Basque Language: Cool, Beautiful, and Useful Words & Phrases

The Basque language is a mystery to all. Sheltered between mountains in the north of Spain and southern France, it is the oldest living language in Europe, dating as far back as prehistory.

No one knows where the Basque language came from, and it is not related to any other languages.

History hasn’t always been kind to this ancient language, as it was on the brink of extinction just one century ago.

Its use was prohibited during Franco’s dictatorship, which went on for 36 years (1939-1975). Despite the difficulties, many underground Basque schools and societies managed to keep this language alive.

Nowadays, 750.000 people in the Basque Country and Navarre are lucky enough to speak it, and I can count myself as one of them.

This article is an introduction to some beautiful Basque vocabulary words and phrases that will tickle your «jakin-mina» (read further for the meaning).

• Cool Words in Basque
• Beautiful Basque words
• Basque terms of endearment
• Ancient Basque words
• Funny Basque words and phrases
• Basque language phrases
• How to pronounce Basque words

Cool Words in Basque

Here is a list of cool vocabulary words in the Basque language. Most of these arise from a combination of 2 basic words. What makes them cool is that these words are semantically related to the sum of their parts, in a cute and sometimes surprising way.

• Jakin-mina (curiosity). «Jakin» comes from the word knowledge, while «mina» could be described as an itch. This is a cool Basque vocabulary word, as it literally presents curiosity as an itch for knowledge.
• Ilargia (moon). From «Hilen» (of the dead) «argia» (light). The moon is the light of the people who died. Poetic, right?
  There is a famous Basque song that goes like this: «zuretzat ilargia lapurtuko nuke gauero» (I would steal the moon for you every night).
• Hilerria (cemetery). Hilen (of the dead), herria (village). We are already familiar with the word hil, but this time, we mix it with herria to create the word cemetery, which is none other than the village of the dead.
• Harreman (relationship). Hartu (take), eman (give). Relationships in Basque are a give-and-take.
• Erditu (give birth). In Basque, when you give birth, you split yourself into two, as in, you give half of yourself.
• Musu-truk (for free). Although not as frequently used as its synonym dohain, musu (kiss) truke (in exchange) means that free things come with the price of a kiss.
• Eztabaida (discussion). This one literally means no-it-isn’t-yes-it-is. Which makes sense.
• Maitagarria (fairy). This is another cool Basque word that comes from Maitasun (love) -garria (worthy). Fairies are creatures worthy of love.
• Maiteminduta (in love). Put the word love and mina (pain) together and you get “wounded by love”, which in Basque is equal to being in love.
• Haserre (angry). Hats (breath), erre (burn). You know you are angry when you have a burning breath.
• Gutxigorabehera (more or less). Little-up-down. That is what it really means. Even Basque people are confused by this one.
• Ogibide (profession). From «Ogi» (bread) and «bide» (the way). A profession is the way to one’s bread.
• Ortzimuga (horizon). Etymology: derived from «Ortzi» (sky) and «muga» (limit). When you look at the horizon, you are looking at the sky’s limit.
• Eskuzabala (generous). Etymology: derived from «Esku» (hand) and «zabala» (wide). Generosity means you have wide hands.
• Hizki (letter). Hizkuntza > hitz > hizki. The first word means language, the second word, and the third letter. You could say that a letter is like a small piece of speech.
• Galtzerdi (sock). Galtz (trouser), erdia (half). A sock is half a trouser.

Beautiful Basque words

There are many stereotypes surrounding Basque people. They can be regarded as strong, brutish mountain people who like to drink. Reserved, but good-hearted.

These, of course, are only stereotypes, but it also translates to how people may regard the Basque language as something harsh and strong.

Nothing could be farther from the truth: The Basque language is full of heart-warming, beautiful vocabulary words. Here are some examples:

• Pinpilinpauxa – Butterfly
• Xirimiri – Mild rain
• Polita – Beautiful
• Lorea – Flower
• Musu – Kiss
• Ama – Mom
• Eskua – Hand
• Xuxurlatu – To whisper. The name in itself mimics the sound of a whisper.
• Haizea – Wind
• Ilunabarra – Dawn
• Ezti – Sweet, pleasant
• Lasaitasuna – Peace, calm
• Zerua – Sky
• Goxo – Cosy
• Bizitza – Life
• Sustraia – Root
• Lana – Work
• Mendia – Mountain
• Zintzilik – Hanging
• Poliki-poliki – Little by little
• Ttipi-ttapa – Walking at a brisk pace
• Plisti-plasta – Mimicking a splashing sound

Basque terms of endearment

Let’s look at ways you can refer to your loved ones in the Basque language.

