Good evening all, I wanted to write in my friends Christmas card, in her native language… Would someone mind kindly check that the Google translation makes sense to a Latvian person?! Or if there is a better way to say this in Latvian? Thanks!

11 comments

1. Yes the translation is correct.

2. What I would add, if you want to imply official “respect” you can capitalize the words you and your – Jums and Jūsu respectively. It’s common form to do that with holiday greetings, but ultimately not necessary.

3. A little better translation would be – “Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu, tev un tavai ģimenei”
   The words “jums , jūsu” is a formal way. You use “tev, tavai” if you write someone you know, like a friend.

4. If it’s for a friend, I’d say “Priecīgus Ziemassvētkus un laimīgu Jauno gadu tev un tavai ģimenei!” Also optional, I write Tev with a capital T but it’s really not a must.

   Jums is also correct but it’s the official form, the way we speak to people we don’t know well, etc.
   With friends you use Tu/ Tev/Tavai, the informal you.

5. Yes the translation is correct. Google translate does a pretty good job when having to translate to Latvian or vice versa.

6. Well, the translation it’s not bad at all this time here, but ussually is. I would suggest just the capitualization of words ” Jums” and Jūsu”. We capitalize them cause of respect to somebody.

7. Commenting just so i get karma and can post my question, nothing to see here

8. i actually speak lithuanian, therefore i have absolutely no idea if it is correct or not.

9. You could add a “Ej dirst” at the end which translates to “best of health”, which we usually wish during holidays.

10. It’s correct, but as others have stated, “jums”, “jūsu” is a formal way to say “you”, “your”. For a friend it’s better to write “tev”,”tavai” respectively.

11. Perfect.