How does Latvian sound to you?

[Waidewut]

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[Äike]

...Very weird, it's not similar to any other European languages I have heard, but has a slight Slavic underdone.

[Redar14]

Very soft sound.

[Waidewut]

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[The Ripper]

I think it sounds similar to many languages! Sometimes I get this pseudo-Hungarian vibe, sometimes the intonation seems very Finnic.

[Magyar the Conqueror]

The only think I can compare it to is a mix of German, Finnic and Slavic.

[Padre Organtino]

Something like Estonian/Finnish person trying to speak a Slavic language with some additional Germanic undertones.

[billErobreren]

It sounds nice although it sounds Germanic at times

[MST3K]

When I was in Riga, it sounded like a Russian person speaking Finnish....But I find the language very pretty to listen to.

[Didriksson]

:p

[Didriksson]

Some Poles have told me that Latvian sounds really Nordic and exotic.

[Laudanum]

Sounds both Finnic and Slavic to me.

[Didriksson]

The only think I can compare it to is a mix of German, Finnic and Slavic.

I think that this just proves that the Baltic languages are the most archaic and closest to the Proto Indo European.

[Geronimo]

Finnic-Slavic

[Äike]

Result:

Mix Slavic with Finnic and you get Baltic. :p

[Didriksson]

Result:

Mix Slavic with Finnic and you get Baltic. :p

I doubt that anyone would think that Lithuanian sounds Finnic influenced + some also here the Germanic influence in Latvian. :)

[member]

I think that this just proves that the Baltic languages are the most archaic and closest to the Proto Indo European.

I always thought that we have words that can sound latin, slavic, germanic, french... But I don't know whther this is specific to baltic languages.

[Didriksson]

I always thought that we have words that can sound latin, slavic, germanic, french... But I don't know whther this is specific to baltic languages.

I think it is. A French person who was visiting LV told me that from a far Latvian reminded him of French. :o And there are a lot of phrases that kinda reminds the Latin languages. The ones that come into my mind right now are - Tu and Es esmu.

[Äike]

I think it is. A French person who was visiting LV told me that from a far Latvian reminded him of French. :o And there are a lot of phrases that kinda reminds the Latin languages. The ones that come into my mind right now are - Tu and Es esmu.

First time I ever heard Latvian in my life I was like "Wtf is this? French?" Then I found out it was Latvian.

Anyway to sum up, Latvian sounds like a weird Slavic language, that has Germanic influence heard in the spoken vocabulary and Finnic influence heard in the pronunciation of some words. That's what I think.

[Didriksson]

Nah, it sounds Slavic only to those who has no real connection with the Slavic languages. Stereotypes also play big part in this. And I have never heard that a native Slavic speaker would say that Latvian sounds Slavic. :) But thanks for the opinion. :)