Food and drink in Basque
254 words Basque words on the topic “food and drink”: kafea — coffee, tea — tea, ura — water, ogia — bread.
254 words on the topic
- kafeacoffeeThe article -a has grown onto the end: kafe+a. You order without it: kafe bat — one coffee
- teateaTe + the article a = 'tea' — only the pronunciation tells it apart from the English word
- urawaterA two-letter word, ur — and even it wears the article: ur+a. In Bilbao you ask for it just as short: ur bat
- ogiabreadOgi + a. The bakery in Basque is okela — a native word, not the Spanish one
- gaztacheeseThe famous Idiazabal sheep cheese — Idiazabalgo gazta: the same word in the name
- haragiameatCuts are built descriptively: behi-haragia — beef, literally 'cow meat'
- arrainafishA fisherfolk's land: arrantzale — 'fisher', arrain saltzailea — 'fishmonger'. Fish in the sea and on the plate is one word
- frutakfruitA collective in the plural: fruta + ak. One piece of fruit is fruta bat
- sagarraappleSagar + the article, and the r doubles at the seam: sagar+a → sagarra. The same fusion makes ogia from ogi and ura from ur
- laranjaorangeBoth the fruit and the color: soineko laranja — an orange dress. The word arrived from Valencia through Spanish
- tomateatomatoIt came from the Americas with Spanish. A Basque classic: piperrak eta tomatea — peppers with tomatoes
- entsaladasaladThe opening e- is a Basque signature: a borrowed word that can't start the way it wants gets an e in front
- zopasoupAs for dinner: the verb is afaldu and the meal is afaria — the evening meal has a name of its own
- gatzasaltThe salt of the Basques — gatzaren bideak, the 'salt roads' of the Pyrenees: the same word in the region's history
- goxoatastyWith the article: goxo+a. Basque doesn't split 'tasty right now' from 'tasty always' — goxoa is just goxoa
- esneamilkEs-NE-e. Esne-gozokia — milk desserts: a word from every bakery window
- ardoawineAr-DO-e. Txakoli is the local white wine: txakolina — the same word in the diminutive
- janeatFood is janari — same root. Having lunch is bazkaldu: lunch has a name of its own, bazkaria
- edandrinkDrinking, the literal sense. Zer edozer hartuko al dugu? — 'shall we have something?': the soft invitation goes through hartu — 'take'
- gosariabreakfastBoth the meal and the verb's root: gosaltzen dut zortzietan — I breakfast at eight. The Basque breakfast is ogia tomatearekin — bread with tomato, on the go
- bazkarialunchThe main meal of the day, at two o'clock. The verb: bazkaltzen — bazkaldu dezakegu bi eta erdietan? — shall we lunch at half past two?
- afariadinnerBoth the meal and the verb's root: afaltzen dugu bederatzietan — we dine at nine. Dinner in the Basque Country comes later than you're used to
- murtxikatuchewMOOR-chee-KA-too. Ondo murtxikatu, presarik gabe — chew properly, no rush
- irentsiswallowEe-REN-tsee. Ezin dut irentsi — I can't swallow: said about a throat and about the news alike
- apetitoaappetiteA borrowing, as elsewhere. On egin! — 'eat well!' — is what they say instead of 'enjoy your meal'
- zatiapieceA piece of bread, a slice of cake, a share of the whole: ogi-zati bat. The same word is 'part' in grammar
- usainasmellOO-SIGH-ne. Sukaldeak usain ona du — the kitchen smells good: the smell is 'had'
- olioaoilRelated to 'olive' through Latin: olive oil is oliba-olioa. In the country they mostly fry on sunflower: ekilore-olioa
- patatapotatoA borrowing, as elsewhere: the word left the Americas through Spanish. Patata frijituak — fried potatoes, the bars' national food
- irinaflourA native word, old: irin is both flour and fine dust. From irina they bake ogi beltza — black bread, the local pride
- eztiahoneyWith the ts in the middle: e-TSI-e. Basque hives stand in the mountains, and ezti beltza — chestnut honey — is dark and thick
- fruitu lehorraknutsLiterally 'dry fruits': fruitu + lehor. Only in the plural, like English 'nuts'
- tipulaonionA loan from Latin through the neighbors. Only experience saves you from onion tears: tipulak negarrazten gaitu — the onion makes us cry
- azenarioacarrotLiterally 'January's': azero, January in the old count. The carrot here is 'the winter one', the kind that kept in the cellar
