Basque phrasebook Voyage Tips and guide

Basque (euskara) is a language spoken in the Basque Country (Gipuzkoa, Araba, Bizkaia) and Navarra (all of them in Spain) as well as in the French Basque Country (Labourd, Soule and Basse-Navarre). As a language isolate, it is something of a linguistic curiosity; it has no relatives among any other living languages, in Europe or anywhere else, and is probably related to other languages spoken in Spain before the arrival of the Romans. The language was long suppressed by national governments in France and Spain, but in the 20th century, it reemerged as a living language, partly as a political statement for Basque independence.

Learning Basque is generally not necessary for communication, as essentially all Basque speakers on the Spanish side of the border are able to speak Spanish as well, while those on the French side of the border are also able to speak French. Nevertheless, locals are proud of their language, so learning at least some basic phrases and greetings will help to endear you to them.

Pronunciation Guide

Basque pronunciation is quite similar to Spanish pronunciation.

The main differences are:

x like sh in shop
z like s in "see"
s sort of like s in "see," but pronounced with the tongue further back, on the tip of the ridge behind your teeth

and the groups:

in before a vowel, like Spanish ñ: baina (pronounced like baiña), or like ny in "canyon"
il before a vowel, like li in "million" (an "ly" sound): mutila (pronounced like mutilya)

tx like ch in "church"
tz like ts in "pets"
ts in between ts in "pets" and ch in "church"—pronounced with your tongue on the tip of the ridge behind your teeth

It's also possible to use tt and dd but these are not very common.

Phrase list

Some phrases in this phrasebook still need to be translated. If you know anything about this language, you can help by plunging forward and translating a phrase.

Basics

Hello.: Kaixo.
Hello. (informal): Epa! or Iepa! or Aupa!!.
How are you?: Zer moduz?
Fine, thank you.: Ondo, eskerrik asko.
Who are you?: Nor zara zu?
I am ______ .: Ni ______ naiz.
What is your name?: Nola duzu izena?: Zein da zure izena?
My name is _____.: Nire izena ____ da.
Nice to meet you.: Pozten naiz zu ezagutzeaz.
Please.: Mesedez.
Thank you.: Eskerrik asko.
Welcome.: Ongi etorri.
Yes.: Bai.
No.: Ez.
Excuse me. (getting attention): Aizu!
Excuse me. (begging pardon): Barkatu
I'm sorry.: Barkatu
Goodbye: Agur
Goodbye (informal): Aio
I can't speak Basque [well].: Ez dakit euskaraz [ondo] hitz egiten.
Do you speak English?: Ingelesez hitz egiten al duzu?
Is there someone here who speaks English?: Inork ba al daki ingelesez?
Help!: Lagundu!
Good morning.: Egunon.
Good afternoon.: Arratsaldeon.
Good evening.: Gabon.
Good night (to sleep): Bihar arte ("until tomorrow").
I don't understand.: Ez dut ulertzen.
Where is the toilet?: Non dago komuna?
Where is __________?: Non dago ______?

Problems

Leave me alone.: Utzi pakean. (...)
Don't touch me/it!;: Ez ikutu! (...)
I'll call the police.: Polizia deituko dut. (...)
Stop! Thief!: Geldi! Lapurra! (...)
I need your help.: Zure laguntza behar dut. (...)
It's an emergency.: Larrialdia da. (...)
I'm lost.: Galdurik nago. (...)
I've lost my bag.: Nire poltsa galdu dut. (...)
I've lost my wallet.: Nire diru zorroa galdu dut. (...)
I'm sick.: Gaixorik nago. (...)
I've been injured.: Min hartu dut. (...)
I need a doctor.: Mediku bat behar dut. (...)
Can I use your phone?: Zure telefonoa erabil dezaket? (...)

Numbers

1: bat (...)
2: bi (...)
3: hiru (...)
4: lau (...)
5: bost (...)
6: sei (...)
7: zazpi (...)
8: zortzi (...)
9: bederatzi (...)
10: hamar (...)
11: hamaika(...)
12: hamabi (...)
13: hamahiru (...)
14: hamalau (...)
15: hamabost (...)
16: hamasei (...)
17: hamazazpi (...)
18: hemezortzi (...)
19: hemeretzi (...)
20: hogei (...)
21: hogeita bat (...)
22: hogeita bi (...)
23: hogeita hiru (...)
30: hogeita hamar (20+10)
31: hogeita hamaika (20+11)
40: berrogei (2*20)
50: berrogeita hamar (2*20+10)
60: hirurogeita (3*20)
70: hirurogeita hamar (3*20+10)
80: larogei (...)
90: larogeita hamar (...)
100: ehun (...)
200: berrehun (...)
300: hirurehun (...)
1000: mila (...)
2000: bimila (...)
1,000,000: milioi bat (...)
number _____ (train, bus, etc.): _____ zenbakia (...)
half: erdia(...)
less: gutxiago (...)
more: gehiago (...)

