Addressing Someone Warmly or Formally
Calling someone by name picks out one person, so the adjective is definite: Mīļā Anna! (Dear Anna!), Dārgais draugs! (Dear friend!), Cienījamie kolēģi! (Dear colleagues!).
How It Works
1. Opening a letter or email.
- To a friend: Mīļā Anna!, Dārgais Jāni!
- Formal: Cienījamā kundze! (Dear Madam), Cienījamais kungs! (Dear Sir), Cienījamie kolēģi! (Dear colleagues)
The greeting line often ends with an exclamation mark.
2. Mr and Mrs with a surname. The surname goes in the genitive before kungs (Mr) or kundze (Mrs, Ms): Bērziņa kungs (Mr Bērziņš), Bērziņas kundze (Mrs Bērziņa). With an adjective: Cienījamais Bērziņa kungs! Remember that surnames change for women: Bērziņš, Bērziņa.
3. Capital Jūs. When you write politely to one person, Jūs and all its forms, such as Jums and Jūsu, start with a capital letter: Paldies Jums par ātro atbildi. See capital letters and tu and jūs. Official applications to an authority keep to plain, neutral wording and usually leave out warm address formulas.
4. Speaking. The same pattern works out loud: Mīļie draugi! (Dear friends!), Dārgie skatītāji! (Dear viewers!), Atvaino, jaunais cilvēk! (Excuse me, young man!). In the singular you may also hear an -o form of the adjective, as in mīļo! (darling!).
5. Closing a formal letter. Ar cieņu (Respectfully) is the usual sign-off, followed by your name.
Examples (6)
- Mīļā Anna! Paldies par jauko vēstuli.
Dear Anna! Thank you for the lovely letter.
- Dārgais draugs, apsveicu tevi dzimšanas dienā!
Dear friend, happy birthday!
Word by Word: Dear friend, (I) congratulate you on birthday!
- Cienījamā kundze! Paldies Jums par ātro atbildi.
Dear Madam, thank you for your quick reply.
In a formal letter, Jums is capitalised.
- Cienījamais Bērziņa kungs!
Dear Mr Bērziņš,
The surname Bērziņš goes in the genitive, Bērziņa, before kungs.
- Mīļie draugi, paldies, ka atnācāt!
Dear friends, thank you for coming!
For several people, the adjective is plural: mīļie.
- Atvaino, jaunais cilvēk!
Excuse me, young man!
Cilvēk is the vocative of cilvēks, and the adjective jaunais is definite.
Common Mistakes
Using the indefinite ending in address.
Mīļa Anna!Mīļā Anna!In everyday Latvian, an adjective in address is definite. Indefinite forms like mīļa appear mainly in folk songs.
Leaving the surname in the nominative before kungs.
Cienījamais Bērziņš kungs!Cienījamais Bērziņa kungs!Before kungs or kundze, the surname goes in the genitive: Bērziņš → Bērziņa kungs.
Not making the adjective plural for several people.
Mīļā draugi!Mīļie draugi!The adjective agrees with the people you address: draugi is masculine plural, so mīļie.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Forms of address use the vocative and definite adjectives.
Related Patterns
- Capital Letters
Why Jūs is capitalised in letters.
Level 2 - tu / jūsInformal Tu and Polite Jūs
Choosing between informal tu and polite jūs.
Level 2 - Short Vocatives in -iņShort Affectionate Address
Short, affectionate calling forms such as māmiņ!
Level 3 - Surnames for Men and Women
Surnames change for men and women: Bērziņš, Bērziņa.
Level 3
Words in This Pattern
Practice Addressing Someone Warmly or Formally in Bubblegum
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