This article describes the use of [[prepositions]] and postpositions in [[Latvian grammar]].
The lists below are organized according to the [[Grammatical case|case]] of the [[noun phrase]] following the preposition. In the plural, however, all prepositions in Latvian can be described as [[government (linguistics)|governing]] the dative case. For example: * singular: ''bez manis/<s>*man</s>'' "without me-''gen''/<s>*me-''dat''</s>" * plural: ''bez mums/<s>*mūsu</s>'' "without us-''dat''/<s>*us-''gen''</s>"
== Examples ==
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Latvian ! English approximate ! Case ! [https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Wiktionary:Frequency_lists/Latvian_wordlist Frequency] ! Example phrase ! Translation |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/aiz#Latvian|aiz]] | behind | genitive | 172 | Paslēpties '''aiz''' liela kok'''a''' Apspriede notika '''aiz''' slēgtām durv'''īm''' | To hide behind a large tree The discussion took place behind closed doors |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/bez#Latvian|bez]] | without | genitive | 446 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/kopš#Latvian|kopš]] | since | genitive | 133 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/no#Latvian|no]] | from | genitive | 3524 | Skaitīt '''no''' vien'''s''' līdz desmit | To count from one to ten |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pēc#Latvian|pēc]] | after | genitive | 980 | '''Pēc''' darb'''a''' braucu uz mājām '''Pēc''' diviem mēneš'''iem''' būs pārbaudījumi | After work I go home After two months there will be a test |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pie#Latvian|pie]] | at, on, to | genitive | 1275 | Māja '''pie''' jūr'''as''' | A house on the sea |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pirms#Latvian|pirms]] | before (time or location with time connotation). | genitive | 0 | Viņš stāvēja '''pirms''' man'''is''' rindā | he stood before me in line |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/uz#Latvian|uz]] | to, on (location) | genitive | 3664 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/virs#Latvian|virs]] | above, over | genitive | 191 | Mati '''virs''' galv'''as''' Uzraksts '''virs''' durv'''īm''' | Hair over the head The inscription above the door * |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/zem#Latvian|zem]] | under | genitive | 106 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/ap#Latvian|ap]] | around, about, ca. | accusative | 72 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/ar#Latvian|ar]] | with | accusative | 4682 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/caur#Latvian|caur]] | through | accusative | 106 | Jāt '''caur''' mež'''u''' Smaidīt '''caur''' asar'''ām''' | To ride through the forest To smile through the tears |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/gar#Latvian|gar]] | along | accusative | 24 |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pa#Latvian|pa]] | by, in, on, during | accusative | 637 | Iet '''pa''' ceļ'''u''' '''Pa''' nakt'''īm''' | To walk along the road During night * |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pār#Latvian|pār]] | over, across | accusative | 63 | Pār upi | Across the river |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/par#Latvian|par]] | about | accusative | 4328 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/pret#Latvian|pret]] | against | accusative | 407 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/starp#Latvian|starp]] | between | accusative | 191 | Galds atrodas '''starp''' skap'''i''' un logu Sēdēt '''starp''' draugiem | The table is situated between the cabinet and the window To sit among friends |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/uz#Latvian|uz]] | to, towards | accusative | 3664 | | |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/līdz#Latvian|līdz]] | until | dative | 619 | | |}
** some nouns are singular in English but plural in Latvian (e.g. durvis "door"), thus triggering the dative case.
=== Archaic forms ===
{| class="wikitable sortable" |- ! Latvian ! English approximate ! Case ! Example phrase ! Translation |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/apakš#Latvian|apakš]] | under | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/ārpus#Latvian|ārpus]] | beside, out of | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/iekšpus#Latvian|iekšpus]] | inside | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/lejpus#Latvian|lejpus]] | below | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/otrpus#Latvian|otrpus]] | across, beyond, on the other side (of), over | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/šaipus#Latvian|šaipus]] | on this side (of) | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/viņpus#Latvian|viņpus]] | in other side | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/virspus#Latvian|virspus]] | above, on | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/iekš#Latvian|iekš]] | in | genitive |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/iz#Latvian|iz]] | from, out of | genitive | '''iz''' apakšzem'''es''' | from the underworld |- | [[wikt:Special:Search/priekš#Latvian|priekš]] | for (location wise) | genitive |}
== Semi-prepositions ==
Latvian has also some adverbs, known as ''pusprievārdi'' "semi-prepositions", which can be used like prepositions or postpositions, in combination with a dative noun phrase: * cauri - through * garām - past, over, by * iepretim - in front of * līdzi - with * pāri - over, across * pretī - in front of, against
==Postpositions==
The following postpositions govern the genitive case, in both singular and plural:
* dēļ - through, of, for * labad - for, for the sake of * pēc - because of
==See also==
* [[Latvian declension]]
[[Category:Latvian grammar]] [[Category:Prepositions by language]] {{Language adpositions}}