Bedeutung
Expressing that one feels very cold.
Kultureller Hintergrund
Latvians have a high tolerance for cold, but they are very strict about 'caurvējš' (drafts). Saying 'Man salst' because of a draft is taken very seriously. The 'pirts' (sauna) culture is the ultimate antidote to 'man salst'. After being cold all day, Latvians go to the sauna to 'izsildīties' (warm up thoroughly). In folk songs (dainas), the cold is often personified as 'Salna' (frost personified) who 'bites' the fingers of those who don't work hard. With rising energy prices, 'Man salst' has become a common political and social commentary regarding heating in apartments.
Specify the Body Part
Instead of just 'Man salst', say 'Man salst rokas' or 'Man salst kājas'. It sounds much more native.
The 'Es esmu' Trap
Never say 'Es esmu auksts' unless you want to tell someone you have no heart or you are a corpse.
Bedeutung
Expressing that one feels very cold.
Specify the Body Part
Instead of just 'Man salst', say 'Man salst rokas' or 'Man salst kājas'. It sounds much more native.
The 'Es esmu' Trap
Never say 'Es esmu auksts' unless you want to tell someone you have no heart or you are a corpse.
The Tea Offer
If someone says 'Man salst' in your home, it is polite to immediately offer them a hot drink.
Past Tense
Remember the past tense is 'sala'. 'Man vakar sala' is very common when complaining about a trip.
Teste dich selbst
How do you say 'I am cold' in Latvian?
Choose the correct phrase:
Both 'Man salst' and 'Man ir auksti' are correct, but 'Es esmu auksts' means you are an unfriendly person.
Complete the sentence with the correct form of the pronoun.
_____ (To us) salst kājas.
The phrase 'salst' requires the dative case. The dative of 'mēs' is 'mums'.
Fill in the missing line in the dialogue.
A: Vai tev nesalst bez cepures? B: _________.
The speaker asks if the person is cold without a hat; the most natural response is to confirm that their ears are freezing.
Match the phrase to the situation.
You are at a doctor with a fever.
'Drebuļi' (chills) is the medical term used with 'man salst'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Visuelle Lernhilfen
I am Cold vs. I am a Cold Person
Aufgabensammlung
4 AufgabenChoose the correct phrase:
Both 'Man salst' and 'Man ir auksti' are correct, but 'Es esmu auksts' means you are an unfriendly person.
_____ (To us) salst kājas.
The phrase 'salst' requires the dative case. The dative of 'mēs' is 'mums'.
A: Vai tev nesalst bez cepures? B: _________.
The speaker asks if the person is cold without a hat; the most natural response is to confirm that their ears are freezing.
You are at a doctor with a fever.
'Drebuļi' (chills) is the medical term used with 'man salst'.
🎉 Ergebnis: /4
Häufig gestellte Fragen
12 FragenNo, for food use 'auksts'. 'Zupa ir auksta.'
'Salst' is a verb for the feeling of freezing; 'auksts' is an adjective for the state of being cold.
It is neutral. You can use it with anyone.
You can say 'Es tūlīt nosalšu!'
Latvian uses the dative case for internal feelings and states.
No, 'salst' is a verb, so you don't need 'ir'.
Not necessarily, it just implies a strong feeling of cold.
Say 'Vai tev salst?'
Say 'Man salst rokas.'
Yes, 'Man ir dubaks' (slang for 'It's freezing').
Yes, 'Man salst ap sirdi' (My heart feels cold/lonely).
Yes, 'Sunim salst' (The dog is cold).
Verwandte Redewendungen
Man ir auksti
similarIt is cold to me.
Es drebu
builds onI am shivering.
Man klab zobi
specialized formMy teeth are chattering.
Siltums
contrastWarmth.
Nosalt
builds onTo freeze completely.