- piperrapepperA borrowing, as elsewhere. The country is not about heat, and piperra here is usually the sweet one: piperra gorria
- babarrunakbeansLiterally 'big bean': baba + -rrun. Beans are the heart of Basque stew: babarrunak with blood sausage is the winter dish
- espeziakspicesA borrowing, as elsewhere. Only in the plural: spices here are a 'set', not one thing
- sukaldatucookFrom sukalde — the kitchen of wave 1: to cook here is 'to kitchen'. One suffix -tu turned the noun into a verb
- garbituwashBoth wash and clean: garbi — 'clean'. Ontziak garbitu — to wash the dishes: the daily phrase
- labanaknifeRelated to the Spanish navaja: the word traveled between languages. Labana zorrotza — a sharp knife: the first safety rule
- irakinboilBoth to boil (cooking) and to boil (water): the water boils by itself, no cook needed. Ura irakiten du — the water boils, auxiliary like the weather's
- frijitufryA loan from Spanish freír, as elsewhere. Frijituta — fried: the -ta form divides feelings and food alike
- labean eginbakeLiterally 'to do in the oven': labe — 'oven' + -ean, the local case. Bread and fish here are 'done in the oven', no separate verb
- moztucutBoth to cut and to shorten: from motz — 'short' of this wave. Moztu behar da — needs a cut or a trim: context tells
- lapikoapotA native word, old and homely. Lapiko — the iron pot and the kettle alike: in the village one vessel cooked everything
- zartaginafrying panA native word, not the Spanish sartén. The dictionaries also keep zartagin: both forms, same thing
- plakastove (hotplate)A loan from Spanish placa: a stove here is a 'plate'. The fire on it is sua: sua piztu — turn on the stove
- plateraplateA loan from the French plat through the neighbors. Soon the same word returns as 'dish': the plate IS the dish
- katiluacupBoth the cup and the bowl: soup is eaten from katilua too. No handle — bowl, with handle — cup: context tells
- edalontziaglassLiterally 'the drinking one': edan — 'to drink' + the device tail. A glass here is a 'drinking device', like the lift is 'the raiser'
- koilaraspoonA native word. Koilara-handia — the tablespoon, literally 'big spoon': size is added by a word here
- sardexkaforkA diminutive of sarda — 'a shoal of fish': the fork here is 'toothed', like the hay forks. A pretty memory of the village inside the kitchen
- botilabottleA borrowing, as elsewhere. Botila bat ur — a bottle of water: the request for any heat wave
- hozkailuafridgeLiterally 'the cold device': hotz + -gailu. Like igogailua — the lift of wave 1: -gailu makes machines out of words
- zapianapkinFrom zapi — 'a cloth, a kerchief': the napkin here is 'the table's kerchief'. With the same zapik children wipe their mouths
- kantimorrakettleAn old word for a spouted vessel: jug and kettle are one vessel here. For the electric kettle they also say the borrowing berogailua
- bandexatrayA loan from Spanish bandeja: the Basque x reads as 'sh'. The tray here is 'bandesha' — the word adapted to the language
- beroahotThe same word as 'it's hot' of wave 1: beroa da — it's hot, zopa beroa da — the soup is hot. Weather and food share one thermometer
- hotzacoldPartner of beroa: hotza da — it's cold, ura hotza da — the water is cold. From it, hozkailua — this wave's fridge
- goseahungryLiterally 'the hunger': Gosea dut — 'I have hunger', I'm hungry. Basque has everything — pain, fear and hunger
- zaporeatasteBoth the taste of food and of a person: zapore ona du — tasty and 'in good taste'. Careful: zopa is soup, don't mix
- gatzatsuasaltyLiterally 'salt-full': gatz + -tsu. The suffix -tsu means 'rich in', as in haizetsu — windy
- garratzasourA native word with a trill. Garratz — both sour and acrid: vinegar is ozpina, but they'd also say ardo garratza
- mingotsabitterLiterally 'tongue-sweet': mihi + gozo. The bitterness is named with irony: sweet to the tongue — bitter to the person
- pikanteaspicyA loan from Spanish picante, from picar — 'to sting'. The spicy here 'stings', like this wave's mosquito
- aseafull (fed)The form 'being fed': Asea nago — I'm full. The proverb says ase arte jan — eat till full: 'till the brim'
