Talking the lingo in Rio: Chatting with your new Latvian speaking friends about sitting volleyball

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This article is a series of language learning posts by ParaSport News.  The goal is to provide sport fans some very basic sport and Paralympic vocabulary so you can talk with the world about disability sport at the 2016 Summer Paralympics in Rio.

Latvian is the native language of only 1.75 million people.  Latvia as a country though shoots above its weight though as it has 11 total Paralympic medals, including 2 won at the Winter Paralympics.  While there may not be huge use for it, you may find a few words helpful to make friends with a group that has few native speakers.

 

Sport specific words:

• godalgas – Gold medal
• metrus  – meters
• Paralimpieši – Paralympians

General useful phrases:

• Apsveicam – Congratulations

Sitting vollyball specific words:

• bloķēt – block
• Uzbrukumā – offensive
• spēlētāji – players
• noteikumiem  – rules
• sēdvolejbolā – sitting volleyball
• volejbola  – volleyball