Time

now: orain (...)
later: gero (...)
before: lehen (...)
morning: goiz (...)
afternoon: arratsalde (...)
night: gaua (...)
midday: eguerdia
midnight: gauerdia

Clock time

one o'clock AM: goizeko ordu bata (...)
two o'clock AM: goizeko ordu biak (...)
noon: eguerdia (...)
one o'clock PM: eguerdiko ordu bata (...)
two o'clock PM: arratsaldeko ordu biak (...)
midnight: gauerdi(...)

Duration

_____ minute(s): _____ minutu (...)
_____ hour(s): _____ ordu (...)
_____ day(s): _____ egun (...)
_____ week(s): _____ aste (...)
_____ month(s): _____ hilabete (...)
_____ year(s): _____ urte (...)

Days

today: gaur (...)
yesterday: atzo (...)
tomorrow: bihar (...)
this week: aste honetan (...)
last week: joan den astean (...)
next week: hurrengo astean (...)

Sunday: igandea (...)
Monday: astelehena (...)
Tuesday: asteartea (...)
Wednesday: asteazkena (...)
Thursday: osteguna (...)
Friday: ostirala (...)
Saturday: larunbata (...)

Months

January: urtarrila (...)
February: otsaila (...)
March: martxoa (...)
April: apirila (...)
May: maiatza (...)
June: ekaina (...)
July: uztaila (...)
August: abuztua (...)
September: iraila (...)
October: urria (...)
November: azaroa (...)
December: abendua (...)

Writing Time and Date

One o'clock: ordu bata da.
Five past two: ordu biak eta bost
Quarter past four: laurak eta laurden
Half past six: sei t'erdiak
Twenty to eight: zortziak hogei gutxi
Quarter to ten: Hamarrak laurden gutxi
Five to eleven: Hamaikak bost gutxi

10th July, 2008: 2008ko uztailaren 10a
25th December, 1995: 1995eko abenduaren 25a
Gasteiz, 10th April, 1987: Gasteizen, 1987ko apirilaren 10ean.

Colours

black: beltz (...)
white: zuri (...)
gray: gris (...)
red: gorri (...)
blue: urdin (...)
yellow: hori (...)
green: berde (...)
orange: laranja (...)
brown: marroi (...)

Transportation

Bus and Train

How much is a ticket to _____?: zenbat da txartel bat _____ra? (...)
One ticket to _____, please.: txartel bat _____ra, mesedez. (...)
Where does this train/bus go?: nora doa tren/bus hau?
Where is the train/bus to _____?: non dago _____ra doan trena/busa? (...)
Does this train/bus stop in _____?: tren/bus hau _____n gelditzen da? (...)
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?: Noiz irteten da _____ra doan trena/busa?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?: tren/bus hau noiz helduko da _____ra?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?: nola joaten da _____ra ? (...)
...the train station?: ...tren geltokira? (...)
...the bus station?: ...bus geltokira? (...)
...the airport?: ...aireportura? (...)
...downtown?: ...hiri erdira? (...)
...the youth hostel?: ...gazte albergera? (...)
...the _____ hotel?: ... _____ hotelera? (...)
...the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?: ...Amerikar/Kanadiar/Australiar/Britaniar kontsulatura? (...)
Where are there a lot of ___: Non dago ___ asko? (...)
...hotels?: ...hotel (...)
...restaurants?: ...jatetxe (...)
...bars?: ...taberna (...)
...sites to see?: ...ikusteko leku (...)
Can you show me on the map?: Mapan erakutsiko al didazu?
street: kale(...)
Turn left.: Ezkerretara. (...)
Turn right.: Eskumatara. (...)
left: ezkerra (...)
right: eskuina, eskuma (...)
straight ahead: zuzen (...)
towards the _____: _____raino (...)
past the _____: _____ eta gero (...)
before the _____: _____ baino lehen(...)
Watch for the _____.: Bilatu _____. (...)
intersection: gurutze (...)
north: ipar (...)
south: hego (...)
east: ekialde (...)
west: mendebalde (...)
uphill: igo (...)
downhill: jeitsi (...)

