uz + Accusative (Direction)

Going to a Place

Level 1

To say where you are going, use uz with the accusative: Rīga → uz Rīgu, darbs → uz darbu, veikals → uz veikalu.

How It Works

The pattern. A movement verb + uz + a singular place or event noun in the accusative:

  • Es braucu uz Rīgu. (I am going to Riga.)
  • Es eju uz darbu / uz skolu / uz veikalu. (I am going to work / to school / to the shop.)
  • Vai tu ej uz koncertu? (Are you going to the concert?)

Accusative endings.

  • -s, -š → -u: darbs → uz darbu, Tukums → uz Tukumu
  • -a → -u: Rīga → uz Rīgu, skola → uz skolu
  • -e → -i: Ogre → uz Ogri
  • feminine -s → -i: Ventspils → uz Ventspili
  • -us → -u: tirgus → uz tirgu
  • Words like kino never change: uz kino.

Plural names take the dative. With plural place names, uz takes the dative: uz Cēsīm, uz Talsiem, uz laukiem (to the countryside). See plural nouns after prepositions.

Three patterns that look alike.

  • uz + accusative = to: Es braucu uz Rīgu.
  • the locative, with no preposition = in or at: Es esmu Rīgā. (See the locative.)
  • uz + genitive = on: uz galda (on the table). See uz with the genitive.

Going to a person, or home. For a person, Latvian uses pie + the genitive: Es eju pie ārsta. (I am going to the doctor.) Home is special too: Es eju mājās. (See mājās.)

Asking. Uz kurieni tu brauc? (Where are you going?) In everyday speech people also simply ask Kur tu ej?

Examples (6)

  1. Es braucu uz Rīgu.

    I am going to Riga.

    Word by Word: I travel to Riga.

    Braukt is for travel by vehicle; Rīga → Rīgu.

  2. Es eju uz darbu.

    I am going to work.

    Word by Word: I go to work.

    Darbs → darbu. Iet is for going on foot or going in general.

  3. Viņa iet uz veikalu.

    She is going to the shop.

    Word by Word: She goes to shop.

    Veikals → veikalu.

  4. Es lidoju uz Londonu.

    I am flying to London.

    Word by Word: I fly to London.

    Lidot (to fly) takes uz too: Londona → Londonu.

  5. Vai tu ej uz koncertu?

    Are you going to the concert?

    Word by Word: Q you go to concert?

    Uz works for events as well as places: koncerts → koncertu.

  6. Rīt es braucu uz Cēsīm.

    Tomorrow I am going to Cēsis.

    Word by Word: Tomorrow I travel to Cēsis.

    Cēsis is plural, so uz takes the dative plural: Cēsīm.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the locative after uz.

    Es braucu uz Rīgā.
    Es braucu uz Rīgu.

    The locative Rīgā means in Riga. After uz meaning to, use the accusative Rīgu.

  • Using uz when going to a person.

    Es eju uz ārstu.
    Es eju pie ārsta.

    Uz with the accusative is for places and events. When you go to a person, use pie with the genitive. You may hear uz ārstu in casual speech, but pie ārsta is the standard form.

  • Using the accusative with a plural town name.

    Es braucu uz Cēsis.
    Es braucu uz Cēsīm.

    With a plural noun, uz takes the dative: Cēsis → uz Cēsīm, Talsi → uz Talsiem.

How It Connects

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uz + Accusative (Direction)Level 1Going to a Place

Learn This First

Going to a place uses uz with the accusative in the singular and the dative in the plural.

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Words in This Pattern