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Definition of gauja
gauja
/ˈɡaʊ.jə/
gau · ja
gauja Lexical Profile
CEFR
C2
Grade
11
Tier
3
Usage
Rare
• noun
1
A major river in the Vidzeme region of Latvia, known for being the longest river flowing entirely within the country's borders before emptying into the Baltic Sea.
2
A large national park in Latvia (Gauja National Park), established to protect the ecological, historical, and cultural features of the Gauja River valley.
Example
"During our tour of the Baltic states, we hiked through the pine forests of the Gauja and visited several medieval castles."
Word Origin & Etymology
Derived from Baltic origins, likely related to the Latvian word 'gauži' (meaning 'much' or 'abundantly') or ancient Indo-European roots referring to water and flow. It is known as 'Koiva' in Estonian.
Usage Trend
Historical frequency of usage in published text.
180019102020
Data source: Google Books Ngram Viewer
Cite this Entry
Wordmom. (2026). Definition of Gauja. In Wordmom Dictionary. Retrieved Oct 16, 2026, from https://wordmom.com/dictionary/gauja