• Laztana – What could be more tender than calling someone caress?
• Maitia – Beloved
• Kuttuna – Dear
• Bihotz – Heart
• Txiki , pittin , pitxurri - Little
• Potxolo/a – Fatty
  This Basque term of endearment is used for babies and kids. Although calling someone fat is not endearing in English, in Basque it is used as an equivalent of cute:
  A ze potxolo! – How cute!
• Adding the suffix -txu/-txo at the end of someone’s name makes it ten times more affectionate:
  Ane – Anetxu,
  Miren – Mirentxu

Ancient Basque words

As it was mentioned earlier, Basque is a prehistoric language. It is estimated that the modern-day Basque comes from an earlier version of the language, which used some simple, monosyllabic roots to form words.

Some of these ancient Basque words are still in use nowadays, and they let us have a look at what life was like thousands of years ago.

Root: Ur (water, living matter)

• Lur – Ground
• Elur – Snow
• Zur – Wood
• Haur – Child
• Hezur – Bone
• Euri – Rain

Root: Iz (energy, light)

• Izar – Star
• Izan – To be
• Izadi – Nature
• Izaki – Living creature
• Izaera – Personality
• Izorra – Pregnant

Root: Haitz (stone)

• Aizkora – Axe
• Aizto – Knife
• Aitzurra – Hoe (gardening tool)

Months of the year in Basque

While not as ancient, some months also give us an insight into how Basque people lived according to nature.

• Hilabete (month) Etymology: from «hil» (moon) and «bete» (full). Full moon.
• Urtarrilla (January). Etymology: from «Urtearen» (of the year) «hila» (death). "The death of the year".
• Otsaila (February). Wolf month
• Ekaina (June). This word is derived from «eki» (sun), «gaina» (on top). "Sun on top".
• Uztaila (July). Harvest month
• Iraila (September). Fern month
• Azaroa (November). Seed month

Funny Basque words and phrases

• Zoaz antzarak ferratzera! – “Go shoe a goose” would be the literal translation. It is the equivalent of telling someone to get lost, only in a more original fashion.
• Tontolapiko – Why call someone silly if you can call them a "silly pan".
• Maripuzker – Another equivalent of silly, which can only be translated as Mrs. Fart.
• Baina ze demontre! – What in the name of God!
• Txoriburu – Txori (bird), buru (head). A vain person has a head full of birds.
• Artaburu – The word 'corn cob' is used in Basque to refer to a person who is not very bright.
• A ze parea, karakola eta barea! – What a pair, the slug and the snail!
• Agur benur eta jan yogur – Goodbye Ben-hur and eat yogurt. The Basque equivalent of see you later alligator.
• Zer hari zara!? – What are you doing!? This one is not funny because of the meaning, but rather because of an unusual coincidence. A person from Gipuzkoa may pronounce it as ze ai zea, which is the same as Ze haizea! (how windy!). If a Basque person is ever mad at you, you can pretend they are just talking about the weather.
• Asto joan eta mando etorri – To leave as a donkey and come back as a mule. Sometimes trying to make things better only makes them worse.
• Izurde – Iz (from the sea), urde (pig). Dolphins are also known as sea-pigs.
• Labezomorro – Labe (oven), zomorro (insect), or cockroach in English. Opening an oven was probably not a pleasant experience for Basque people.
• Hor konpon, Marianton! – Go get it fixed, Mary Anthony. As confusing as it sounds, it is a way of telling someone that you refuse to help them.
• Jakiteak ez du ogirik jaten – Knowledge doesn’t eat bread. In other words, knowledge is infinite.
• Zozoak beleari ipurpeltz – Blackbird to raven: black bum. It is another way of saying “look who’s talking”.
• Amuarrainak lotarazi – In Basque, a person can be so boring that they make salmon fall asleep.
• Arkakusoak hil – Getting in a fight in the Basque Country is not advisable, as they can beat you up so bad that they kill your lice.
• Ezina, ekinez egina – What is impossible can be achieved with action.
• Gazteak baleki, zaharrak baleza – If the young person knew, if the old person could.
• Geroa, alferraren leloa – The future is the lazy person’s motto.
• Izenetik izanera, gogoa zubi – The will is the bridge between the name and its being. Which means that there is a gap between what is said and what is done, and it can only be fulfilled with will.
• Kopetilun – When someone is in a sour mood, they have a dark forehead.
• Oilo ibiltari, azerien afari – Wandering hen, fox’s dinner. If you are looking for trouble, you will find it.
• Sua eta ura belaunetik behera – Fire and water below the knees. Don’t abuse of things you are not in control of.
• Urrutiko intxaurrak hamalau, gerturatu eta lau – From afar, fourteen walnuts, from up close four. When expectations are too high and you end up getting disappointed.

