Where things stand: atzean, eskuinaldean, mahai gainean
Kitchen postpositions are put after the genitive -aren: hozkailuaren atzean — behind the refrigerator, literally "of-the refrigerator behind-in". Right and left are eskuinaldean and ezkerrealdean: literally "in the right side" (eskuin — right, ezker — left + alde — side). For example: “Salda hozkailuaren atzean dago” — The broth is behind the refrigerator. A rule from the Basque course: worked out on examples, not…
How it works
Kitchen postpositions are put after the genitive -aren: hozkailuaren atzean — behind the refrigerator, literally "of-the refrigerator behind-in". Right and left are eskuinaldean and ezkerrealdean: literally "in the right side" (eskuin — right, ezker — left + alde — side).
"On something" is gainean: mahai gainean — on the table, mahaiaren gainean — the same with the genitive. By the same pattern the rest are assembled: pitxerraren barruan — inside the jug, mahaiaren azpian — under the table.
Table
| where | the form | the example |
|---|---|---|
| behind | …aren atzean | hozkailuaren atzean — behind the refrigerator |
| on the right / left | eskuinaldean / ezkerrealdean | eskuinaldean dago — it stands on the right |
| on | (…aren) gainean | mahai gainean — on the table |
By example
- Salda hozkailuaren atzean dagoThe broth is behind the refrigerator
- Azukre ontzia eskuinaldean dagoThe sugar bowl is on the right
- Ura mahai gainean dagoThe water is on the table
How the rule settles in your head
A rule is not memorized from an explanation. It is memorized from an attempt to use it and a mistake — that is why the app delivers it mixed in with words, not as a separate lesson: it resurfaces exactly where you forgot it.
Frequently asked
Where things stand: how does it work in Basque?
Kitchen postpositions are put after the genitive -aren: hozkailuaren atzean — behind the refrigerator, literally "of-the refrigerator behind-in". Right and left are eskuinaldean and ezkerrealdean: literally "in the right side" (eskuin — right, ezker — left + alde — side).
What does it look like in an example sentence Basque?
“Salda hozkailuaren atzean dago” — The broth is behind the refrigerator. A rule is easier to test on sentences like this than to memorize as a wording: what surfaces in conversation is the sentence.