How to pronounce Latvian
Say it like LAT-vee-un. Latvian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Latvian. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- LAT
- vee
- un
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Latvian pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- LATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- veeKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
- unKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Latvian
American and British speakers say Latvian in essentially the same way: /ˈlætviən/ in the US and /ˈlætviən/ in the UK.
British respelling: LAT-vee-un.
What does Latvian mean?
- a native or inhabitant of Latvia
- the official language of Latvia; belongs to the Baltic branch of Indo-European
- of or relating to or characteristic of Latvia or its people or language
Questions about saying Latvian
How do you pronounce Latvian?
Say LAT-vee-un. The American pronunciation is /ˈlætviən/. In British English it is /ˈlætviən/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Latvian?
Latvian has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (LAT). Broken into parts: LAT · vee · un.
Do Americans and Brits say Latvian the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /ˈlætviən/ and the British form is /ˈlætviən/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.