Definite Adjectives -ais / -ā

Definite Adjective Endings

Level 3

Latvian has no word for the, so the adjective can do that job. Use -ais (masculine) or -ā (feminine) for a known or singled-out thing: jaunais skolotājs (the new teacher), baltā māja (the white house).

How It Works

1. The forms. Swap the indefinite ending for the definite one:

  • Masculine: jauns → jaunais, liels → lielais, zaļš → zaļais
  • Feminine: jauna → jaunā, liela → lielā, zaļa → zaļā
  • Plural: jaunie (masculine), jaunās (feminine)

2. When to use the definite form.

  • The thing was mentioned before: Mums ir jauns kaimiņš. Jaunais kaimiņš ir ļoti laipns. (We have a new neighbour. The new neighbour is very kind.)
  • It is picked out from others, as in an answer to kurš? (which one?): Kurš krekls ir tavs? — Zilais. (Which shirt is yours? — The blue one.)
  • It is one of a kind or part of a name: Melnā jūra (the Black Sea), Jaunais gads (New Year).
  • After words like mans (my) and šis (this), the adjective is usually definite: mans jaunais dators (my new computer). See definite adjectives after my and this.

3. When to keep the indefinite form.

  • Something new, or any one of its kind: Es nopirku jaunu mašīnu. (I bought a new car.)
  • A plain description after ir: Māja ir balta. (The house is white.)
  • An answer to kāds? (what kind?): Kāds ir tavs dzīvoklis? — Liels. (What is your flat like? — Big.)

Tip: the definite feminine lielā looks like the indefinite locative lielā (in a big one). The noun shows which one you have: lielā māja (the big house), but lielā mājā (in a big house).

Examples (6)

  1. Jaunais skolotājs ir no Liepājas.

    The new teacher is from Liepāja.

    Everyone knows which teacher is meant, so jauns becomes jaunais.

  2. Baltā māja ir mūsu.

    The white house is ours.

    The speaker points to one house the listener can see: balta becomes baltā.

  3. Māja ir balta.

    The house is white.

    This only describes the house, so balta keeps its indefinite ending after ir.

  4. Mums ir jauns kaimiņš. Jaunais kaimiņš ir ļoti laipns.

    We have a new neighbour. The new neighbour is very kind.

    First mention: jauns. Once the neighbour is known: jaunais.

  5. Kurš krekls ir tavs? — Zilais.

    Which shirt is yours? — The blue one.

    Kurš asks you to pick one out, so the answer is definite.

  6. Jaunās grāmatas ir uz galda.

    The new books are on the table.

    The feminine plural definite ending is -ās.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the definite ending for a plain description after ir, when you mean "The house is white."

    Māja ir baltā.
    Māja ir balta.

    To say what something is like, keep the indefinite form after ir. Māja ir baltā would mean "The house is the white one", picking it out from other houses.

  • Using the masculine ending -ais with a feminine noun.

    Baltais māja ir mūsu.
    Baltā māja ir mūsu.

    Māja is feminine, so the definite adjective ends in -ā. Use -ais only with masculine nouns: baltais kaķis (the white cat).

  • Answering kurš? (which one?) with the indefinite form.

    Kurš krekls ir tavs? — Zils.
    Kurš krekls ir tavs? — Zilais.

    Kurš asks you to choose one, so answer with the definite form. Kāds? (what kind?) takes the indefinite form: Kāds ir tavs krekls? — Zils.

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Definite Adjectives -ais / -āLevel 3Definite Adjective Endings

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