Taxi

Taxi!: Taxi! (...)
Take me to _____, please.: Eraman _____ra, mesedez. (...)
How much does it cost to get to _____?: Zenbat balio du _____ra joateak? (...)
Take me there, please.: Utz nazazu han, mesedez. (...)

Lodging

Do you have any rooms available?: Badaukazu logelik? (...)
How much is a room for one person/two people?: Zenbat balio du pertsona batentzako/ bi pertsonentzako logela batek?
Does the room come with...: Logelak badauka... (...)
...bedsheets?: ...izararik? (...)
...a bathroom?: ...komunik? (...)
...a telephone?: ...telefonorik? (...)
...a TV?: ...telebistarik? (...)
May I see the room first?: logela ikus dezaket lehendabizi?
Do you have anything quieter?: Zerbait lasaiagoa badaukazue?
...bigger?: handiagoa?
...cleaner?: txukunagoa?
...cheaper?: merkeagoa?
OK, I'll take it.: Ongi, hartuko dut
I will stay for _____ night(s).: ____ gau egongo naiz.
Can you suggest another hotel?: Gomendatuko zenidake beste hotelen bat?
Do you have a safe?: Dirukutxarik baduzue? (...)
...lockers?: ...takilarik? (...)
Is breakfast/supper included?: Gosaria/afaria barne al dago?
What time is breakfast/supper?: gosaria/afaria zein ordutan da?
Please clean my room.: nire gela garbitu, mesedez
Can you wake me at _____?: esnatuko al nauzu _____n? (...)
I want to check out.: Joan nahi dut. (...)

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?: Hartzen al dituzue Amerikako/Australiako/Kanadiako dolarrak?
Do you accept British pounds?: Hartzen al dituzue Britaniako librak?
Do you accept credit cards?: Hartzen al duzue kreditu txartelik?
Can you change money for me?: Nire dirua trukatuko al didazu?
Where can I get money changed?: Non trukatzen da dirua?
Can you change a traveler's check for me?: Aldatuko al didazu nire bidai txekea?
Where can I get a traveler's check changed?: Non aldatzen dira bidai txekeak?
What is the exchange rate?: Zenbatean dago trukatze tarifa?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?: Non dago kutxazain automatikoa? (...)

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.: mahai bat pertsona batentzako/bi personentzako, mesedez
Can I look at the menu, please?: Menua erakutsiko didazu, mesedez?
Can I look in the kitchen?: Sukaldea ikusi dezaket?
Is there a house specialty?: Badago etxeko berezitasunik?
Is there a local specialty?: Badago inguru honetako/herri honetako berezitasunik?
I'm a vegetarian.: Barazkijalea naiz.
I don't eat pork.: Ez dut zerrikirik jaten.
I only eat kosher food.: Kosher janaria jaten dut soilik.
Can you make it "lite", please? (less oil/butter/lard): Can you make it "lite", please? (...)
fixed-price meal: menu
à la carte: karta
breakfast: gosaria
lunch: bazkaria
supper: afaria
I want _____.: _____ nahi dut.
I want a dish containing _____.: _____rekin plater bat nahi dut. (...)
chicken: oilasko.
beef: beef (...)
fish: arrain
ham: urdaiazpiko
sausage: saltxitxa
cheese: gazta
eggs: arrautzak
salad: entsalada
(fresh) vegetables: barazkiak
(fresh) fruit: fruita
bread: ogia
toast: tostada
noodles: noodles (...)
rice: arroza
beans: babak
May I have a glass of _____?: Emango al didazu edontzi bat ___? (...)
May I have a cup of _____?: Emango al didazu kopa bat ____? (...)
May I have a bottle of _____?: Emango al didazu botila bat ____? (...)
coffee: kafea
tea (drink): tea
juice: zukua
(bubbly) water: burbuiladun ura
water: ura
beer: garagardo
red/white wine: ardo beltz/zuri
May I have some _____?: Emango al didazu _____? (...)
salt: gatza
black pepper: piperbeltza
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server): aizu tabernari!
I'm finished.: Bukatu dut.
It was delicious.: Primerakoa zegoen.
Please clear the plates.: Mesedez, eskatu platerrak
The check, please.: Kontua, mesedez.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?: Alkohola zerbitzatzen duzue?
Is there table service?: Mahai zerbitzua al dago?
A beer/two beers, please.: Garagardo bat/ Bi garagardo, mesedez.
A glass of red/white wine, please.: edalontzi bat ardo gorria/zuria, mesedez.
A pint, please.: pinta bat, mesedez. (It's not very usual to see pints in bars, unless it's an Irish pub or something like that, so you'll have to order a jar (jarra bat) 0.5 l)
A bottle, please.: Botila bat, mesedez
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.: _____(likore bizi bat) eta _____(konbinatu bat), mesedez. (...)
whiskey: whiskey (...)
vodka: vodka (...)
rum: ron (...)
water: ura (...)
club soda: club soda (...)
tonic water: tonika
orange juice: laranja zuku
Coke (soda): Koka Kola (soda)
Do you have any bar snacks?: Pintxorik badaukazue?
One more, please.: Beste bat, mesedez.
Another round, please.: Beste ronda bat, mesedez.
When is closing time?: Zer ordutan ixten da?

