The term "Livonian" primarily refers to the Livonian people, a Finno-Ugric ethnic group native to the coastal region of Latvia. Historically, they inhabited the area around the Gulf of Riga and have a distinct language, known as Livonian, which is part of the Finno-Ugric language family. The Livonian language is critically endangered, with very few fluent speakers remaining today. In addition to the people, "Livonian" can also refer to the Livonian language itself, which has been influenced by neighboring languages such as Latvian and Estonian. Efforts are ongoing to revitalize the language and preserve the cultural heritage of the Livonian community, which has faced significant challenges over the centuries.