Basque phrasebook
Phrasebook
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.
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 hiruro
Adapted from Wikivoyage (CC BY-SA)