- probatutaste (try)The same verb as 'try on' of this wave: you try clothes and soup alike. Taste here is checked like a size
- menuamenuA borrowing, as elsewhere. Menua is also the set lunch of the day: gaurko menua — today's menu, the best value
- zerbitzariawaiterFrom zerbitzu — 'service': the waiter here is 'the serving one'. Basque has no gender: a waitress is zerbitzaria too
- eskaerathe orderFrom eska — 'request': an order here is a 'request' dressed as a document. Eskaera egin — to place an order and file an application at once
- eskatuto orderTo ask, to order and to ask permission: one verb for all things polite. Eskatzen duzu? — 'are you ordering?' — the waiter's question
- plateradishThe same word as 'plate' of this wave: the dish is what's on the plate. Gaurko platera — the dish of the day
- razioaportionA loan from Spanish ración: in Basque bars you order razioak — portions to share. Media razioa — half a portion
- bi pertsonentako mahaiatable for twoLiterally 'a table for-two people': pertsona + -entzat, 'for'. The request of the first minute in a restaurant
- postreadessertA loan from Spanish postre. To the question postrea? — 'dessert?' — the honest answer is often frutak, eskerrik asko
- haragirik gabewithout meatLiterally 'without any meat': the partitive -rik + gabe. The restaurant phrase; the same build works for 'sugar-free' — azukrerik gabe
- propinatipA loan from Spanish propina, said honestly so. There is no native word — in the country they leave the same as the neighbors do
- makarroiakmacaroniA loan from the Spanish macarrones, openly admitted. Macaroni here always comes in the plural: makarroiak
- jogurtayogurtA loan from the Spanish yogur, openly admitted. On the breakfast table — with fruit
- esnegainacreamLiterally 'the milk's top': esnea — 'milk' + gaina — 'top'. Cream here is what floats up — a picture of a word
- izozkiaice creamLiterally 'the frozen thing': izotz — 'ice' + -ki. Named by the technology, no poetry
- txokolateachocolateA loan from the Spanish chocolate, openly admitted. Dark chocolate here is txokolate beltza — 'black'
- gailetacookieA loan from the Spanish galleta, openly admitted. Cookies here go with tea — tearekin
- behi-haragiabeefLiterally 'cow's meat': behi — 'cow' + haragia — 'meat'. Meat names here are honest: whose it is, you hear at once
- ardi-haragialambLiterally 'sheep's meat': ardia — 'sheep' + haragia. The same sheep gives the famous cheese — ardi-gazta
- gambakshrimpsA loan from the Spanish gamba, openly admitted. Shrimps here always come in the plural: gambak
- mahatsagrapesA native word, old: mahats — grapes; the harvest is mahats-bilketa. In autumn the whole farm waits for it
- pepinoacucumberA loan from the Spanish pepino, openly admitted. The cucumber here crunches summer-style
- azacabbageA native word, short: aza; the head of it is aza-buru — 'cabbage-head'. The winter vegetable of these latitudes
- baratxuriagarlicLiterally 'the garden's bulb': baratz — 'garden' + -turi. A clove here is ale bat — 'a little grain'
- kuiapumpkinA native word, botanical: kuia; its soup is kuia-zopa. In autumn it replaces the whole decoration scene here
- berenjenaeggplantA loan from the Spanish berenjena, openly admitted. Baked in the oven here — labean
- limoialemonA loan (related to our 'lemon'), openly admitted. Lemonade here is limoi-ura — 'lemon water'
- sandiawatermelonA loan from the Spanish sandía, openly admitted. Kept in the fridge here — hozkailuan
- marrubiastrawberryA native word, old: marrubi; the berries go in the plural — marrubiak. The first berry of the season
- udareapearA native word: udare; ripeness here is heldua — 'ripened'. It falls to the floor with the same word as autumn
- mertxikapeachA native word: mertxika; also said muxika. Fuzzy, sweet, July — a word as soft as the fruit
- errezetarecipeA loan from the Spanish receta, openly admitted. Mom's is amaren errezeta
- barazkiak zuritupeel the vegetablesLiterally 'to whiten the vegetables': barazkiak — 'vegetables' + zuritu — 'to peel', from zuri — 'white'. Peeling here is 'making white'
