Oof. Grad school. Okay! Well, one class is finally over and done with, though
I've still got two more to write a bunch of papers for. Sadly, I haven't been
spending too much time on in-depth language studies because of my classes. :(
I'm trying to accelerate my degree program so I need to fit at least one more
class in this term.

So, let's do some educational words today, shall we? There's quite a bit of
wordbuilding to do today! All of the basic roots I'm going to go over first
are used heavily in other words, knowing them will help you break down bigger,
more complex words.

  * **skola** : school [slider title="decline me"] _skola_ , f, 4. dekl.  
_vsk_.: skola, skolas, skolai, skolu, ar skolu, skolā  
_dsk_.: skolas, skolu, skolām, skolas, ar skolām, skolās [/slider]

Obviously this lends the concept of school and education to words it is
combined with.

  * **sākums** : beginning [slider title="decline me"] _sākums_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: sākums, sākuma, sākumam, sākumu, ar sākumu, sākumā  
_dsk_.: sākumi, sākumu, sākumiem, sākumus, ar sākumiem, sākumos [/slider]

This word lends the concept of the start, beginning or initial period to words
it is combined with.

  * **pamats** : foundation, base [slider title="decline me"] _pamats_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: pamats, pamata, pamatam, pamatu, ar pamatu, pamatā  
_dsk_.: pamati, pamatu, pamatiem, pamatus, ar pamatiem, pamatos [/slider]

When used in the plural, _pamati_ can also mean principles or fundamentals.
It's also used in the plural to refer to the foundation of a house. As a
wordbuilding word, it's used often to add the meaning of primary,
foundational, fundamental or basic.

A common expression is _tam pamatā ir …_, which means _this is because (of)
…_. It's used to demonstrate causality and _tam_ can be replaced with the
relevant subject.

  * **vidus** : middle [slider title="decline me"] _vidus_ , m, 1. dekl.  
_vsk_.: vidus, vidus, vidum, vidu, ar vidu, vidū  
_dsk_.: vidi, vidu, vidiem, vidus, ar vidiem, vidos [/slider]

You use this in various ways, like _ceļa vidū_ or _in the middle of the road_
or combine the two nouns into _vidusceļš_ for the somewhat idiomatic or
figurative concept of _midway_ , as in the middle ground in a compromise
situation. It's commonly found in compounds that have to do with the middle or
center, as well as concepts like mediation or mediocrity.

  * **augsts** : _indef. adj._ high, tall [slider title="decline me"] _augsts_ , m  
_vsk_.: augsts, augsta, augstam, augstu, ar augstu, augstā  
_dsk_.: augsti, augstu, augstiem, augstus, ar augstiem, augstos [/slider]

  * **augsta** : _indef. adj._ high, tall [slider title="decline me"] _augsta_ , f  
_vsk_.: augsta, augstas, augstai, augstu, ar augstu, augstā  
_dsk_.: augstas, augstu, augstām, augstas, ar augstām, augstās [/slider]

This word is really commonly confused with _auksts_ or _cold_. It's a common
mistake for Latvian kids in school too, so if you confuse it, you're in good
company. The reason is because -g- and -k- sound very similarly to each other.
This word is commonly found in compounds or compound phrases dealing with
height (both literal and figurative), loftiness, or the top or upper part of
things, like senior (higher) officials, high-pitched sounds or the thigh.

The definite forms of the adjective are _augstais_ and _augstā_.

Now, let's combine these words together! If you can decline skola, you're set
for all of the following words, so I'm not going to decline them.

  * **sākumskola** : primary school; _amer._ elementary school 

Literally: beginning school. This type of school encompasses part of what I
consider "elementary school", generally covering grades 1 through 4. It can be
combined under the umbrella of a _pamatskola_ , depending on the area or
school.

  * **pamatskola** : lower secondary school; _amer._ middle school 

Literally: foundation school, a school where you learn the foundations. A
_pamatskola_ covers grades 5 through 9. This is basically what would be
considered a "middle school" more than the Western American "junior high"
(which covers grades 7 through 9), as some of our schools begin middle school
in grade 6.

  * **vidusskola** : secondary school, _amer._ high school 

Literally: middle school. Translating literally will not help you here!
Traditionally, a _vidusskola_ teaches grades 10 through 12. This equates to
the Western American concept of a "high school". Eastern American high schools
cover grades 9 through 12, so it's slightly different. More on "high school"
below in _augstskola_.

  * **augstskola** : university, college, graduate school, higher education 

Literally: high school. Beware, this is not the same word as the (Amer.?)
English "high school". _Augstskola_ refers to "higher education" schools at
the collegiate level, though you will see schools are often named
_universitāte_ rather than _augstskola_. The terms are used interchangeably
when referencing an institution. The related term, _augstākā izglītība_ ,
means the concept of "higher education" itself.