Money & Exchange

1. Kur ir tuvākais bankomāts?

   kur ir TU-vā-kais BAN-ko-māts?

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Used to ask for the nearest ATM when cash is needed

   Grammar Note

   "Bankomāts" is borrowed from international "bancomat/ATM". Latvia adopted the euro in 2014. Card payments are common

2. Vai jūs pieņemat kredītkartes?

   vai jūs PIE-ņe-mat KRE-dīt-kar-tes?

   Do you accept credit cards?

   Usage

   Used to ask a shop or restaurant if credit cards are accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Kredītkartes" is the accusative plural of "kredītkarte" (feminine). Latvia is a cashless society with widespread contactless payment

3. Cik tas maksā?

   cik tas MAK-sā?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Used to ask the price of an item

   Grammar Note

   "Cik tas maksā?" is the standard way to ask a price. Use "tā" (feminine) if the item is a feminine noun

4. Vai varu maksāt skaidrā naudā?

   vai VA-ru MAK-sāt SKAID-rā NAU-dā?

   Can I pay with cash?

   Usage

   Used to ask if cash payment is accepted

   Grammar Note

   "Skaidra nauda" literally means "clear money" = cash. "Skaidrā naudā" is the locative: "in cash form"

5. Lūdzu, iedodiet man čeku

   LŪ-dzu, IE-do-diet man ČE-ku

   Please give me the receipt

   Usage

   Used to request a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Čeks" is borrowed from English "check" (receipt). "Rēķins" also means "bill/invoice". Both are used depending on context

6. Vai cenā ir iekļauts PVN?

   vai CE-nā ir IEK-ļauts PVN?

   Is VAT included in the price?

   Usage

   Used to check whether VAT is included in the displayed price

   Grammar Note

   PVN = Pievienotās vērtības nodoklis. Latvia's standard VAT rate is 21%. Reduced rates apply to food and medicine

7. Kur var mainīt valūtu?

   kur var MAI-nīt VA-lū-tu?

   Where can I exchange currency?

   Usage

   Used to find a currency exchange office

   Grammar Note

   Latvia adopted the euro in January 2014. Currency exchange offices are at Riga airport, Old Town, and bank branches

8. Lūdzu, atdodiet man atlikumu

   LŪ-dzu, AT-do-diet man AT-li-ku-mu

   Please give me back the change

   Usage

   Used to ask for your change after making a payment

   Grammar Note

   "Atdot" = to give back (at- prefix indicates return). "Atlikums" (remainder/change) → accusative "atlikumu"

9. Rēķinā ir kļūda

   RĒ-ķi-nā ir KĻŪ-da

   There is an error on the bill

   Usage

   Used to point out an error on the bill

   Grammar Note

   "Rēķinā" is the locative of "rēķins" (bill). Latvian locative ends in -ā/-ē/-ī depending on the noun's final vowel

10. Cik lielu dzeramnaudu dot?

    cik LIE-lu DZE-ram-nau-du dot?

    How much tip should I give?

    Usage

    Used to ask how much tip to leave in Latvia

    Grammar Note

    "Dzeramnauda" parallels Finnish "juomaraha" and Estonian "jootraha". Tipping is not obligatory in Latvia; 5–10% is typical

11. Depozīts

    DE-po-zīts

    Deposit

    Usage

    A refundable deposit paid at check-in for hotels or rentals

12. Atmaksa

    AT-mak-sa

    Refund

    Usage

    Used when asking for money to be returned

13. Drošības nauda

    DRO-šī-bas NAU-da

    Security deposit

    Usage

    A more formal security deposit, used for rentals or leases

14. Priekšapmaksa

    PRIEKŠ-ap-mak-sa

    Prepayment

    Usage

    Used to indicate money paid in advance, e.g. at booking

15. Papildu maksa

    PA-pil-du MAK-sa

    Extra charge

    Usage

    Used to indicate an additional charge added later

16. Pakalpojuma maksa

    PA-kal-po-ju-ma MAK-sa

    Service fee

    Usage

    Used to indicate a fee charged for a service or procedure

17. Skaidra nauda

    Cash

    Usage

    Point at it to choose cash; a sign reading "tikai skaidrā naudā" means cash only

18. Bankas karte

    Bank card

    Usage

    "Karte" alone can also mean a map, so "bankas" is added

19. Maksāsim atsevišķi

    MAK-sā-sim AT-se-viš-ķi

    Let's pay separately

    Usage

    Ask for separate bills; this is routine in Latvia

20. Viss kopā

    viss KO-pā

    All together

    Usage

    Ask for one single bill for the whole table

21. Atlikums

    Change

    Usage

    Also means "remainder", but at a till it is the change; coins are "sīknauda"

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