- irakinboil (water)The same word as 'to cook by boiling' — context splits them: irakin is both to boil and to boil (of water). Ura irakiten du — the water boils
- nahastumixA native word: to mix, stir — and to confuse. The dough and the plans get mixed up identically here
- gazituadd saltFrom gatz — 'salt' + -itu: to salt is 'to make salty'. The advice is the same in every language: little — you can always add
- berotuheat upFrom bero — 'hot' + -tu: to heat up is 'to make hot'. Yesterday's soup lives thanks to it
- hoztucool downFrom hotz — 'cold' + -tu: to cool is 'to make cold'. Partner of berotu — the same formula, two poles
- arrautzak irabiatubeat the eggsLiterally 'to whip the eggs': irabiatu — 'to whisk', a native word. The whisk is irabiadera — 'the whipper'
- ura gehituadd waterLiterally 'to add the water': gehitu — 'to add', the same as in gehigarria — 'the additive'. The water goes in last — so they teach
- parrillan erregosito grillLiterally 'to roast on the grill': parrilla — 'the grate' (a loan, admitted) + -n, 'on'. Fish on the coast is cooked only this way
- laboaovenA native word: the oven; the bakery is labitegia — 'the oven's place'. Bread and tarts live there
- mikrouhin-labeamicrowaveLiterally 'micro-wave oven': the loan mikro + uhin — 'wave' + the native labo. The name is a physics textbook in two words
- birringailuagraterFrom birrin — 'grated' + -gailu, 'device', like garbigailua. Grated cheese here is gazta birrindua
- burruntzalialadleA native word: as round as the thing itself. The soup is served with exactly it
- tapalidA loan from the Spanish tapa, openly admitted. Tapa-rekin estalita — 'covered with the lid': it comes to the boil faster so
- mozteko taulacutting boardLiterally 'the for-cutting board': moztu — 'to cut' + -teko, 'for' + taula — 'board'. The name is an instruction for use
- aurrejantziaapronLiterally 'front-clothing': aurre — 'front' + jantzi — 'clothes'. Honestly named: clothing for the front of you
- mahai-gainatableclothLiterally 'the table's top': mahai — 'table' + gaina — 'top', the same as in esnegaina. The tablecloth here is the 'table-top'
- batidoreablenderA loan from the Spanish batidora — 'the whipper', openly admitted. Smoothies are its business
- janari-kutxafood containerLiterally 'food's box': janaria — 'food' + kutxa — 'box'. The lunch box, named without brands
- kontsumitze-datause-by dateLiterally 'the consuming's date': kontsumitu — 'to consume' (a loan, admitted) + -tzea + data. On the packaging look for BBO — 'best before'
- hondatu dait has gone offFrom hondatu — 'to spoil': the same word as hondatuta — 'spoiled'. The milk 'smells' — usaintsen du — and that's the diagnosis
- latacan (tin)A loan from the Spanish lata — 'a tin', openly admitted. Canned goods here are latak: beans, tuna, tomatoes
- paketeapacketThe same word as 'parcel' — context tells: the shop packet is also a paketea. Coffee, pasta, cookies — all in packets
- gehigarriaadditiveFrom gehitu — 'to add' + -arri: an additive here is 'an addition'. In the ingredients look for gehigarririk gabe — 'without additives'
- eramatekoto take awayLiterally 'for-the-carrying': eraman — 'to carry' + -teko, 'for'. Takeaway here is simply the purpose of the verb
- azukrerik gabesugar-freeLiterally 'sugar-without': azukrea — 'sugar' + -rik + gabe — the wave-5 construction. Tea, coffee and life — all possible this way
- Begetarianoa naizI'm a vegetarianA loan from Latin through the Spanish vegetariano, openly admitted. A ready phrase: a woman says it too — no need to adjust
- Alergia dut fruitu lehorrekikoI'm allergic to nutsLiterally 'allergy I-have to-dry-fruits': alergia — a loan (admitted), fruitu lehorrak — nuts, literally 'dry fruits'. The obligatory restaurant phrase
- On egin!enjoy your mealLiterally 'do well!': the table formula, like the French bon appétit. Said about work and sleep too — 'do well' covers all
- gordinunripeThe same word as 'raw' — context splits them: unripe here is fruit that hasn't ripened. Pair with heldu — 'ripe'
- ustelarottenFrom ustel — 'rot': rotten here is fruit that has gone off. Such things head for the bin: ustela dago — it has spoiled
