Sometimes you don't have time to learn long lists of words and phrases. All you want to know are the bare essentials for communicating to get what you need, or where you need to go.
Here are the bare minimum of Basque words and phrases you need to know to survive.
Learn the Top 10 Phrases if you only have time for the barest minimum. If you need or want more, then take a look at the Top 20 Phrases, Top 30 Phrases and the Extra Phrases.
|
Hello.
How much is it?|
Here are ten more phrases that will help you make new friends and ask for directions ...
The Top 20 ... |
|
  |
Nola duzu izena? What is your name? ... dut izena. My name is ... Zer moduz? How are you? Ongi. Eta zu? Fine. And you? Non dago ...? Where is ...? Non dago komuna? Gizonak/Emakumeak (Andreak) Where is the toilet? Men/Women Barkatu. Sorry. Excuse me. Ez dago problemarik. No problem. Nahi dut ... I want ... Ez nahi dut ... I don't want ... |
|
Here are another ten phrases to help you make a little more conversation and to get around ...
The Top 30 ... |
|
   |
Nongoa zara? Where are you from? Australiakoa naiz.* I am from Australia. Kontua, mesedez. The bill, please. Galduta nago. I am lost. Gelditu! Itxoin! Stop! Wait! Hemen, hor, han. Here, there, over there. Taxia. Hotela. Aireportua. Tren-geltokia. Taxi. Hotel. Airport. Station. ... gustatzen zait. I like ... ... ez gustatzen zait. I don't like ... bat, bi, hiru, lau, bost. one, two, three, four, five. sei, zazpi, zortzi, bederatzi, hamar. six, seven, eight, nine, ten. *Or choose your country: Amerikakoa - from America Kanadakoa - from Canada Inglaterrakoa - from England Irlandakoa - from Ireland Zeelanda Berriakoa - from New Zealand |
|
Here are some extra words and phrases you might find useful, especially if you have dietary needs or allergies ...
Useful Extras ... |
|
   |
Topa! Cheers! on / txar good / bad handi / txiki big / small gertu / urruti near / far gutxiago / gehiago less / more beste ... bat / nahiko another / enough Barazkijalea naiz. I am vegetarian. Ez dut haragirik jaten. I don't eat meat. ... oilaskoarik ... ... chicken. ... arrainarik ... ... fish. Fruita lehorrei alergikoa naiz. I am allergic to nuts. Kakahueteei ... ... peanuts. Arrainei ... ... fish. Mariskoari ... ... seafood. Arraultzei ... ... eggs. |
Consonants:
b in the middle of a word is a bilabial fricative, like a v using both lips when in the middle of a word (β)
d in the middle or end of a word is like the in this (ð)
dd and d after i (-id-) are pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
g in the middle of a word is like gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
h is silent, except in France
j is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x) in Guipuzkoa, or sometimes as y as in yell elsewhere (IPA j)
ll and l after i (-il-) are pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ)
ñ and n after i (-in-) are pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
s is pronounced as s with the tip of the tongue on the alveolar ridge behind the top teeth, a "mushier" sound
tt and t after i (-it-) are pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
tx is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
x is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
z is pronounced as an s with the tip of the tongue behind the bottom teeth, ie. dental, a "hissier" sound
b in the middle of a word is a bilabial fricative, like a v using both lips when in the middle of a word (β)
d in the middle or end of a word is like the in this (ð)
dd and d after i (-id-) are pronounced as gʲ, almost like dʲ (ɟ)
g in the middle of a word is like gh, a voiced velar fricative (ɣ)
h is silent, except in France
j is pronounced as kh as in loch or Bach (x) in Guipuzkoa, or sometimes as y as in yell elsewhere (IPA j)
ll and l after i (-il-) are pronounced as ly as in million (ʎ)
ñ and n after i (-in-) are pronounced as ny as in canyon (ɲ)
s is pronounced as s with the tip of the tongue on the alveolar ridge behind the top teeth, a "mushier" sound
tt and t after i (-it-) are pronounced as kʲ, almost like tʲ (IPA c)
tx is pronounced as ch as in church (tʃ)
x is pronounced as sh as in shop (ʃ)
z is pronounced as an s with the tip of the tongue behind the bottom teeth, ie. dental, a "hissier" sound