un / bet / vai
And, But and or
un = and, bet = but, vai = or: maize un siers (bread and cheese), mazs, bet garšīgs (small but tasty), tēja vai kafija (tea or coffee).
How It Works
un: and. tēja un kafija (tea and coffee). Es dzīvoju Rīgā, un mans brālis dzīvo Cēsīs. (I live in Riga, and my brother lives in Cēsis.) Two people joined by un count as plural, so a describing word after ir takes a plural ending: Anna un Jānis ir noguruši. (Anna and Jānis are tired.) Un also starts a short question: Un tev? (And you?) For too or also, use arī.
bet: but. Bet shows a contrast, and it always comes after a comma: Es gribu, bet nevaru. (I want to, but I can't.) mazs, bet garšīgs (small but tasty).
vai: or. Tēja vai kafija? (Tea or coffee?) The same word starts a yes-no question, so one sentence can use it twice: Vai tu gribi tēju vai kafiju? (Do you want tea or coffee?) The first vai makes the question, and the second one means or. After verbs like zināt, vai means whether: Es nezinu, vai viņš ir mājās. (I don't know whether he is at home.) See reporting a question.
Commas.
- Two words: no comma before un or vai. maize un siers
- Two full clauses with un: usually a comma. Līst, un pūš vējš. (It is raining, and the wind is blowing.)
- bet: always a comma. Līst, bet ir silti. (It is raining, but it is warm.)
More rules are in commas in Latvian.
More joining words. For a reason use jo, and for a result use tāpēc. Pairs like gan … gan (both … and) and ne … ne (neither … nor) come later.
Examples (6)
- Man patīk tēja un kafija.
I like tea and coffee.
Word by Word: To-me pleases tea and coffee.
- Es dzīvoju Rīgā, un mans brālis dzīvo Cēsīs.
I live in Riga, and my brother lives in Cēsis.
Un joins two full clauses here, so a comma goes before it.
- Es gribu, bet nevaru.
I want to, but I can't.
Word by Word: I want, but not-can.
- Dzīvoklis ir mazs, bet ļoti silts.
The flat is small but very warm.
Bet has a comma before it even when it joins two describing words rather than two clauses.
- Vai tu gribi tēju vai kafiju?
Do you want tea or coffee?
The first vai makes a question, and the second one means or.
- Man iet labi. Un tev?
I'm doing well. And you?
Word by Word: To-me goes well. And to-you?
Common Mistakes
Leaving out the comma before bet.
Es gribu bet nevaru.Es gribu, bet nevaru.Bet always has a comma before it.
Leaving out the comma when un joins two full clauses.
Es dzīvoju Rīgā un mans brālis dzīvo Cēsīs.Es dzīvoju Rīgā, un mans brālis dzīvo Cēsīs.Each part has its own subject and verb, so this is two clauses joined by un. Latvian writing puts a comma before un here.
Putting a comma between two single words joined by un.
Man patīk tēja, un kafija.Man patīk tēja un kafija.Tēja and kafija are just two words in one list, so un joins them without a comma.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Un, bet and vai join simple sentences.
Related Patterns
- vai QuestionsYes-No Questions with Vai
The same word vai also starts a yes-no question.
Level 1 - arīAlso: Arī
Arī means also or too, while un joins two things.
Level 1 - joBecause: Jo
Joins a reason: …, jo līst.
Level 2 - tāpēcSo and Therefore: Tāpēc
Joins a result: Līst, tāpēc …
Level 2 - Commas in Latvian
The wider comma rules, including those before un and bet.
Level 4 - gan ... ganBoth ... and
A pair that means both … and.
Level 3
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice un / bet / vai in Bubblegum
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