lettish
/'letiʃ/
Definition
- Noun:
- The official language of Latvia; belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family. "Lettish" is a term for the Latvian language, spoken primarily in Latvia.
Usage
- As a subject or object: The word "Lettish" is used to refer to the language itself. It is a proper noun and is often capitalized.
- He is studying Lettish to communicate with his relatives in Riga.
- The history of Lettish is fascinating to linguists.
Advanced Usage
- Historical/Alternative Term: "Lettish" is an older English term for the Latvian language. In modern contexts, "Latvian" is more commonly used.
- In 19th-century texts, the language was often referred to as Lettish.
Variants and Related Words
- Latvian (n): The modern and more common English name for the Lettish language and for a person from Latvia.
- She is a native Latvian speaker.
- Latvia (n): The country where Lettish/Latvian is the official language.
- Baltic languages (n): The branch of the Indo-European family to which Lettish/Latvian belongs, alongside Lithuanian.
Synonyms
- Latvian: The direct and contemporary synonym for "Lettish".
Notes on Usage
- While "Lettish" is understood and appears in some historical or specialized linguistic contexts, "Latvian" is the standard term in contemporary English for both the language and the people. Using "Latvian" is generally preferred to avoid ambiguity.
Noun
-
the official language of Latvia; belongs to the Baltic branch of Indo-European
