Understanding Personal Pronouns in Latvian for English Speakers

What Are Personal Pronouns in Latvian?

Personal pronouns are words that replace nouns referring to people or things. In Latvian, personal pronouns are essential for everyday communication and differ from English in form and usage.

Latvian Personal Pronouns: Subject Forms

Latvian personal pronouns change depending on the grammatical case. Here are the subject (nominative) forms, which are used as the subject of a sentence:

• Es – I
• Tu – You (singular, informal)
• Viņš – He
• Viņa – She
• Mēs – We
• Jūs – You (plural or formal)
• Viņi – They (masculine or mixed group)
• Viņas – They (feminine)

Pronunciation Tips for Latvian Personal Pronouns

Pronouncing Latvian pronouns correctly helps in being understood. Here are some tips:

• Es – pronounced as [es], similar to English 'es' in 'essay'.
• Tu – pronounced [tu], like English 'too'.
• Viņš – pronounced [viɲʃ], with a palatalized 'n' and 'sh' sound.
• Viņa – pronounced [viɲa], similar to 'vi' + 'nya'.
• Mēs – pronounced [meːs], with a long 'e' sound.
• Jūs – pronounced [juːs], with a long 'u' sound.

Using Personal Pronouns in Sentences

In Latvian, personal pronouns are often omitted because the verb conjugation indicates the subject. However, pronouns are used for emphasis or clarity.

Example sentences:

• Es eju uz veikalu. – I am going to the store.
• Tu runā latviski. – You speak Latvian.
• Viņš lasa grāmatu. – He is reading a book.
• Mēs strādājam kopā. – We work together.

Formal and Informal 'You' in Latvian

Latvian distinguishes between informal singular 'you' (tu) and formal or plural 'you' (jūs). Use 'tu' with friends and family, and 'jūs' in formal situations or when addressing multiple people.

Summary of Latvian Personal Pronouns

• Es – I
• Tu – You (singular, informal)
• Viņš – He
• Viņa – She
• Mēs – We
• Jūs – You (plural or formal)
• Viņi – They (masculine or mixed)
• Viņas – They (feminine)

Practice: Matching English to Latvian Pronouns