- gazitastes saltyFrom gatz — 'salt' (this course): salty to the taste, steeped in salt. Gaziegi — too salty: the -egi of 'too'
- gazigabeblandLiterally 'salt-less': gazi + gabe, 'without'. Bland here is what never got its salt
- pikanteahot (spicy)The same word as 'sharp' — context splits them: spicy to the taste covers peppers and sauces. When it burns, min ematen du — it gives pain
- koipetsuafattyLiterally 'full of fat': koipe — 'fat' + -tsu, abundance. Fatty here is about meat and broth, not people
- koipegabealeanLiterally 'fat-less': koipe + gabe. Lean here is a skinny cut, flesh alone
- txerrikiaporkFrom txerri — 'pig' + -ki, 'meat': pork here is literally 'pig meat'. Built the same way: oilaskoa — chicken, ahatea — duck
- oilaskoachicken (meat)Literally 'little hen': oilo — 'hen' + -txo, the diminutive. On the plate it's always oilaskoa; the live one in the yard is oiloa
- ahateaduckA native word: ahate, the live bird and the dish alike. The quack is 'kuak': ahatea ku-ku egiten du
- haragi xehatuaminced meatLiterally 'chopped meat': haragia — 'meat' (this course) + xehatu — 'to mince'. Minced meat here is for cutlets and pasta
- urdaiazpikoahamLiterally 'pig's under-leg': urdail — 'ham leg' + azpi — 'under'. Ham here is the famous leg that cures for years
- saltxitxasausageA loan from French saucisse, openly admitted. A sausage here — on the grill or in dough: saltxitxa opil bat
- atunatunaA loan from Spanish atún, openly admitted. Tuna here is the pride of the Biscay coast: they fish it from May on
- izokinasalmonA native word: izokin, the salmon that runs up the region's rivers. Red at the cut: barrutik gorria
- gambaprawnA loan from Spanish gamba, openly admitted. A prawn here — pink and on the plate: gambak gorriak
- itsaskiakseafoodLiterally 'sea edibles': itsaso — 'sea' (this course) + -ski, 'food'. Seafood here always comes in the plural
- aranaplumA native word: aran, an old tree at every farmhouse. Prunes are the same word dried: aran pasiak
- framboesaraspberryA loan from Spanish frambuesa, openly admitted. Don't mix it with marrubia — 'strawberry'
- meloiamelonA loan from Latin melo, openly admitted. A summer melon, from the garden: meloia gozoa da udan
- granadapomegranateA loan from Spanish granada, openly admitted. A pomegranate is full of seeds: hazi betea — 'full of seeds'
- ananasapineappleA loan via Spanish, openly admitted. A pineapple here is a treat from far away
- mandarinamandarinA loan from Spanish mandarina, openly admitted. The mandarin is the winter smell of home: neguko usaina
- kibiakiwiA loan from English kiwi, openly admitted. Grey outside, green inside: kanpotik grisa, barrutik berdea
- aguakateaavocadoA loan from Spanish aguacate, openly admitted. Avocado goes on bread and into salad: ogi gainean
- mahats pasakraisinsLiterally 'dried grapes': mahatsa — 'grapes' (this course) + pasa — 'dried'. Raisins go in the pie and in the porridge
- pikuafigA native word: piku, both the tree and the fruit. Dried, it is the winter sweet: piku pasiak gabonetan — dried figs at Christmas
- piperrabell pepperThe same word as 'pepper' — context splits them: bell pepper here is the fleshy one, for salad and roasting. The hot one is piper mina
- kalabazinazucchiniLiterally 'little pumpkin': kalabaza — 'pumpkin' + -in, the diminutive. A zucchini is a pumpkin's babyhood
- erremolatxabeetA loan from Spanish remolacha, openly admitted. A beet stains everything it can reach: the salad, and your hands
- rabanoaradishA loan from Spanish rábano, openly admitted. The radish is the early bird of the garden: lehenengoa lorategian
- belarrakherbsLiterally 'grasses': related to belarra — 'grass' (this course). Herbs here are a bunch for the soup: belar onak — 'good herbs'
- anetoadillA loan from Spanish eneldo, openly admitted. Dill goes with fish and pickles: arrainarekin ona da
- perrexinaparsleyA loan from Spanish perejil, openly admitted. Parsley goes into every pot: denetan sartzen da
- jengibreagingerA loan from Spanish jengibre, openly admitted. Ginger is a root with fire in it: sukoa du barruan
- artoacornA native word: before the Americas, arto meant millet. From it, arto puztua — 'puffed corn', popcorn
