Locale Lv Lv

Reference data for the Latvian (Latvia) locale — endonym Latviešu (Latvija), written in the Latin script, left-to-right (LTR).

Identifiers

• BCP 47 tag: lv-LV
• ISO 639-1: lv
• ISO 639-3: lav
• Script: Latn (Latin)
• Region: LV (Latvia)
• Text direction: ltr — left-to-right (LTR)

Speakers (approximate)

• L1 (native): 1,500,000
• L2 (additional): 600,000
• L1+L2 (total): 2,100,000

Base locale

This is a regional variant of Locale Lv 001 (Latvian), the base/macro locale for this language.

Pluralization

CLDR plural categories for this locale: zero, one, other (3 forms).

• zero — n % 10 = 0 or n % 100 = 11..19 or v = 2 and f % 100 = 11..19 (e.g. 0, 10~20, 30, 40, …)
• one — n % 10 = 1 and n % 100 != 11 or v = 2 and f % 10 = 1 and f % 100 != 11 or v != 2 and f % 10 = 1 (e.g. 1, 21, 31, 41, …)
• other — everything else (e.g. 2~9, 22~29, 102, 1002, …)

See Unicode Messageformat for writing plural messages using these categories.

Translating into this locale

Apply Locale Lv 001 with the conventions of Latvia.

• Law: Latvian is the sole official language, and the State Language Law requires Latvian in public bodies and consumer information. Provide Latvian content that is complete.
• Formats: euro; dates 17.10.2026. (with a final period); 24-hour clock; decimal comma.
• Names: names are declined in running text; use the nominative in forms and lists.

Common pitfalls

• Using Russian as the default language.
• Leaving out the final period in dates.
• The general pitfalls in Locale Lv 001 also apply.

Learn more

• Locale for BCP 47 identifiers, locale-sensitive formatting, pluralization, and text-direction concepts that apply across all locales.
• Unicode Messageformat for writing plural/selection messages correctly for this locale's grammar.
• EU Interinstitutional Style Guide (https://style-guide.europa.eu), language-specific conventions