Latvians

Part of speech: noun

Definitions

1. People who originate from a Northern European country located on the eastern shore of the Baltic Sea; individuals belonging to the ethnic group native to Latvia; members of the nation known for its distinct language and cultural heritage
2. Citizens or natives of Latvia, a Baltic state with a unique language and traditions; individuals ethnically identified with the Latvian people; inhabitants of a country situated between Estonia and Lithuania
3. Persons associated with the country of Latvia, recognized for its Baltic identity and cultural customs; people sharing the Latvian ethnicity and language; residents of the nation on the eastern coast of the Baltic Sea

Etymology: "Latvians" is the plural of "Latvian," the name for a person from Latvia. The plural simply adds an "s" to the singular, so the real story lies in the singular. "Latvian" is built from "Latvia," the country's name, plus the suffix "-n," which English uses to form adjectives and nouns denoting belonging or origin. In other words, a Latvian is literally someone of Latvia, following the same pattern that gives us "Russian" or "Parisian." The country name itself is the older element. "Latvia" comes from the Latvian language's own word for the country, Latvija, which English took over in its modern form. English speakers have used "Latvian" since the country's name became established in the language, so the word tracks the name closely rather than having any independent history of its own.

Synonyms: Latvian people