- espinakakspinachA loan from Spanish espinaca, openly admitted; plural, like grass in a bunch. Spinach here is green and quick
- opilabunFrom ogi — 'bread' (this course) + -il: a bun is a small, soft bread. With morning coffee: opila berotua — a warm bun
- pastelapieThe same word as 'cake' — context splits them: a pie here is a baked slab with a filling, fish or meat
- gozokiapastryLiterally 'sweet thing': gozo — 'sweet' + -ki. A pastry here is a single one, with coffee: gozoki bat kafearekin
- bunueloakdoughnutsA loan from Spanish buñuelo, openly admitted. Doughnuts here are fair food: jaietan saltzen dira — sold at festivals
- labekoabaked goodsLiterally 'of the oven': labe — 'oven' (this course). Baked goods is everything that came out of it: buns, pies, doughnuts
- marmeladajamA loan from Spanish mermelada, openly admitted. Jam goes with the morning bun: opilarekin goizean
- xiropasyrupA loan from Spanish jarabe/sirope, openly admitted. Syrup here is sweet and thick: urarekin nahasten da — you mix it with water
- arto puztuapopcornLiterally 'puffed corn': artoa — 'corn' + puztu — 'to puff up'. A grain that popped from the heat
- xipsoakchipsA loan from English chips, openly admitted; plural — nobody eats chips one at a time. They crunch: krak-krak
- xikleachewing gumA loan from Spanish chicle, openly admitted. Gum lives in the mouth, not on the plate: ahoan du — he has it in his mouth
- limonadalemonadeA loan from Spanish limonada, openly admitted. A summer drink: hotza udan — cold in summer
- ur mineralamineral waterLiterally 'mineral water': ura — 'water' (this course). Mineral here means from the spring: iturburutik dator
- gasdun urasparkling waterLiterally 'water with gas': -dun — 'which has' (this course). Partner: ur lasaia — still water, the quiet one
- koktelacocktailA loan from English cocktail, openly admitted. With umbrella or without: fruit or alcohol
- kakaoacocoaA loan from Spanish cacao, openly admitted. The evening cocoa is thick and hot: beroa eta lodia
- hauts kafeainstant coffeeLiterally 'powder coffee': hauts — 'dust, powder'. Instant here is a spoon and boiling water: ready with hot water
- te poltsatxoatea bagLiterally 'tea little bag': poltsa — 'bag' (this course) + -txo. A bag with a string, one per cup
- irakindako uraboiling waterLiterally 'boiled water': irakin — 'to boil' (this course). Boiling water is for tea, not for hands: ez ukitu! — don't touch!
- alkoholaalcoholA loan from Arabic, openly admitted. On the label: alkoholik gabe — alcohol-free
- edariabeverageFrom edan — 'to drink' (this course): a beverage is any 'drinking thing'. Edari hotzak — cold drinks
- gosaltuhave breakfastFrom gosaria — 'breakfast' (this course): literally 'to feed on breakfast'. Present: gosaltzen dut
- bazkalduhave lunchFrom bazkaria — 'lunch' (this course): the main meal, at two o'clock. Present: bazkaltzen dugu
- afalduhave dinnerFrom afaria — 'dinner' (this course): dinner here is late, at nine. Present: afaltzen dugu
- hamaiketakoamid-morning snackLiterally 'the eleven-o'clock thing': hamaika — 'eleven'. A snack between breakfast and lunch, school-style
- goseahungerThe same word as 'hungry' — context splits them: hunger here is the feeling itself, the one you 'have'. Gose handia dut — 'I have a big hunger'
- egarriathirstA native word: egarri. Egarri naiz — 'I am thirsty'. Partner of gosea — 'hunger': one for food, one for water
- bazkari atsedenaldialunch breakLiterally 'lunch's rest': atsedenaldia — 'break', the rest hour (this course). The lunch break runs from two to three, a sacred hour
- Gosea dut.I'm hungryLiterally 'I have hunger': Basque doesn't feel hunger, it HAS it. Same for women and men — the verb doesn't change
- Egarri naiz.I'm thirstyLiterally 'I am thirst': egarri behaves like an adjective. Egarri naiz, ura mesedez — I'm thirsty, water please
- Asetuta nago.I'm fullLiterally 'I find myself sated': asetu — 'to be sated' + -ta. 'I'm full' here is the polite refusal of seconds
- Menua, mesedez?the menu, please?Literally 'menu, please?': menua is a loan from French. You can also ask: menua ekarriko didazu? — will you bring me the menu?
