Означені й неозначені закінчення прикметників

Latvian has no word for "the" or "a". Instead, an adjective has two sets of endings: indefinite (roughly "a big ...") and definite (roughly "the big ..."). Choosing between them is how Latvian marks something as already known or specific.

	Indefinite	Definite
masculine singular	liels galds - a big table	lielais galds - the big table
feminine singular	liela māja - a big house	lielā māja - the big house
masculine plural	lieli galdi	lielie galdi
feminine plural	lielas mājas	lielās mājas

In the feminine the difference is just vowel length: liela / lielā. Pronounce it.

When to use the definite form

• When the thing is already known or clear from context: Kur ir sarkanā kleita? - Where's the red dress (the one we talked about)?
• After a demonstrative or possessive: šis vecais nams (this old building), mans labākais draugs (my best friend).
• In superlatives: labākais (the best), vislielākā (the biggest).
• In names and fixed terms: Baltā jūra (the White Sea), Lielā iela (Big Street, in Liepāja and other towns), Jaunais gads (New Year).
• When the adjective is used as a noun: Mazais guļ - The little one is sleeping.

When to use the indefinite form

• For something new or unspecified: Es nopirku jaunu mēteli - I bought a new coat.
• After ir, describing something: Galds ir liels - The table is big.

For English speakers

A good rule of thumb: where English would say "the" + adjective, try the definite ending; where English says "a" + adjective, or an adjective stands after "is", use the indefinite one. It does not map perfectly (generic statements like Labais draugs vienmēr palīdz, "A good friend always helps", take the definite form), but it gets you most of the way. The definite form also shows up in every case: lielajā mājā (in the big house), ar jauno skolotāju (with the new teacher).