Basque Phrases (original) (raw)

Trying to find some Basque phrases? Below we have listed many useful expressions including: Greeting Phrases | Farewell Expressions | Holidays and Wishes | How to Introduce Yourself | Romance and Love Phrases | Solving a Misunderstanding | Asking for Directions | Emergency Survival Phrases | Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases | Daily Expressions | Cuss Words (Polite) | Writing a Letter | Short Expressions and words

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Basque Phrases

Enjoy these Basque expressions, but don't forget to bookmark this page for future reference.

English Basque Phrases
Greeting
Hi! Kaixo!
Good morning! Egun on! [UJ: literally, “good day!”; you don't usually say “good morning” in Basque.]
Good afternoon! Arratsalde on!
Good evening! Gabon!
Welcome! (to greet someone) Ongi etorri! [UJ: singular] / ongi etorriak! [UJ: plural]
Hello my friend! Kaixo, lagun!
How are you? (friendly) Zer moduz?
How are you? (polite) Zer moduz zaude?
I'm fine, thank you! Ondo, eskerrik asko
And you? (friendly) Eta zu?
And you? (polite) Eta zu?
Good Ondo
Not so good Ez oso ondo [UJ: Literally, “not very good”]
Long time no see Aspaldiko!
I missed you Zure falta nabaritu dut
What's new? Zer berri?
Nothing new Berririk ez
Thank you (very much)! Eskerrik asko (benetan)! [UJ: the (very much) part is not standard; I used a suitable expression, which means “really”.]
You're welcome! (for "thank you") Ez horregatik
My pleasure Pozez [UJL: Not standard. My prevod means “gladly”.]
Come in! (or: enter!) Aurrera!
Make yourself at home! Etxean bezala!
Farewell Expressions
Have a nice day! Egun ona izan!
Good night! Gabon!
Good night and sweet dreams! Gabon eta ondo lo egin! [UJ: “good night and sleep well.”]
See you later! Gero arte!
See you soon! Laister arte!
See you tomorrow! Bihar arte!
Good bye! Agur!
Have a good trip! Bidai ona izan!
I have to go Joan behar dut.
I will be right back! Oraintxe itzuliko naiz!
Holidays and Wishes
Good luck! Zorte ona izan.
Happy birthday! Zorionak! [UJ: Literally, this means “congratulations”, which is much more frequently used for birthdays than “happy birthday”.]
Happy new year! Urte berri on!
Merry Christmas! Gabon zoriontsua!
Happy holidays You usually say “Zorionak” for everything except Christmas and Ney Year
Congratulations! Zorionak!
Enjoy! (or: bon appetit) On egin!
Bless you (when sneezing) Osasuna!
Best wishes! Zorte ona! [UJ: Literally, “good luck!”]
Cheers! (or: to your health) Osasuna!
Accept my best wishes Zorterik onena opa dizut [UJ: literally, “I wish you the best luck”]
How to Introduce Yourself
What's your name? Zein da zure izena?
My name is (John Doe) Nire izena (John Doe) da
Nice to meet you! [UJ: Not used]
Where are you from? Nondik zatoz?
I'm from (the U.S/ Basque Country) Estatu Batuetakoa / Euskal Herrikoa da
I'm (American/ Basque) Estatu Batuetakoa / Euskalduna naiz
Where do you live? Non bizi zara?
I live in (the U.S/ Basque Country) Estatu Batuetan / Euskal Herrian bizi naiz
Do you like it here? Gustora zaude hemen?
Basque Country is a beautiful country Euskal Herria oso polita da
What do you do for a living? Zertan egiten duzu lan?
I'm a (teacher/ student/ engineer) (Ikaslea / irakaslea / ingeniaria) naiz
Do you speak (English/ Basque)? (Ingelesez / Euskaraz) hitzegiten al duzu?
Just a little Piska bat
I like Basque Euskara atsegin dut
I'm trying to learn Basque Euskara ikasten saiatzen ari naiz
It's a hard language Hizkuntza zaila da
It's an easy language Hizkuntza erraza da
Oh! That's good! O! Ederto!
Can I practice with you? Zurekin praktikatu al dezaket?
I will try my best to learn Ahal bezain beste ikasten saiatzen ari naiz
How old are you? Zenbat urte dauzkazu?
I'm (twenty one, thirty two) years old (hogeita bat, hogeita hamabi) urte ditut
It was nice talking to you! [UJ: not used]
It was nice meeting you! Pozten nau zu ezagutu izanak!