- Zer gomendatzen didazue?what do you recommend?Literally 'what do you recommend to me?': gomendatu is a loan from Latin. The dative -t shows it is ME they are advising
- Berdina nentzat.the same for meLiterally 'the same for me': berdin — 'the same' (this course) + -ntzat, 'for'. Said second, without even opening the menu
- Bi kafe, mesedez.two coffees, pleaseAfter a number the article drops: bi kafe, not kafeak — just like biehun euro. The number and the politeness stand side by side
- Ur gehiago, mesedez?more water, pleaseLiterally 'more water, please?': gehiago — 'more', from gehi. You ask for a refill with one word
- Ez dut hau eskatu.I didn't order thisLiterally 'I didn't have this ordered': eskatu — 'to ask, order' (this course). Here the past has its own auxiliary: nuen
- Hemen ala eramateko?for here or to go?Literally 'here or for carrying?': eramateko — 'in order to carry it' (the -tzeko). The two answers are hemen or eramateko
- izotzirik gabeno iceLiterally 'without an ice cube': izotz — 'ice' (this course) + -rik + gabe. The -rik particle leaves not a single cube
- esnearekinwith milkLiterally 'with the milk': esnea — 'milk' (this course) + -rekin, the 'together-with' marker. Partner of izotzirik gabe: 'with' and 'without', both as tails
- mahaia erreserbatubook a tableLiterally 'to reserve the table': erreserbatu is a loan from Spanish reservar, openly admitted. The table is the same mahaia as 'table'
- izozkailuafreezer (compartment)The same word as 'freezer' — context splits them: here it's the fridge's frosty compartment. From izoztu — 'to freeze'
- kafe makinacoffee machineLiterally 'coffee machine': kafea + makina. The morning starts with it
- edukiontziacontainerLiterally 'the containing vessel': eduki — 'to contain' + -ontzi, 'vessel'. Food is kept in them: elikagaiak edukiontzietan
- onilabowlA native word: wider than katilua — 'the cup'. You stir and whisk in it: zopa nahasteko
- platertxoasaucerThe diminutive of platera — 'plate': a saucer is a 'little plate'. The cat's milk goes into it
- kikaramugA loan from Spanish jícara, openly admitted. In a mug the coffee is wider and cozier than in a cup
- kopagobletA native word: a goblet (and the trophy — sport, by the same token). For wine: ardo kopa bat
- esponjaspongeA loan from Spanish esponja, openly admitted. The sponge washes the dishes and drinks the water
- pintzaclothespinA loan from Spanish pinza, openly admitted. The clothespin holds the laundry on the line: sokaieran
- te ontzia jarriput the kettle onLiterally 'to put the tea vessel': tea — 'tea' + ontzia. Guests arrive — the first thing is putting the kettle on
- fideoaknoodlesA loan from Spanish fideos, openly admitted. Noodles are flour's threads: thrown into the soup at the last minute
- gurinabutterA native word: made from milk. Spread on warm bread: gurina zabaltzen diot ogiari
- landare olioavegetable oilLiterally 'plants' oil': landarea — 'plant' + olioa. You fry on it: zartaginera botatzen dut
- oreadoughA native word: flour, water and salt. To knead is orea astindu: hands to work
- zopa lodiaporridgeLiterally 'thick soup': lodia — 'thick'. Basque porridge is described just so: made of flour, eaten with a spoon
- zerealakcerealA loan from Spanish cereales, openly admitted. Cereal is breakfast with milk: zerealak esnearekin
- dilistaklentilsA native word: dilista. It cooks in half an hour: ordu erdiz egosi — and a hearty soup is ready
- ilarrakchickpeasA native word: ilar — chickpea (and the pea, by the same token). Grandma adds it to the broth with vegetables
- amandoaalmondA loan from Spanish almendra, openly admitted. The almond is the star of sweet baking: on top of the cake
- kakahueteapeanutA borrowing, openly admitted. Peanuts are for the cinema and the party: salted, in a little bag
- espeziaspice (single)The same word as 'spices' — context splits them: a spice here is one jar: cinnamon, black pepper
- onzigarriaseasoningLiterally 'goodness-making': on — 'good' + -garri. The seasoning makes the dish better: zaporea ematen du
