labāk

Preferring: Labāk

Level 3

Labāk is the comparative of labi (well). It means "better", and it also marks the choice you prefer: Es labāk dzeru tēju. (I would rather drink tea.)

How It Works

1. Better. Labāk is the comparative form of the adverb labi (well). Compare with nekā or par (see than):

  • Viņa runā latviski labāk nekā es. (She speaks Latvian better than I do.)
  • Tagad es saprotu labāk. (Now I understand better.)

With man ir or es jūtos, it describes how you feel: Man jau ir labāk. (I already feel better.)

2. Rather: a preferred choice. Put labāk before the verb to say which option you choose over another:

  • Es labāk dzeru tēju. (I would rather drink tea.)
  • Es labāk palikšu mājās. (I would rather stay at home.)

With patīk, it means "like better": Man labāk patīk jūra nekā kalni. (I like the sea better than the mountains.)

3. Advice. With a command (see the imperative), labāk means "you had better": Labāk paliec mājās! (You had better stay at home!) Labāk nejautā. (Better not ask.)

4. Labāk or labāks? Labāk goes with verbs and never changes. Labāks and labāka are adjectives that agree with a noun: Šī kafija ir labāka. (This coffee is better.) The best is vislabāk (see the superlative).

Examples (6)

  1. Es labāk dzeru tēju.

    I would rather drink tea.

    Labāk before the verb marks the preferred choice.

  2. Labāk paliec mājās!

    You had better stay at home!

    Labāk + imperative gives advice.

  3. Man labāk patīk jūra nekā kalni.

    I like the sea better than the mountains.

    Labāk patīk means "like better, prefer".

  4. Viņa runā latviski labāk nekā es.

    She speaks Latvian better than I do.

    Here labāk simply means "better", comparing how two people speak.

  5. Man jau ir labāk.

    I already feel better.

    Man ir labāk describes how you feel. The person is in the dative.

  6. Labāk vēlāk nekā nekad.

    Better late than never.

    A common saying with labāk ... nekā.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the adverb labāk to describe a noun.

    Šī kafija ir labāk.
    Šī kafija ir labāka.

    After ir, a word that describes the noun is an adjective and agrees with it: kafija → labāka. Labāk only goes with verbs.

  • Using es with patīk.

    Es labāk patīk tēja.
    Man labāk patīk tēja.

    Patīk takes the person in the dative: man patīk. Labāk only adds "better".

How It Connects

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

labākLevel 3Preferring: Labāk

Learn This First

Labāk expresses a preference.

Words in This Pattern

labāk