Merry Christmas in Latvian
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus
Say it like this: PREE-eh-tsee-goos ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos
Big letters show the part to say louder.
Quick answer
- In Latvian, Merry Christmas is Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus, said like PREE-eh-tsee-goos ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos.
- Happy New Year is Laimīgu Jauno gadu.
- People say it in Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Russia and more.
What Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus means
Word for word it is 'priecīgus' (joyful) plus 'Ziemassvētkus' (Christmas). Ziemassvētki is built from 'ziema' (winter) and 'svētki' (holidays), so it means the winter holidays.
Other ways to say it in Latvian
Happy New Year
Laimīgu Jauno gadu
Say it like this: LYE-mee-goo YOW-noh GAH-doo
happy new year
To write in a Christmas card
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu
Say it like this: PREE-eh-tsee-goos ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos oon LYE-mee-goo YOW-noh GAH-doo
Where people speak Latvian
LatviaLithuaniaEstoniaRussiaUnited KingdomUnited States
Latvian (latviešu) belongs to the Indo-European, Baltic language family.
Say it with Rally on Christmas Eve
On Christmas Eve, Rally the corgi rides the Christmas Train to more than 100 places and teaches kids how to say Merry Christmas at every stop. Practice Latvian today, then follow his trip.
Follow Rally on Christmas Eve →Christmas traditions where people speak Latvian
- Reciting a poem for a present: In Latvia, children often have to earn their presents. They recite a poem they learned by heart, sing a song, play an instrument or dance while standing near the Christmas tree. Then Ziemassvētku vecītis hands over the gifts.[1]
- Piparkūkas and grey peas: Latvian families bake piparkūkas, spiced gingerbread cookies. A traditional Christmas dish is cooked grey or brown peas with bacon sauce, often served with small pies, cabbage and sausage.[3][1]
- The first Christmas tree: Latvians say their capital, Riga, had the first Christmas tree. The Blackheads Guild recorded a winter tree in the town square in 1510 and described earlier ones in 1476. Latvians decorate their trees every Ziemassvētki.[3][1]
🎄 Quick game: Merry Christmas in Latvian
Three quick questions for kids. Tap an answer to play.
Say Merry Christmas in more languages
- LithuanianLinksmų Kalėdų
- GermanFrohe Weihnachten
- BelarusianЗ Калядамі
- CzechVeselé Vánoce
- SerbianСрећан Божић
- EstonianHäid jõule
- RussianС Рождеством!
- RomanianCrăciun fericit
Questions parents ask
How do you say Merry Christmas in Latvian?
The most common way to say Merry Christmas in Latvian is Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus. It is pronounced "PREE-eh-tsee-goos ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos". Latvians say it to family, friends and neighbours and write it on cards. A shorter form, Priecīgus svētkus, meaning happy holidays, is also common in messages.[4]
How do you pronounce Merry Christmas in Latvian?
Say it like this: PREE-eh-tsee-goos ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos. The letter c sounds like ts, and ī is a long ee sound. Latvian puts the stress on the first syllable of every word, so say PREE-eh-tsee-goos and ZEE-eh-mahs-sveh-tkoos with a firm start. The ē in svētkus is also long.
What does Merry Christmas mean word for word in Latvian?
Word for word it is 'priecīgus' (joyful) plus 'Ziemassvētkus' (Christmas). Ziemassvētki is built from 'ziema' (winter) and 'svētki' (holidays), so it means the winter holidays. Because ziema means winter, the Latvian word for Christmas links the holiday with the winter season itself.[3]
How do you write Merry Christmas in Latvian?
Write it as Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus. Latvian marks long vowels with a line (macron), as in ī and ē, and these marks change the sound. Latvia also has letters with commas and hooks, such as ķ and š. Capitalise Ziemassvētkus as the holiday name.
How do you say Happy New Year in Latvian?
Happy New Year in Latvian is Laimīgu Jauno gadu, pronounced "LYE-mee-goo YOW-noh GAH-doo". It means happy new year, with the adjective first, as in English. Latvians wish Laimīgu Jauno gadu around December 31 and January 1. The word laimīgu comes from laime, meaning luck or happiness, so the wish also carries a hope for good fortune.[5]
Is there a formal and a casual way to say Merry Christmas in Latvian?
Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus is the standard, polite greeting for everyone. People often add a longer message on cards, such as wishes for peace, health and joy, but there is no separate casual form that children need to learn. Teachers, grandparents and friends all hear the same words.[4]
When do people say Merry Christmas in Latvian?
Latvians say it from late November and December, on cards and at school, and above all on Christmas Eve and in the days after it. They often add Laimīgu Jauno gadu in the same message, since the holidays and the New Year run together in Latvia.[1]
Which day is the main Christmas celebration for Latvian speakers: Christmas Eve or Christmas Day?
Christmas is celebrated from December 24 to 25. December 24 is Ziemassvētku vakars, Christmas Eve, and December 25 is Pirmie Ziemassvētki, the First Christmas. December 26 is Otrie Ziemassvētki, the Second Christmas. Presents are opened on the evening of the 24th or on Christmas Day.[3]
What is the Latvian poem tradition?
In Latvia, children often have to earn their presents. They recite a poem they learned by heart, sing a song, play an instrument or dance while standing near the Christmas tree. Then Ziemassvētku vecītis hands over the gifts. Many Latvian children practise their poems for weeks, and the rhyme is the ticket to their present.[1]
How can I teach Merry Christmas in Latvian to kids?
Teach the greeting as ziema (winter) plus svētki (holidays), then ask children to compose a short poem like Latvian children do. A rhyme ending with Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus makes a good small performance for a family audience, and kids can practise reciting it beside a paper Christmas tree.
A bedtime story after seeing SantaRally Takes the Train is a five-minute rhyming picture book about a corgi’s first train ride, hand-painted in real watercolor by Leslie Dunn. $16.99 on Amazon, ages 0 to 8.
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We check every greeting against dictionaries, language institutes and cultural sources.
- Christmas in Latvia, WhyChristmas.com
- Christmas in Estonia, WhyChristmas.com
- Ziemassvētki, Wikipedia
- Merry Christmas (translations), Wiktionary
- Happy New Year (translations), Wiktionary