Meaning
Giving or following directions.
Cultural Background
Latvians are generally disciplined drivers. Using your turn signal (pagrieziena rādītājs) well before you 'pagriezties pa labi' is expected and legally required. In the Old Town (Vecrīga), streets are narrow and winding. Directions like 'pagriezties pa labi' are often given relative to historic buildings rather than street names. The fact that 'labi' means both 'right' and 'good' is a source of many puns in Latvian. It reflects a traditional worldview where the right path is the virtuous one. When listening to announcements on Riga's trams or buses, you might hear instructions for which side the doors will open, using similar directional logic.
The 'Good' Trick
If you forget which way is right, remember that 'labi' means 'good'. Most people are right-handed, which was historically considered the 'good' hand.
Reflexive suffix
Don't forget the '-ties'. Without it, you're telling someone to turn an object, not themselves!
Meaning
Giving or following directions.
The 'Good' Trick
If you forget which way is right, remember that 'labi' means 'good'. Most people are right-handed, which was historically considered the 'good' hand.
Reflexive suffix
Don't forget the '-ties'. Without it, you're telling someone to turn an object, not themselves!
GPS Listening
Listen for the word 'pēc' (after). GPS often says 'pēc 300 metriem pagriezties pa labi'. Knowing 'pēc' helps you time your turn.
Test Yourself
Fill in the missing preposition for the direction 'right'.
Lūdzu, pagriezieties ____ labi.
In Latvian, the preposition 'pa' is used with 'labi' (right) and 'kreisi' (left) to indicate direction.
Which verb form is used for a formal command to turn right?
Kāds ir pareizais veids, kā teikt 'Turn right' svešiniekam?
The '-ieties' ending is the formal/plural imperative in Latvian.
Match the Latvian phrase with its English meaning.
Savieno pārus:
Basic navigational vocabulary matching.
Complete the dialogue with the correct phrase.
Taksists: 'Kur mums jābrauc?' Pasažieris: 'Nākamajā krustojumā, lūdzu, ________.'
The passenger is giving a directional instruction to a driver.
🎉 Score: /4
Visual Learning Aids
Practice Bank
4 exercisesLūdzu, pagriezieties ____ labi.
In Latvian, the preposition 'pa' is used with 'labi' (right) and 'kreisi' (left) to indicate direction.
Kāds ir pareizais veids, kā teikt 'Turn right' svešiniekam?
The '-ieties' ending is the formal/plural imperative in Latvian.
Match each item on the left with its pair on the right:
Basic navigational vocabulary matching.
Taksists: 'Kur mums jābrauc?' Pasažieris: 'Nākamajā krustojumā, lūdzu, ________.'
The passenger is giving a directional instruction to a driver.
🎉 Score: /4
Frequently Asked Questions
10 questionsIn a very informal context, yes, but it might be confused with 'Okay'. It's better to say 'Pa labi'.
'Pagriezties' is a general turn. 'Nogriezties' is specifically turning off a road or highway.
It is neutral. The formality comes from the verb you use with it (e.g., 'pagriezieties' is formal).
You say 'Pagriezieties pa labi pie luksofora'.
It's a fixed prepositional phrase in Latvian. 'Pa' indicates the direction/path.
Yes, but it's metaphorical. 'Viņš pagriezās pa labi' could mean he became more conservative.
It is a diphthong, which has its own specific length in Latvian, neither strictly long nor short.
No, 'labi' is an adverb here and does not change based on gender.
You can say 'Nedaudz pagriezties pa labi'.
Yes, it is standard Latvian used across all regions.
Related Phrases
pagriezties pa kreisi
contrastto turn left
iet taisni
similarto go straight
nogriezties
specialized formto turn off
apgriezties
similarto turn around
turēties pa labi
builds onto keep to the right
