Lithuanian phrasebook

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Lithuanian (lietuvių kalba) is the official language of Lithuania and is spoken by about 4 million native speakers. The language belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European family. Researchers of Indo-European languages say Lithuanian is the most archaic of all the living Indo-European tongues. In this respect it compares to the earliest Indo-European texts written 2500-3000 years ago. The Commission of the Lithuanian Language is the official regulating organization of the language.

Pronunciation guide

Stress

Stress in Lithuanian is not fixed; the stress can fall almost anywhere on any word. If you are even seriously considering to study the language Intensively, the best way to learn the language is do it word by word. When speaking Lithuanian, you won't know which word to stress, but you will still be understood, even if you get it wrong.

Vowels

In the Lithuanian vowels, you shall find both long and short vowel sounds.
; A a : (Short) Like “u” in “but”, (long) like “a” in “car”
; Ą ą : Same as Lithuanian “a”, (short) like “u” in “but”, (long) like “a” in “car”
; E e : (Short) Like “a” in “sat”, (long) like “a” in “amber”
; Ę ę : Same as Lithuanian “e”, like “a” in “sat”
; Ė ė : Like “e” in “bed”, but longer / more like “e” in German “mehr”
; I i : Like “i” in “sit”
; Į į : Like “ee” in “feet”
; Y y : Same as Lithuanian “į”, like “ee” in “keep”
; O o : Like “aw” in “paw”
; U u : Like “u” in “put”
; Ų ų : (Long only) Like “oo” in “pool”
; Ū ū : Same as Lithuanian “ų”, (long only) like “oo” in “pool”

Consonants

; B b : Like "b" in "bat".
; C c : Like "ts" in "cats".
; Č č : Like "ch" in "cheese".
; D d : Like "d" in "dad".
; F f : Like "f" in "food".
; G g : Like "g" in "good".
; H h : Like "h" in "hat".
; J j : Like "y" in "you".
; K k : Like "k" in "keep".
; L l : Like "l" in "look".
; M m : Like "m" in "mud".
; N n : Like "n" in "no".
; P p : Like "p" in "pat".
; R r : Like "r" in "run" but trilled.
; S s : Like "s" in "sat".
; Š š : Like "sh" in "sheet".
; T t : Like "t" in "top".
; V v : Like "v" in "very".
; Z z : Like "z" in "zebra".
; Ž ž : Like "s" in "treasure".

Common digraphs

; ai : (Short) Like "i" in "kite", (long) like "y" in "Kyle", or "ay" in "play"
; aia : Like "ay" in "stay"
; au : (Short) Like "ou" in "house", (long) like "ow" in "scowl".
; ei : Like "i" in "lite" or "ay" in "play"
; ia : Like 'ia' in "Lydia"
; ie : Like "ia" in the Spanish word "fria"
; io : Like "io" in "Ohio"
; ių : Like "ew" in "few".
; ui : Like "wee" in "week"
; uo : Like "wa" in "water".
; ch : Like "ck" in "brick".
; dz : Like "ds" in "roads".
; dž : Like "j" in "jump".
; ny : like "ny" in "canyon".

Lithuanian phrasebook

Pronunciation guide

Stress

Vowels

Consonants

Common digraphs

Phrase list

Basics

Problems

Numbers

Time

Clock time

Duration

Days

Months

Writing time and date

Seasons

Colours

Transportation

Buying Tickets

Bus and train

Directions

Taxi

Lodging

Money

Eating

Bars

Shopping

Driving

Authority