varu saņemt kvīti?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Kvīti" is the accusative of "kvīts" (receipt). Issuing receipts is standard practice in Latvia for tax purposes

10. Kad tirgus ir atvērts?

    When is the market open?

    Usage

    Checking when the market is open

    Grammar Note

    "Atvērts" is the past participle/adjective of "atvērt" (to open). Riga Central Market is one of Europe's largest

11. Es tikai skatos, paldies

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Skatos" is the 1st person singular present of the reflexive verb "skatīties" (to look). The adverbial participle "skatoties" cannot serve as the main verb. "Paldies" means thank you

12. Vai pieņemat kartes maksājumus?

    Do you accept card payments?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    Latvia is in the EU and card payment is common. Small stalls may still prefer cash

13. Es pērku to kā suvenīru draugam

    I'm buying it as a souvenir for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller it is a souvenir gift

    Grammar Note

    "Draugam" is the dative of "draugs" (friend, suffix -am). "Kā suvenīru" means "as a souvenir"

14. Vai to var nosūtīt uz ārzemēm?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking about international shipping options

    Grammar Note

    "Ārzemēm" is the dative plural of "ārzemes" (abroad), used after "uz" for direction. "Latvijas Pasts" is the main postal service

15. Kāds ir jūsu labākais produkts?

    What is your best product?

    Usage

    Asking for the seller's top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Labākais" is the definite superlative of "labs" (good). "Jūsu" is the formal possessive "your"

16. Vai cena ir apspriežama?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Checking whether the price can be negotiated

    Grammar Note

    "Apspriežama" is the feminine passive present participle of "apspriest" (to discuss), agreeing with "cena" (feminine)

17. Vai jums ir cits izmērs?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    "Cits" means "other/different". Add "lielāks" (bigger) or "mazāks" (smaller) to specify

18. Tas ir pārāk dārgs

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Pārāk" means "overly/too". Saying "mazliet dārgs" (a little pricey) opens room for negotiation

19. Ķiploki

    ĶIP-lo-ki

    Garlic

    Usage

    Market labels use the plural; a single bulb is "ķiploks"

20. Sīpoli

    SĪ-po-li

    Onions

    Usage

    The singular "sīpols" can also mean a flower bulb

21. Čili pipari

    ČI-li PI-pa-ri

    Chilli peppers

    Usage

    "Čili" is added because "pipari" alone can mean black pepper

22. Koriandrs

    Coriander / cilantro

    Usage

    Covers both the leaf and the seed; fresh leaf is "svaigs koriandrs"

23. Ingvers

    Ginger

    Usage

    Fresh root and powder share the word; use it when hunting the shelf

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