Latgale
/ˈlæt.ɡɑː.leɪ/noun
A historical and cultural region in eastern Latvia.
Did you know?Latgale is the source of the Latgalian language name, and its history reflects centuries of borderland identity shaped by Baltic, Slavic, Polish, and German influence.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient/Medieval Baltic
Baltic
*Latgala
“The name of a Baltic land or tribal territory, likely referring to the Latgalians”
12th–13th Century
Latin
Letgola / Lettigallia
“Latinized forms used in medieval chronicles for the region and its people”
Medieval Latvian
Latvian
Latgale
“The eastern Latvian region associated with the Latgalians”
Modern English
English
Latgale
“The historical-cultural region in eastern Latvia”