Paldies / Lūdzu
Thank You and Please
Paldies means thank you. Lūdzu means please, and it is also what you say when someone thanks you: Paldies! — Lūdzu!
How It Works
Paldies: thank you. Say Paldies! on its own, or make it stronger with Liels paldies! (thank you very much). The stress falls on the second syllable, pal-DIES, which is unusual in Latvian (see stress on the first syllable).
- To thank a person, put them in the dative: Paldies tev! (thanks, informal), Paldies jums! (thank you, polite), Paldies Annai! (thanks, Anna). See man, tev, viņam, viņai.
- To say what for, use par with the accusative: Paldies par kafiju! (thanks for the coffee), Paldies par palīdzību! (thanks for the help).
- To turn down an offer: Nē, paldies. (No, thank you.)
Lūdzu: please, here you are, and you are welcome. Lūdzu comes from the verb lūgt (to ask), so it literally means I ask. It has three everyday jobs:
- Please, in a request: Vienu kafiju, lūdzu. (One coffee, please.) Jā, lūdzu. (Yes, please.)
- Here you are, when you give something: Lūdzu, jūsu tēja. (Here is your tea.)
- You are welcome, as the answer to paldies: Paldies! — Lūdzu! Another friendly answer is Nav par ko. (Don't mention it.)
Ordering uses the object form. In Vienu kafiju, lūdzu the words vienu kafiju are in the accusative, as if you had said (Es gribu) vienu kafiju. The same happens in Man, lūdzu, tēju. (Tea for me, please.) See the accusative for objects.
Who says which word? The person who asks or gives says lūdzu. The person who receives says paldies. At a café: — Lūdzu, jūsu kafija. — Paldies! — Lūdzu!
Examples (6)
- Paldies! — Lūdzu!
Thank you! — You're welcome!
Word by Word: Thanks! — Please!
Lūdzu is the usual reply to paldies.
- Vienu kafiju, lūdzu.
One coffee, please.
Word by Word: One coffee, please.
Vienu kafiju is in the accusative, because it is something you want.
- Liels paldies par palīdzību!
Thank you very much for the help!
Word by Word: Big thanks for help!
Par with the accusative says what you are thanking for: palīdzība → palīdzību.
- Lūdzu, jūsu tēja. — Paldies!
Here is your tea. — Thank you!
Word by Word: Please, your tea. — Thanks!
Lūdzu goes with something you hand over. The person who takes it says paldies.
- Vai tu gribi kūku? — Nē, paldies.
Do you want some cake? — No, thank you.
Word by Word: Q you want cake? — No, thanks.
Nē, paldies politely turns down an offer. Jā, lūdzu accepts it.
- Paldies jums! — Nav par ko.
Thank you! — Don't mention it.
Word by Word: Thanks to-you! — Is-not for what.
Jums is the polite dative: thanks to you. Nav par ko is another friendly reply.
Common Mistakes
Leaving the thing you thank for in the nominative after par.
Paldies par kafija!Paldies par kafiju!Par takes the accusative, so kafija becomes kafiju. Keep this ending even in a short thank-you.
Saying lūdzu when you receive something.
— Lūdzu, jūsu kafija. — Lūdzu!— Lūdzu, jūsu kafija. — Paldies!The person who gives says lūdzu. The person who takes the coffee says paldies.
Using the subject form for the person you thank.
Paldies jūs!Paldies jums!The person you thank is in the dative: tev, jums, Annai. Jūs is the subject form.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- par + Accusative (About)About and for: Par
Par with the accusative says what you are thanking someone for.
Level 2 - man / tev / viņam / viņaiPronouns for to and for
The person you thank goes in the dative: paldies tev, paldies jums.
Level 1 - The Accusative for Objects
Orders such as Vienu kafiju, lūdzu use the object form.
Level 1 - Atvainojiet / AtvainoExcuse Me and Sorry
The other polite words a learner needs from the first day.
Level 1 - es gribētuPolite Wishes: Es Gribētu
Es gribētu kafiju is a longer, softer way to order.
Level 3 - Kā iet?Asking How Someone Is
Labi, paldies is the usual answer when someone asks how you are.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice Paldies / Lūdzu in Bubblegum
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