How to read the pronunciation guide:
The guide uses simple English sounds. "ay" = as in "say". "ee" = as in "see". "ah" = as in "father". "ch" = as in "church". The stress in Lithuanian usually falls on the first syllable. The letter "š" sounds like "sh", "ž" sounds like the "s" in "measure", and "č" sounds like "ch". When in doubt, speak slowly and clearly.
Greetings and Basics
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|
| Labas | LAH-bahs | Hi |
| Labas rytas | LAH-bahs REE-tahs | Good morning |
| Laba diena | LAH-bah DYEH-nah | Good afternoon |
| Labas vakaras | LAH-bahs VAH-kah-rahs | Good evening |
| Labanakt | LAH-bah-nahkt | Good night |
| Sveikas / Sveika | SVAY-kahs / SVAY-kah | Hello (formal, male/female) |
| Viso gero | VEE-soh GEH-roh | Goodbye |
| Iki pasimatymo | EE-kee pah-see-mah-TEE-moh | See you later |
| Taip | tahyp | Yes |
| Ne | neh | No |
| Prašau | prah-SHOW | Please / You're welcome |
| Ačiū | AH-choo | Thank you |
| Labai ačiū | LAH-bay AH-choo | Thank you very much |
| Nėra už ką | NEH-rah oozh kah | You're welcome |
| Atsiprašau | aht-see-prah-SHOW | Excuse me / I'm sorry |
| Kaip sekasi? | kahyp SEH-kah-see | How are you? |
| Gerai | geh-RAY | I'm good / Fine |
Getting Around
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|
| Kur yra...? | koor EE-rah | Where is...? |
| Kur yra tualetas? | koor EE-rah too-ah-LEH-tahs | Where is the toilet? |
| Kur yra stotelė? | koor EE-rah stoh-TEH-leh | Where is the bus stop? |
| Kaip nuvažiuoti į...? | kahyp noo-vah-ZHOO-oh-tee ee | How do I get to...? |
| Kairė | KAY-reh | Left |
| Dešinė | DEH-shee-neh | Right |
| Tiesiai | TYEH-syay | Straight ahead |
| Arti | AHR-tee | Near |
| Toli | TOH-lee | Far |
| Bilietą, prašau | bee-LYEH-tah prah-SHOW | A ticket, please |
| Oro uostas | OH-roh OOS-tahs | Airport |
| Autobusų stotis | ow-toh-BOO-soo STOH-tees | Bus station |
At the Restaurant and Shopping
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|
| Staliuką, prašau | stah-LYOO-kah prah-SHOW | A table, please |
| Meniu, prašau | meh-NYOO prah-SHOW | The menu, please |
| Aš norėčiau... | ahsh noh-REH-chow | I would like... |
| Kiek kainuoja? | kyehk kah-NYOO-oh-yah | How much does it cost? |
| Sąskaitą, prašau | SAHS-kay-tah prah-SHOW | The bill, please |
| Labai skanu | LAH-bay SKAH-noo | Very tasty / Delicious |
| Vanduo | VAHN-doo-oh | Water |
| Alus | AH-loos | Beer |
| Kava | KAH-vah | Coffee |
| Aš esu vegetaras | ahsh EH-soo veh-geh-TAH-rahs | I am a vegetarian |
| Be mėsos | beh MEH-sohs | Without meat |
| Ar turite...? | ahr TOO-ree-teh | Do you have...? |
| Pigiau? | pee-GYOW | Cheaper? |
Numbers 1 to 10
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|
| Vienas | VYEH-nahs | One |
| Du | doo | Two |
| Trys | trees | Three |
| Keturi | keh-TOO-ree | Four |
| Penki | pehn-KEE | Five |
| Šeši | sheh-SHEE | Six |
| Septyni | sehp-TEE-nee | Seven |
| Aštuoni | ahsh-TWOH-nee | Eight |
| Devyni | deh-VEE-nee | Nine |
| Dešimt | DEH-sheemt | Ten |
Emergencies
| Lithuanian | Pronunciation | English |
|---|
| Pagalba! | pah-GAHL-bah | Help! |
| Iškvieskite policiją | eesh-KVYEHS-kee-teh poh-LEE-tsee-yah | Call the police |
| Iškvieskite greitąją | eesh-KVYEHS-kee-teh GREY-tah-yah | Call an ambulance |
| Man reikia gydytojo | mahn RAY-kyah gee-DEE-toh-yoh | I need a doctor |
| Aš pasiklydau | ahsh pah-see-KLEE-dow | I am lost |
| Ligoninė | lee-goh-NEE-neh | Hospital |
| Vaistinė | vays-tee-NEH | Pharmacy |
| Bendras pagalbos numeris: 112 | | Emergency number: 112 |
One phrase that will always get a smile:
"Labai ačiū" (LAH-bay AH-choo) meaning "thank you very much" is the single most appreciated thing a foreign visitor can say in Lithuania. Lithuanians are not an overly effusive people in daily life, but genuine gratitude in their own language is always warmly received. Try it in a restaurant or a shop and watch the reaction.