How to read and say Latvian

Stress

In Latvian, the stress is almost always on the first syllable.

Vowels

Notice that there are long and short vowel sounds in Latvian.

a

as in 'u' in "cup"

ā

as in 'a' in "bark", a long sound

e

as in 'e' in "pet" and 'a' in "fat"

ē

as in 'ai' in "fair" and 'a' in "spar", but longer

i

as in 'i' in "pin"

ī

as in 'ee' in "speed", a long sound

o

as in 'o' in "pot" and 'oa' in "oats" or 'aw' in "law"

u

as in 'u' in "put"

ū

as in 'oo' in "pool", a long sound

Consonants

b

as 'b' in "ball"

c

as 'ts' in "bits"

č

as 'ch' in "chest"

d

as 'd' in "dog"

dz

as 'ds' in "beds"

dž

as 'j' in "job"

f

as 'f' in "fish"

g

as 'g' in "grass" [hard g sound]

ģ

as 'ju' in "judge"

h

as 'h' in "hot"

j

as 'y' in "yes"

k

as 'k' in "kite"

ķ

as 'c' in "cute"

l

as 'l' in "lid"

ļ

as 'li' in "million"

m

as 'm' in "money"

n

as 'n' in "noise"

ņ

as 'ny' in "new"

p

as 'p' in "pet"

r

trilled as Spanish 'r'

s

as 's' in "sand"

š

as 'sh' in "ship"

t

as 't' in "top"

v

as 'v' in "vest"

z

as z' in "zebra"

ž

as 'su' in "pleasure"

Common diphthongs

ai

as 'i' in "dive"

au

as 'ow' in "now"

ei

as 'ay' in "may"

ie

as 'ea' in "fear"

oi

as 'oy' in "toy"

ui

as 'ui' in "Luis"