Latgalian
/ˌlæt.ɡəˈliː.ən/noun
Relating to Latgale, a historical and cultural region in eastern Latvia, or to its East Baltic language.
Did you know?Latgalian belongs to the East Baltic branch of Indo-European, making it a close linguistic cousin of Lithuanian and Latvian, not a dialect of some mysterious lost tongue.
Etymological Timeline
Ancient times
Proto-Baltic
*Latgala-
“A Baltic ethnonym or place-name element likely referring to the people/land of Latgale”
Medieval period
Latvian
Latgale
“The eastern region of Latvia associated with the Latgalian people and speech”
Medieval period
Latin
Latgallia / Lettigallia
“Latinized forms used in historical sources for the territory and its people”
17th–18th Century
Polish
Łatgalia / Inflanty
“Regional and administrative names used under Polish-Lithuanian and later rule”
19th Century
English
Latgalian
“A term used for the people, language, and region of Latgale”
Modern English
English
Latgalian
“Relating to the Latgalian language, people, or region in eastern Latvia”