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Latvian (latviešu valoda)

Latvian is a Baltic language related to Lithuanian and Old Prussian with about 1.4
million speakers in Latvia. There are also Latvian speakers in the USA, Russia,
Australia, Canada, Germany, the UK, Sweden, Lithuania, Ukraine, Estonia, Brazil and
Belarus.

The first known example of written Latvian dates from

1530 and was a translation of a hymn by Nikolaus Ramm, Latvian at a glance
a German pastor. The first publication to be printed in Native name: latviešu valoda
[latviɛʃu valuɔda]
Latvian was a catechism which appeared in 1585. The
Linguistic affliation: Indo-
first Latvian dictionary, Lettus, was compiled by Georg European, Balto-Slavic, Baltic,
Mancelius in 1638. The German monks who wrote these Eastern Baltic
Number of speakers: 1.75 million
texts used a version of the the Fractur alphabet adapted
Spoken in: Latvia
from German which was ill suited to the Latvian First written: 1530
language. Writing system: Latin script
Status: official language in Latvia
A modified version of the Latin alphabet devised by the and the European Union
linguists Kārlis Mīlenbahs and Jānis Endzelīns in 1908,
and gradually replaced the old version.

Latvian alphabet (latviešu alfabēts) & pronunciation

Download a Latvian alphabet chart (Excel)

Sample text in Latvian

Visi cilvēki piedzimst brīvi un vienlīdzīgi savā pašcieņā un tiesībās. Viņi ir apveltīti
ar saprātu un sirdsapziņu, un viņiem jāizturas citam pret citu brālības garā.

A recording of this text by Kristine Bekere

0:00 / 0:12

Translation
All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. They are endowed
with reason and conscience and should act towards one another in a spirit of
brotherhood.
(Article 1 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights)

Information about Latvian | Phrases | Numbers | Family words | Tower of Babel |

Learning materials

Links
Information about the Latvian language
Learn Latvian
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Latvian_language

Online Latvian lessons Price: $33.80

List $39.80
http://studylatvian.com/ Price:
http://polymath.org/latvian.php You 15%
save:
Latvian phrases
http://www.bbc.co.uk/languages/other/quickfix/latvian.shtml In Stock.
Shipping time world-
http://www.the-backpacking-site.com/countries/latvia-phrase.html wide is typically 6
days.
Online Latvian dictionary
http://dictionary.site.lv
Add to cart
http://www.letonika.lv/groups/default.aspx?g=2

Online Latvian news Try it for free

http://www.diena.lv
http://www.latviansonline.com
http://e-avize.db.lv
http://www.kurzemes-vards.lv

Online Latvian radio

http://www.latvijasradio.lv/lv/lr/
http://www.iradio.lv

Baltic languages
Latgalian, Latvian, Lithuanian

Languages written with the Latin alphabet

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