Ancient language features
Lithuanian preserves grammatical forms that are particularly interesting for historical linguistics.
Baltic language
Have Lithuanian translated
lietuvių kalba
Lithuanian has its own Baltic grammar and orthography. For official documents, complete special characters, forms of names and the historical context count.
Lithuanian is spoken by approximately three million people, predominantly in Lithuania and the diaspora.
Geographical distribution of Lithuanian
- Main distribution
- Other regional use
- Selected Diaspora
Lithuania
Germany
United Kingdom
Schematic selection of important distribution areas. Language usage does not always follow national borders; the map is not complete population statistics.
Language profile
Lithuanian at a glance
- Proper name
- lietuvių kalba
- language family
- Baltic language
- font
- Latin alphabet
- Language code
- according to
Documents and deployment
The language direction is often used
It's not just the language that matters. ABBA-Sprachendienste also classifies document type, recipient, subject area, certification requirement and desired language direction.
Have the document checked- Birth and marriage certificates
- Diplomas and school certificates
- Employment and social certificates
- Court and government documents
- Contracts and powers of attorney
Origin and development
How language developed
Lithuanian belongs to the Baltic branch of the Indo-European language family and retains numerous ancient grammatical features. The first surviving Lithuanian book appeared in 1547.
In the 19th century, a uniform written language became increasingly important in the context of the national movement. Older documents may contain Polish, Russian or German administrative traces.
Good to know
What makes this language special
Special characters
Ą, č, ę, ė, į, š, ų, ū and ž must be reproduced exactly in names and titles.
Flexible name forms
Surnames can have endings that depend on gender and marital status; they must not be standardized too quickly.
A little language insight
Three first expressions
The transcription only serves as an initial guide. Pronunciation and regional forms may vary.
| Original | Transcription | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Laba diena | — | Good afternoon |
| Ačiū | — | Thank you |
| Prašau | — | Please |
Sources and classification
Further information
Speaker numbers are rounded guide values and may vary depending on the definition, year of survey and inclusion of second language speakers.
- Lithuanian language
Wikipedia · language-specific overview
- Codes for the Representation of Names of Languages
Library of Congress / ISO 639-2 Registration Authority · Language codes and standardized language names
- Language and Locale Names
Unicode Common Locale Data Repository · Language, script and area names and variants
- Glottolog 5.3
Max Planck Institute for Evolutionary Anthropology · Language families, classification and linguistic literature
Editorial source status: July 14, 2026. Information will be cross-checked before production goes live.
Other related service languages
Lithuanian FAQ
Frequently asked questions about Lithuanian
Can I have Lithuanian translated into German and German translated into Lithuanian?
Both directions can be requested. A binding commitment is made after checking the type of document, subject area, certification, date and intended use.
Which documents are often relevant in Lithuanian?
Birth and marriage certificates, diplomas and school certificates, employment and social certificates, court and authority documents are among the typical occasions. Other types of documents can also be checked with an easy-to-read photo or PDF.
What does ABBA-Sprachendienste look for in Lithuanian?
The language direction, document type, Latin alphabet, names, stamps, subject area, purpose and possible need for certification are checked.
Do I need a certified translation for my Lithuanian document?
This is decided by the receiving authority, the court, the notary or the other requesting body. Tell ABBA-Sprachendienste where the document will be presented; then the need can be classified appropriately.
Is a photo enough for the first check?
Yes. A complete, sharp and easy-to-read photo or PDF is usually sufficient to check the offer. Depending on the order, the original may also be required for later execution.
Have Lithuanian ↔ German checked specifically
Send an easy-to-read photo or PDF. ABBA-Sprachendienste personally checks the language direction, document, purpose and certification requirements.
