Significado
Asking for updates in someone's life.
Contexto cultural
Latvians value honesty. If you ask 'Kas tev jauns?', don't be surprised if they actually tell you about a problem they are having. It's not just a 'hello'. Among young people in Riga, 'Kas jauns?' is often used as a direct equivalent to the English 'What's up?' and can be answered very briefly. In business, even if you use 'Jums' (formal), asking 'Kas Jums jauns?' is a good way to build 'rapport' before a meeting starts. In the countryside, this question might lead to a long story about the garden, the weather, or the neighbors. It's a sign of respect to listen.
The 'Nekas' Rule
If you don't have big news, just say 'Nekas īpašs'. It's perfectly polite and very Latvian.
Avoid 'Ar tevi'
Never say 'Kas jauns ar tevi?'. It sounds like a Google Translation and will mark you as a beginner immediately.
Significado
Asking for updates in someone's life.
The 'Nekas' Rule
If you don't have big news, just say 'Nekas īpašs'. It's perfectly polite and very Latvian.
Avoid 'Ar tevi'
Never say 'Kas jauns ar tevi?'. It sounds like a Google Translation and will mark you as a beginner immediately.
Use the Diminutive
Using 'Kas jauniņš?' with a close friend shows you have a high level of cultural comfort.
Wait for the answer
In Latvia, this isn't a rhetorical question. Stop and listen after you ask it.
Teste-se
Fill in the correct dative form of 'tu' (you).
Kas ___ jauns?
In this phrase, we use the dative case 'tev' to mean 'to you'.
Which of these is the most common response to 'Kas tev jauns?'
A: Kas tev jauns? B: ________
'Nekas īpašs' means 'Nothing special' and is the standard polite response.
Match the phrase to the correct level of formality.
1. Kas Jums jauns? 2. Kas tev jauns? 3. Kas jauniņš?
'Jums' is formal/plural, 'tev' is informal, and 'jauniņš' is the diminutive/slang form.
Complete the dialogue between two friends.
Māris: Čau, Zane! Sen neesam redzējušies. Zane: Čau! Jā, tiešām. ________?
After saying it's been a long time, asking 'What's new?' is the most natural next step.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Recursos visuais
Formal vs Informal
Banco de exercicios
4 exerciciosKas ___ jauns?
In this phrase, we use the dative case 'tev' to mean 'to you'.
A: Kas tev jauns? B: ________
'Nekas īpašs' means 'Nothing special' and is the standard polite response.
1. Kas Jums jauns? 2. Kas tev jauns? 3. Kas jauniņš?
'Jums' is formal/plural, 'tev' is informal, and 'jauniņš' is the diminutive/slang form.
Māris: Čau, Zane! Sen neesam redzējušies. Zane: Čau! Jā, tiešām. ________?
After saying it's been a long time, asking 'What's new?' is the most natural next step.
🎉 Pontuação: /4
Perguntas frequentes
10 perguntasOnly if you use 'Jums' instead of 'tev', and even then, only in a casual setting like a coffee break.
Start with 'Man ir daudz jaunumu!' (I have a lot of news!) and then continue.
'Kas tev jauns' is the standard word order. Putting 'tev' at the end sounds poetic or emphatic.
Literally 'by the old [way]'. It means nothing has changed since we last spoke.
Yes, it's very common and slightly more casual.
In this specific phrase, yes, because it refers to the abstract concept of 'news'.
Use 'Kas viņiem jauns?' for 'them'.
Yes, it's the most common way to write dialogue for characters meeting each other.
Yes, in an informal email to a friend, it's a great opening line.
Yes, usually you should say 'Un tev?' (And you?) after answering.
Frases relacionadas
Kā iet?
similarHow is it going?
Kas jauns pasaulē?
specialized formWhat's new in the world?
Nekas īpašs
contrastNothing special
Pa vecam
contrastSame old
Kas jauniņš?
specialized formWhat's new? (cute)