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?: Nire tailakorik baduzue?
How much is this?: Zenbat da?
That's too expensive.: Garestiegia da.
Would you take _____?: _____ hartuko al duzu? (...)
expensive: garesti
cheap: merke
I can't afford it.: Ezin dut horrenbeste ordaindu.
I don't want it.: Ez dut nahi hori.
You're cheating me.: You're cheating me. (...)
I'm not interested.: Ez zait interesatzen.
OK, I'll take it.: Ongi, hartuko dut.
Can I have a bag?: Poltsa bat emango al didazu?
Do you ship (overseas)?: Kanpora bidal zenezakete?
I need ____: ___ behar dut.
...toothpaste.: hortzetako orea/pasta
...a toothbrush.: hortzetako eskuila
...tampons.: tanpoiak. (...)
...soap.: xaboia
...shampoo.: txanpua
...pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen): mina kentzeko botika
...cold medicine.: ...katarrorako sendagaiak. (...)
...stomach medicine.: ...tripako minarako sendagaiak. (...)
...a razor.: ...bizarra kentzekoa. (...)
...an umbrella.: aterkia. (...)
...sunblock lotion.: ...Eguzkitako krema. (...)
...a postcard.: ...postala(...)
...a letter.: ...gutuna(...)
...postage stamps.: ...seiluak. (...)
...batteries.: ...pilak. (...)
...writing paper.: ...idazteko papera. (...)
...a pen.: ...Boligrafoa. (...)
...a pencil: ...Arkatza. (...)
...English-language books.: ...Ingelesezko liburuak. (...)
...English-language magazines.: ...Ingelesezko aldizkariak. (...)
...an English-language newspaper.: ...Ingelesezko egunkaria. (...)
...an English-English dictionary.: ...Ingelesezko hiztegia. (...)

Driving

I want to rent a car.: Auto bat alkilatu nahiko nuke. (...)
Can I get insurance?: Aseguru bat lortu al dezaket? (...)
stop (on a street sign): Gelditu (...)
one way: Bide bakarra(...)
yield: bidea eman (...)
no parking: ez aparkatu(...)
speed limit: muga - abiadura (...)
gas (petrol) station: Gasolindegia (...)
petrol: Gasolina (...)
diesel: diesela (...)

Authority

I haven't done anything wrong.: Ez dut ezer txarrik egin. (...)
It was a misunderstanding.: Gaizki ulertu bat izan da. (...)
Where are you taking me?: Nora eramaten ari nauzu? (...)
Am I under arrest?: Atxiloturik al nago? (...)
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.: Estatu Batuetako/Australiako/Britania Handiko/Kanadako hiritar bat naiz. (...)
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.: Estatu Batuetako/Australiako/Britania Handiko/Kanadako enbaxadarekin/kontsulatuarekin hitzegin nahi dut. (...)
I want to talk to a lawyer.: Abokatu batekin hitz egin nahi dut. (...)
Can I just pay a fine now?: Isuna orain ordaindu dezaket? (...)

This Basque phrasebook is a usable article. It explains pronunciation and the bare essentials of travel communication. An adventurous person could use this article, but please feel free to improve it by editing the page.