Latvian (Latviešu valoda) is a Baltic language and a component of the Indo-European language family. As their mother tongue, it is spoken by around 1.7 million people, mainly in Latvia, a Baltic country in Northern Europe. It is also spoken by Latvian communities in other countries such as Estonia, Lithuania, Russia, the USA, Canada and Great Britain. The Latvian alphabet is based on the Latin alphabet and comprises a total of 33 letters, including diacritical marks such as "ķ", "ļ", "ņ", "š" and "ž".

Latvian vocabulary also has both Baltic and Indo-European influences. Some words also originate from German, Swedish and Russian, as Latvia has been influenced by different cultures and languages throughout history.

Latvian culture is also rich in traditions, folklore, music and literature. Latvia celebrates traditional festivals such as Midsummer (Jāņi), Latvian Independence Day (Latvijas Republikas Neatkarības atjaunošanas diena), Easter and Christmas. These festivals are linked to ancient customs, dances and songs.