Mr.../ Mrs. .../ Miss... Jauna (Mr.) / Anderea (Mrs. / Miss)
This is my wife Hau nire emaztea da
This is my husband Hau nire senarra da
Say hi to Thomas for me Agurtu Thomas nire izenean
Romance and Love Phrases
Are you free tomorrow evening? Libre al zaude bihar gauean?
I would like to invite you to dinner Afaltzera gonbidatu nahi zaitut
You look beautiful! (to a woman) Oso ederra zaude!
You have a beautiful name Oso izen polita daukazu
Can you tell me more about you? Gehiago esan al diezadakezu zuri buruz?
Are you married? Ezkonduta al zaude?
I'm single Ezkongabea naiz.
I'm married Ezkonduta nago
Can I have your phone number? Zure telefono zenbakia eman al diezadakezu?
Can I have your email? Zure e-maila eman al diezadakezu?
Do you have any pictures of you? Ba al daukazu zure argazkirik?
Do you have children? Seme-alabarik al daukazu?
Would you like to go for a walk? Buelta bat ematera joan nahi duzu? [UJ: Incorrect, but better understood that the proper form]
I like you Gustokoa zaitut
I love you Maite zaitut
You're very special! Oso berezia zara!
You're very kind! Maitagarria zara!
I'm very happy Oso pozik nago
Would you marry me? Nirekin ezkondu nahi duzu?
I'm just kidding Txantxetan ari naiz
I'm serious Seriotan ari naiz
My heart speaks the language of love Nire bihotzak maitasunaren hizkuntza hitzegiten ari da [UJ: This sounds laughably ridiculous, except as a deliberate joke]
Solving a Misunderstanding
Sorry! (or: I beg your pardon!) Barkatu!
Sorry (for a mistake) Barkatu!
No problem! Lasai!
Can you repeat please? Errepikatu al dezakezu, mesedez?
Can you speak slowly? Astiro hitz egin al dezakezu?
Can you write it down? Idatzi al dezakezu?
Did you understand what I said? Ulertu al duzu esan dudana?
I don't understand! Ez dut ulertzen!
I don't know! Ez dakit!
What's that called in Basque? Noladeitzen da hori euskaraz?
What does that word mean in English? Zer esan nahi du hitz horrek ingelesez?
How do you say "thanks" in Basque? Nola esaten da “thank you” euskaraz?
What is this? Zer da hau?
My Basque is bad Nire euskara txarra da
Don't worry! Lasai!
I agree with you Ados nago zurekin
Is that right? Ondo al dago?
Is that wrong? Txarto al dago?
What should I say? Zer esan beharko nuke?
I just need to practice Praktika besterik ez dut behar
Your Basque is good Zure euskara ona da
I have an accent Azentua daukat
You don't have an accent Ez daukazu azenturik
Asking for Directions
Excuse me! (before asking someone) Barkatu!
I'm lost Galduta nago
Can you help me? Lagundu al nazakezu?
Can I help you? Lagundu al zaitzaket?
I'm not from here Ez naiz hemengoa
How can I get to (this place, this city)? Nola iritsi naiteke (leku honetara, hiri honetara)?
Go straight Joan zaitez zuzenean
Then Gero
Turn left Ezkerrera biratu
Turn right Ekuinera biratu
Can you show me? Erakutsi al diezadakezu?
I can show you! Erakutsi diezazuket!
Come with me! Etorri nirekin!
How long does it take to get there? Zenbat denbora behar dut hara heltzeko? [UJ: Literally: “how long do I need to get there?”]
Downtown (city center) Hiri erdialdea
Historic center (old city) Alde zaharra
It's near here Hemendik hurbil dago
It's far from here Hemendik urrun dago
Is it within walking distance? Oinez joateko beste hurbil al dago?
I'm looking for Mr. Smith Smith jaunaren bila nabil
One moment please! Momentu bat, mesedez!
Hold on please! (when on the phone) Itxaron momentu bat, mesedez!
He is not here Ez dago hemen
Airport Aireportua
Bus station Autobus geltokia
Train station Tren geltokia
Taxi Taxia
Near Hurbil
Far Urrun
Emergency Survival Phrases
Help! Laguntza!
Stop! Geldi!
Fire! Sua!
Thief! Lapurra!
Run! Alde egin! [UJ: Literally, “go away”]
Watch out! (or: be alert!) Kontuz!
Call the police! Deitu Ertzaintzari!
Call a doctor! Deitu medikuari!
Call the ambulance! Deitu anbulantziari!
Are you okay? Ondo al zaude?
I feel sick Txarto sentitzen naiz
I need a doctor Medikua behar dut
Accident Istripua
Food poisoning Janari intoxikazioa
