Vehicles

1. Automašīna

   Car

   Usage

   The general word; in speech people shorten it to mašīna or auto

2. Autobuss

   City bus

   Usage

   The city bus; the stop is autobusa pietura. Route 22 is the well-worn link between Riga airport and the centre

3. Starppilsētu autobuss

   Intercity coach

   Usage

   starp, between, plus pilsēta, city. Riga's Autoosta sits beside the central market, and the coaches to Tallinn and Vilnius leave from there

4. Mikroautobuss

   Minibus

   Usage

   Colloquially mikriņš. They serve nearby destinations like Jūrmala and Sigulda as well as rural routes, and are often quicker than the full-size coach

5. Tramvajs

   Tram

   Usage

   Three Latvian cities have trams — Riga, Daugavpils and Liepāja. In Riga they are the handy way out to Mežaparks

6. Trolejbuss

   Trolleybus

   Usage

   A bus drawing power from overhead wires. Riga still runs a full network, and the same ticket covers bus, tram and trolleybus

7. Vilciens

   Train

   Usage

   Mostly suburban services from Riga Centrālā stacija out to Jūrmala, Sigulda and Cēsis. The Jūrmala line fills up in beach season

8. Taksometrs

   Taxi

   Usage

   The formal word, and what the signs say. Fares differ by company and the cars waiting at the airport or old town can be pricey — an app is safer

9. Motocikls

   Motorcycle

   Usage

   Almost nobody rides one through the icy winter

10. Motorollers

    Moped / scooter

    Usage

    The step-through scooter — not the e-kick-scooter, which is skrejritenis

11. Velosipēds

    Bicycle

    Usage

    Clipped to velis in speech. A dedicated cycle path runs between Riga and Jūrmala

12. Skrejritenis

    Kick scooter / e-scooter

    Usage

    skriet, to run, plus ritenis, wheel; the electric kind is elektriskais skrejritenis. Share services cover central Riga — unlock by app

13. Lidmašīna

    Airplane

    Usage

    lidot, to fly, plus mašīna, machine. The airport is lidosta, and Riga's is the largest hub in the Baltics

14. Kuģis

    Ship

    Usage

    The big kind. Passenger ships to Stockholm sail from the Riga passenger terminal

15. Prāmis

    Ferry

    Usage

    The car-carrying kind; sailings to Sweden leave from Riga and Ventspils

16. Laiva

    Boat

    Usage

    A small boat, as used for paddling trips down the Gauja and the Abava

17. Ātrās palīdzības mašīna

    Ambulance

    Usage

    Literally the car of quick help. The emergency number is 112; Izsauciet ātrās palīdzības mašīnu asks for one

18. Policijas mašīna

    Police car

    Usage

    The police are policija; theft reports are filed at a station

19. Ugunsdzēsēju mašīna

    Fire engine

    Usage

    uguns, fire, plus dzēsēji, those who put it out. The fire service also answers on 112

20. Kravas automašīna

    Truck

    Usage

    krava, cargo, plus automašīna; kravas mašīna is the everyday form

21. Furgons

    Van

    Usage

    The cargo van you hire for a move or a bulky load

22. Nomas auto

    Rental car

    Usage

    noma means hire. Winter tyres are compulsory in the cold months, rentals included, and rural roads still have unpaved stretches

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