Three Syllable Tones

Level 6

Long vowels and diphthongs in Latvian carry a tone. Standard Latvian has three: level, falling and broken. Loks means spring onion with a level tone and arch with a falling tone.

How It Works

1. Which syllables have a tone. Every syllable with a long vowel or a diphthong has a tone, in any position in the word. So does a short vowel followed by l, m, n or r in the same syllable, as in kalns (hill).

2. The three tones.

  • Level (stieptā intonācija, ~): the voice stays high and even. loks (spring onion)
  • Falling (krītošā intonācija, `): a short rise, then a long fall. loks (arch)
  • Broken (lauztā intonācija, ^): the voice rises and then breaks off with a catch or creak. logs (window)

3. Spelling does not show tone. Just as it does not show the two sounds of e, Latvian spelling writes both kinds of loks the same way. You will see tone marks only in dictionaries and textbooks.

4. Two-tone speakers. Many speakers use only two tones. In western Latvia the broken tone has merged with the falling tone, and in eastern Latvia the level tone has merged with the falling tone. All of these speakers are understood everywhere.

5. What this means for learners. Tone does not affect where the stress falls, and you will be understood without it. Listen for it in native speech. It makes your Latvian sound more natural.

Examples (6)

  1. Zupā ir zaļie loki.

    There are spring onions in the soup.

    Word by Word: Soup-in are green onions.

    Loks (spring onion) has a level tone: the voice stays high and even.

  2. Tilts ir kā liels loks.

    The bridge is like a big arch.

    Word by Word: Bridge is like big arch.

    Loks (arch) has a falling tone: a short rise, then a long fall. It is spelled like loks (spring onion).

  3. logs

    window

    Broken tone: the voice rises, then breaks off with a catch.

  4. trauks

    dish; container

    Level tone in standard Latvian.

  5. draugs

    friend

    Falling tone in standard Latvian.

  6. raugs

    yeast

    Broken tone in standard Latvian. Western speakers say it with a falling tone.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing tone marks in ordinary text.

    Dārzā aug zaļie lõki.
    Dārzā aug zaļie loki.

    Ordinary spelling never shows tone. Tone marks such as ~ belong only in dictionaries and pronunciation guides.

How It Connects

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Three Syllable TonesLevel 6

Learn This First

Syllable tones build on stress and vowels.