Signification
A formal apology for a mistake or inconvenience.
Contexte culturel
Latvians value 'klasiskā pieklājība' (classical politeness). Using 'Piedodiet' even when you are only slightly in the way is seen as a sign of high culture (kulturāls cilvēks). In Latvian business, punctuality is key. If you are even 2 minutes late, a 'Piedodiet par kavēšanos' is mandatory to maintain professional standing. On crowded Rīga trams, silence is common. A loud 'Piedodiet!' to get to the door is one of the few times it's acceptable to speak loudly. In formal emails to professors or government officials, always start an apology with 'Esiet tik laipni un piedodiet...' for extra politeness.
The 'Jūs' Rule
If you would call the person 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' in English, use 'Piedodiet'.
Don't over-apologize
Latvians are direct. One 'Piedodiet' is enough; repeating it five times makes people uncomfortable.
Signification
A formal apology for a mistake or inconvenience.
The 'Jūs' Rule
If you would call the person 'Mr.' or 'Ms.' in English, use 'Piedodiet'.
Don't over-apologize
Latvians are direct. One 'Piedodiet' is enough; repeating it five times makes people uncomfortable.
The Softener
Add 'Lūdzu' (Piedodiet, lūdzu) to make the apology sound even more sincere and gentle.
Body Language
A small nod of the head while saying 'Piedodiet' is a very common and respected gesture.
Teste-toi
You are at the doctor's office. You need to interrupt the doctor. What do you say?
_______, vai drīkst jautāt?
A doctor is a professional figure requiring the formal 'Piedodiet'.
Complete the sentence to say 'Sorry for the mistake'.
Piedodiet ___ kļūdu.
The preposition 'par' is used with 'piedot' to indicate the reason for the apology.
Match the phrase to the person.
1. Piedod 2. Piedodiet
Informal for family, formal for superiors.
Fill in the missing word in this dialogue.
A: Piedodiet, kur ir tualete? B: ______, es nezinu.
The person responding might also use a polite 'Excuse me/Sorry' to indicate they can't help.
🎉 Score : /4
Aides visuelles
Formal vs Informal
Banque d exercices
4 exercices_______, vai drīkst jautāt?
A doctor is a professional figure requiring the formal 'Piedodiet'.
Piedodiet ___ kļūdu.
The preposition 'par' is used with 'piedot' to indicate the reason for the apology.
1. Piedod 2. Piedodiet
Informal for family, formal for superiors.
A: Piedodiet, kur ir tualete? B: ______, es nezinu.
The person responding might also use a polite 'Excuse me/Sorry' to indicate they can't help.
🎉 Score : /4
Questions fréquentes
6 questionsMostly, yes. It can also mean 'Excuse me' when you want to get past someone or ask a question.
You can, but it sounds very formal. Usually, you would say 'Piedod'.
The most common response is 'Nekas' (It's nothing) or 'Nekas, viss kārtībā' (It's okay, everything is fine).
Both are correct. 'Piedodiet' is more common for minor things; adding 'man' (me) makes it slightly more personal.
Use 'Es ļoti atvainojos' (I very much apologize) or 'Lūdzu, piedodiet man' (Please forgive me).
Yes, it's very common in formal emails if you've made a mistake or are replying late.
Expressions liées
Atvainojiet
synonymExcuse me / I apologize
Piedod
informal alternativeSorry (informal)
Piedošanu
similarForgiveness!
Es atvainojos
specialized formI apologize
Nekas
contrastIt's nothing / No problem