Where is the closest pharmacy? Non dago farmaziarik hurbilena?
It hurts here Hemen egiten dit min
It's urgent! Larrialdia da! [UJ: Literally, “it's an emergency!”]
Calm down! Lasaitu!
You will be okay! Ez zaizu ezer gertatuko!
Can you help me? Lagundu al nazakezu?
Can I help you? Ladundu al zaitzaket?
Hotel Restaurant Travel Phrases
I have a reservation (for a room) Erreserba daukat
Do you have rooms available? Gela librerik al daukazu?
With shower / With bathroom Dutxarekin / komunarekin
I would like a non-smoking room Ez erretzaileentzako gela nahi nuke
What is the charge per night? Zein da prezioa gaueko?
I'm here on business /on vacation Lanagatik / oporretan nago hemen.
Dirty Zikin
Clean Garbi
Do you accept credit cards? Kreditu txartelik onartzen al duzue?
I'd like to rent a car Auto bat alokatu nahi nuke
How much will it cost? Zein da prezioa?
A table for (one / two) please! (Batentzako/birentzako) mahai bat, mesedez!
Is this seat taken? Hartuta al dago eserleku hau?
I'm vegetarian Begetarianoa naiz
I don't eat pork Ez dut txerririk jaten
I don't drink alcohol Ez dut alkoholik edaten
What's the name of this dish? Nola deitzen da janari hau?
Waiter / waitress! Barkatu! [UJ: literally, “excuse me”; the word for “waiter” is “servant”, and if you call a waiter that it will sound offensive]
Can we have the check please? Kontua, mesedez
It is very delicious! Oso ona dago!
I don't like it Ez zait gustatzen
Shopping Expressions
How much is this? Zenbat balio du?
I'm just looking Begiratzen ari naiz bakarrik
I don't have change Ez daukat trukerik
This is too expensive Hau garestiegia da
Expensive Garestia
Cheap Merkea
Daily Expressions
What time is it? Ze ordu da?
It's 3 o'clock Hirurak
Give me this! Emaidazu hau!
Are you sure? Ziur zaude?
Take this! (when giving something) Hartu hau!
It's freezing (weather) Hotz handia dago
It's cold (weather) Hotza dago
It's hot (weather) Beroa dago
Do you like it? Gustatzen zaizu?
I really like it! Benetan gustatzen zait!
I'm hungry Gose naiz
I'm thirsty Egarri naiz
He is funny Barregarria da
In The Morning Goizean
In the evening Gaualdean
At Night Gauean
Hurry up! Abiatu!
Cuss Words (polite)
This is nonsense! (or: this is craziness) Hori tontakeria da!
My God! (to show amazement) Ai ene!
Oh gosh! (when making a mistake) Ai ene!
It sucks! (or: this is not good) Oso txarra da!
What's wrong with you? Zein da zure arazoa?
Are you crazy? Zoratu al zara?
Get lost! (or: go away!) Alde egin!
Leave me alone! Utzi nazazu pakean!
I'm not interested! Ez daukat interesik!
Writing a Letter
Dear John John maitea
My trip was very nice Nire bidaia oso atsegina izan da
The culture and people were very interesting Bai kultura bai jendea oso interesgarriak dira
I had a good time with you Oso ondo ibili naiz zurekin
I would love to visit your country again Poz handiz bueltatuko ninteke berriz zure herrira
Don't forget to write me back from time to time Ez ahaztu noiz edonoiz idazteaz
Short Expressions and words
Good Ona
Bad Txarra
So-so (or: not bad not good) Kili-kolo
Big Handia
Small Txikia
Today Gaur
Now Orain
Tomorrow Bihar
Yesterday Atzo
Yes Bai
No Ez
Fast Azkar
Slow Astiro
Hot Bero
Cold Hotz
This Hau
That Hori
Here Hemen
There Han
Me (ie. Who did this? - Me) Nik [UJ: In Basque, there are several possible “me”s. This example (“who did this?”) requires using the ergative case. In the following I am assuming the exact same example]
You Zuk
Him Hark
Her Hark
Us Guk
Them Haiek
Really? Benetan?
Look! Begira!
What? Zer?
Where? Non (location) / nora (direction)?
Who? Nor?
How? Nola?
When? Noiz?
Why? Zergatik?
Zero Zero
One Bat
Two Bi
Three Hiru
Four Lau
Five Bost
Six Sei
Seven Zazpi
Eight Zortzi
Nine Bederatzi
Ten Hamar

Phrases and daily expressions have a very important role in Basque. Once you're done with the Euskara Phrases, you might want to check the rest of our Basque lessons here: Learn Basque. Don't forget to bookmark this page.

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