Basque language phrases

To navigate the Basque Country as a tourist, or even for a longer stay, there are some staple phrases that are useful to know.

Basque greetings phrases

Let’s start with ways of greeting someone.

• Kaixo – Hello
• Egun on – Good morning
• Arratsalde on – Good afternoon
• Gabon – Good night. Only used when you are about to go to sleep.
• Agur – Goodbye
• Gero arte / Ikusi arte / laster arte– See you later
• Ondo izan / ondo ibili – Take care

General Basque phrases and words

• Euskara – Basque. This is how Basque is said in Basque, and natives will always refer to it by this name.
• Bai – Yes
• Ez – No
• Mesedez – Please
• Eskerrik asko – Thank you
• Ez horregatik – You’re welcome
• Barkatu – Excuse me
• Ongi etorri – Welcome
• Zorte on – Good luck
• Ez dut ulertzen – I don’t understand
• Badakizu ingeleraz? – Do you speak English?
• Lasai – Don’t worry
• Ze polita – How pretty
• Non dago komuna? – Where is the toilet?

Pronouncing numbers in Basque

• Bat – One
• Bi – Two
• Hiru – Three
• Lau – Four
• Bost – Five
• Sei – Six
• Zazpi – Seven
• Zortzi – Eight
• Bederatzi – Nine
• Hamar – Ten

Basque phrases for ordering food

Spain is known for its tapas, which are snacks or appetizers that you can take alongside a drink in a bar.

There is however no such thing as a tapa in the Basque Country. We have pintxos, which are an essential part of our culture. The snack usually comes on top of a bread slice and is held together by a pintxo (brochette):

• Bi pintxo tortila, mesedez – Two tortilla pintxos, please.
• Lau garagardo, mesedez – Four beers, please.
• Botila bat ardo – A bottle of wine.
• Ur baso bat – a glass of water.
• Zenbat balio du? – How much does it cost?
• Zer gomendatzen duzu? – What do you recommend?
• Kontua ekarri dezakezu? – Can we have the bill?

Basque phrases for getting to know someone

• Zer moduz? / Zelan zabiltza? – Both meaning “how are you?” Although natives may pronounce it as Zemuz? / Zelan?
• (Oso) ondo, eta zu? – (Very) good, and you?
• Gaizki – Bad.
• Ez oso ondo – Not very well.
• Ni Kate naiz – I am Kate.
• Nola deitzen zara? – What’s your name?
• Nongoa zara? – Where are you from?
• Estatu Batuetakoa/Ingalaterrakoa naiz – I am from the US/England.
• Zenbat urte dituzu? – How old are you?
• Hogeitamar urte ditut – I am thirty years old.
• Maite zaitut – I love you. Not recommended for the first acquaintance.

How to pronounce Basque words

Although Basque is a difficult language, pronunciation is one of the easiest aspects of learning Basque, with a lot of sounds being similar to Spanish.

Of course, dialects can vary the pronunciation significantly, or even omit some letters. However, there is an official version of Basque which dictates how words should be pronounced.

• Tx/ts: In Basque these letter combinations are pronounced similarly to the way we pronounce “ch” in English. For example: Txakurra (dog).
• tt: This is like a wet t sound, and the most difficult to achieve. Instead of using the tip of the tongue on the back of the front teeth, like we do to produce a t sound, we use the back of the tongue on the back of the palate. Luckily, it is not a very frequent sound. Euri ttantta (raindrop).
• tz: “ts” is the closest representation for this sound, but it sounds sharper and more z-like in real life, like a hissing snake. Aditza (verb).
• z: Likewise, the Basque pronunciation of the letter 'z' is sharper than the English one. Zentzua (sense).
• x: In Basque, the pronunciation of the letter 'x' resembles the “sh” sound in English. For example: Xamurra (tender).
• in: This is pronounced like the “ñ” sound in Spanish. Baina (but).
• il: “y”. Hilabetea (month).
• s and r: the s and the rolled r sound stronger in Basque than in Spanish. Sabela (stomach), harria (stone).

To learn more about the Basque language, see this guide on writing a letter or an email in Basque. To discover another language that is also spoken in Spain, see this article on Catalan.