Let's: -sim

Let's Do It

Level 3

Use the mēs form of the future to say let's: Iesim! (Let's go!), Sāksim! (Let's start!)

How It Works

1. Form. This is the mēs form of the future tense (the infinitive without -t, plus -sim):

  • iet → Iesim! (Let's go!)
  • sākt → Sāksim! (Let's start!)
  • ēst → Ēdīsim! (Let's eat!)
  • runāt → Runāsim! (Let's talk!)

2. Statement or invitation? Rīt mēs iesim uz kino is a statement: we will go to the cinema tomorrow. Iesim uz kino! said as an invitation means let's go to the cinema. The pronoun mēs is usually left out when you mean let's.

3. Let's not. Add ne-, written together: Nerunāsim par to! (Let's not talk about that!), Nesteigsimies! (Let's not rush!)

4. A question makes a suggestion. Iesim rīt uz kino? (Shall we go to the cinema tomorrow?)

5. Everyday speech. People also use the mēs form of the present in the same way: Ejam! (Let's go!), Braucam mājās! (Let's drive home!). You will hear both. The -sim form is the standard one, and the one to use in careful writing.

A familiar example is Tiksimies! (See you!, literally let's meet), from the reflexive verb tikties.

Examples (6)

  1. Iesim!

    Let's go!

  2. Sāksim!

    Let's start!

  3. Ēdīsim!

    Let's eat!

    Ēst has the root ēd-, so it adds -ī-, as in the future: ēdīsim.

  4. Runāsim latviski!

    Let's speak Latvian!

  5. Nerunāsim par to.

    Let's not talk about that.

  6. Ejam mājās!

    Let's go home!

    In everyday speech, the mēs present ejam is also used for let's.

Common Mistakes

  • Translating let's with ļaut (to allow).

    Ļauj mums iet!
    Iesim!

    Ļauj mums iet! means Allow us to go!, which asks someone for permission. For Let's go!, use the mēs form: Iesim! or, in speech, Ejam!

  • Writing ne separately in let's not.

    Ne runāsim par to.
    Nerunāsim par to.

    Ne is written together with the verb: nerunāsim.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

Let's: -simLevel 3Let's Do It

Learn This First

Let's forms are built like the future and the commands.