Latgalians
/ˌlætˈɡeɪliənz/noun
The Latgalians are an East Baltic ethnic group from the Latgale region of Latvia.
Did you know?The name ultimately preserves the ancient Baltic ethnonym *Latgala*, so every time you say it, you’re invoking a people whose identity predates the modern state of Latvia.
Etymological Timeline
Proto-Baltic
PBaltic
*Latgala
“Likely the name of a Baltic region or tribal territory”
Ancient/Medieval Baltic
Baltic
Latgali
“The Latgalian people, an East Baltic tribe”
Medieval Latin
Latin
Letgalli / Latgalli
“Latinized forms referring to the Latgalians”
Modern Latvian
Lv
Latgaļi
“The Latgalians”
Modern English
English
Latgalians
“Members of the Latgalian ethnic group”