AN INTRODUCTION TO THE LIIV LANGUAGE
In the mid-19th century, among the languages of the Baltic Sea Finns residing in Latvia, Kurzeme and Salaca (Salis) or Vidzeme Liiv languages were recorded. The language of the Gauja Liivs residing in the vicinity of Turaida from the 11th-13th centuries has not survived
Nouns
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mer | Mer, mier | Sea |
| Jog | Joug | River |
| Järu | Jōra | Lake |
| Ūrg | Ūrga | Stream |
| Koiva | Koiva | Gauja |
| Vanga | Vang, kõur | River inlet |
| Pal(t)-/pāl | High bank | |
| Ķink | Kȭnka | Sand dune |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Lān | Lōņtš | Pine forest |
| Pū | Pū | Tree |
| Lieds | Lēḑ | Leaf |
| Tam | Täm | Oak |
| Küu, kõue | Kõuvõ | Birch |
| Kousk | Spruce | |
| Pädag | Lõuž | Pine |
| Vītil | Alāb | Willow |
| Pīlag | Pīlgõz, pīlõgpū | Rowan |
| Pärn | Pǟrna | Lime |
| Läpa | Liepā | Alder |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ruoi, ruoj | Ruoi | Grass |
| Puķ | Puțkõz | Flower |
| Jāņruojed | Midsummer wild flowers | |
| Pāperd | Papārd, papāsmõz | Fern |
| Jāņ āņ | Bedstraw | |
| Rügipuķ | Riggõpuțkõz | Cornflower |
| Ämal | Ōbiļ | Clover |
| Nodal | Nodāl | Nettle |
| Ān | Āina | Hay |
| Kare | Kōŗamō | Pasture |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Adr | Addõrmō | Plough |
| Kunai | Kīndaji | Ploughman |
| Rügi | Riggõz | Rye |
| Kāra | Kaggõrz | Oats |
| Odr | Vȯddõrz | Barley |
| Lina | Linā | Linen |
| Pubād | Pubāb | Beans |
| Järned | Jērnaz | Peas |
| Kaņep | Kaņīp | Hemp |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ratstau, übbi | Ibbi | Horse |
| Niem, neema | Emõd | Cow |
| Lamm | Lāmbaz | Sheep |
| Šiga | Sigā | Pig |
| Kuaš, āņ | Gūogõz | Goose |
| Paŗ, piel | Paŗ | Duck |
| Pinn | Piņ | Dog |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Mies, miez | Mīez | Man, husband |
| Nain | Nai | Woman, wife |
| Iza | Izā | Father |
| Jema | Jemā | Mother |
| Vel | Veļ | Brother |
| Süsär | Sõzār | Sister |
| Puoga | Pūoga | Son |
| Tüder | Tidār | Daughter |
| Jema iza, iza aiza | Vanāizā | Grandfather |
| Jema jema, jema iza | Vanājemā | Grandmother |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Šīlmdi | Sīlmad | Eyes |
| Korad | Kūorõd | Ears |
| Nana | Nanā | Nose |
| Pä | Pǟ | Head |
| Ģīm | Pālga, gīm | Face |
| Sū | Sū | Mouth |
| Ūld | Ūld | Lips |
| Ammad | Ambõd | Teeth |
| Ibuks | Ibūkst | Hair |
| Jālg | Jālga | Leg |
| Kes | Kež | Arm |
| Selga, sälg | Sǟlga | Back |
| Mag | Mag | Stomach |
| Miel | Sidām | Heart |
| Kirr | Kaggõl | Neck |
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Vald | Vālda | White |
| Musta | Mustā | Black |
| Punni | Punni | Red |
| Vīri | Vīri | Yellow |
| Lilla | Violet | |
| Sinni | Siņņi | Blue |
| All, alli | Ōļaz | Green |
| Brūn | Brūni, dumā | Brown |
| Kūld | Kuldi | Gold |
Numbers
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Juks, jukš | Ikš | One |
| Kaks | Kakš | Two |
| Kolm | Kuolm | Three |
| Nelä, nelle | Nēļa | Four |
| Vīs, vīz | Vīž | Five |
| Kūs | Kūž | Six |
| Seis | Seis | Seven |
| Kādiks | Kōdõks | Eight |
| Üdiks | Īdõks | Nine |
| Kum | Kim | Ten |
Adjectives
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Smukk | Knaš | Beautiful |
| Jua | Jõva | Good |
| Kaval, koval | Koval | Clever |
| Kerd, kärd | Kierdi | Industrious |
| Rikk | Rikāz | Rich |
| Lāisk | Lāiska, lāška | Lazy |
| Kankt | Veggi, viš, kärzi, dūšig | Strong |
| Līki | Līti | Short |
| Pitka | Pitkā | Tall |
| Pien | Pīenti | Thin |
| Jämde | Jamdi | Fat |
| Ladja | Laigā | Plats |
| Āki, āģi | Ōdõz, kitsāz | Narrow |
| Lemm, lem | Lem | Warm |
| Kulm, tulm | Kīlma | Cold |
Pronouns
| Salaca Liiv | Kurzeme Liiv | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ma, mā | Ma | I |
| Sa | Sa | You |
| Täma, tema | Ta, täma | He, she |
| Me, mē | Mēg | We |
| Te, tē | Tēg | You |
| Net, nämad, nät, net | Ne | They |
| Mū | Mū, tuoi | Other |
| Jäga | Jegā, kummi | Each |
| Ab juks | Mitikš | Noone |
Some Latvian words originating in the Liiv language
| Kurzeme Liiv | Latviešu v. | English |
|---|---|---|
| Alz | Allaž | Often |
| Päkā | Beka | Bolete |
| Joud | Jauda, spars, spēks | Power, energy, strength |
| Jūoņ | Jonis, ātrums | Jonis, speed |
| Kōzgõnd | Kāzas | Wedding |
| Kukki | Kukainis | Insect |
| Kekš | Ķeksis | Tick |
| Lōlatõ | Laulāt | Marry |
Materials used:
- Salis-livisches Wörterbuch herausgegeben von Eberhard Winkler und Karl Pajusalu. Teaduste Akadeemia kirjastus, Tallinn 2009. Atrodama: https://kirj.ee/wp-content/plugins/kirj/pub/ling-supplementary-series-Vol3-2009-1-270_20230327141657.pdf
- Latvian – Liiv Conversational Dictionary. Sastādīja V. Šuvcāne un E. Žagare. Rīga 1991
- Borrowed words.Video: https://www.tavaklase.lv/video/vardi-kas-ienakusi-no-libiesu-valodas-2/
- Family Video: https://www.tavaklase.lv/video/radinieku-nosaukumi-libiesu-valoda-2/
- Kurzeme Liiv Language Words. Latvian – Liiv Language Dictionary [with pronounciation]. Atrodama: https://livonian.tech/