- ozpinavinegarA native word: made from wine. A salad isn't itself without it: olioa eta ozpina — oil and vinegar
- salsasauceA loan from Spanish salsa, openly admitted. The sauce dresses the dish: tomato, hot, for fish
- ketsupaketchupA borrowing, openly admitted. Ketchup is sweet tomato sauce: with fries — a classic
- maionesamayonnaiseA loan from Spanish mayonesa, openly admitted. Mayo is a sauce of eggs and oil: salads are dressed with it
- mostazamustardA loan from Spanish mostaza, openly admitted. Mustard is hot and yellow: for sausage and meat
- kanelacinnamonA loan from Spanish canela, openly admitted. Cinnamon is sweet baking's friend: sprinkled on top of rice pudding
- piper beltzablack pepperLiterally 'pepper black': piperra + beltza. Grind it just before eating: the aroma doesn't last
- saldabrothA native word: the water where meat or vegetables cooked. The soup's soul — nothing without it
- pitxerrajugA native word: pitxer — water, wine or juice live in it. It stands on the table: mahai gainean
- termosathermosA borrowing, openly admitted. In the thermos the tea stays hot even in the mountains
- azukre ontziasugar bowlLiterally 'sugar's vessel': azukrea + -ontzi. It lives next to the coffee: kafe kikararen ondoan
- mahai tresnakcutleryLiterally 'the table's tools': mahaia + tresna — 'tool'. Spoon, fork, knife — all at once
- koilaratxoateaspoonThe diminutive of koilara — 'spoon': a 'spoonlet'. Sugar and coffee are measured with it: bat ala bi? — one or two?
- sopa koilaratablespoonLiterally 'soup's spoon': the tablespoon is for soup; the spoonlet (koilaratxoa) is for coffee. A pair by size
- pajitadrinking strawA loan from Spanish pajita, openly admitted. The straw is how you drink juice: colored ones at children's parties
- parrillagrillA loan from Spanish parrilla, openly admitted. The grill is a grate over coals: fish and meat smell of summer
- hamaiketakoaappetizerThe same word as 'mid-morning snack' — context splits them: here it's the snack with a drink while you wait for the main
- garnizioagarnishA borrowing, openly admitted. The garnish accompanies the main: potatoes, vegetables, rice
- erretaroastedFrom erretu — 'to roast'. Roasted here means with a crust: piper erreak — roasted peppers, the salad classic
- irakindaboiledFrom irakin — 'to boil'. Boiled is in hot water: an egg, a potato, vegetables
- lehortuadriedThe same word as 'withered' — context splits them: dried here is on purpose, for keeping: dried fruit, dried vegetables
- izoztutafrozenLiterally 'finds itself frozen': izoztu + -ta. Frozen comes from the freezer: fish, vegetables, pizza
- prestaready (dish)A native word: prest — ready: bazkaria prest dago — lunch is ready. All that's left is serving
- naturalanaturalA loan from Spanish natural, openly admitted. Natural means no additives: juice from fresh apples, farm produce
- gogorrastrong (tea)The same word as 'hard' — context splits them: strong here is tea and coffee: long brewed, strength in the cup
- etxekoahomemadeLiterally 'of the house': etxea + -ko. Homemade is like mom's: etxeko bazkaria — a home lunch
- azalapeelThe same word as 'skin' and 'cover' — context splits them: the peel here is the fruit's or potato's outer layer
- hezurtxoapit (of fruit)The diminutive of hezur — 'bone': the pit of a cherry, plum, apricot. Don't swallow it: ez jan!
How it sounds in a sentence
A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.
What is worth knowing about these words
kafea — coffee. The article -a has grown onto the end: kafe+a. You order without it: kafe bat — one coffee
tea — tea. Te + the article a = 'tea' — only the pronunciation tells it apart from the English word
ura — water. A two-letter word, ur — and even it wears the article: ur+a. In Bilbao you ask for it just as short: ur bat
ogia — bread. Ogi + a. The bakery in Basque is okela — a native word, not the Spanish one
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “coffee” in Basque?
The article -a has grown onto the end: kafe+a. You order without it: kafe bat — one coffee
- How do you say “fruit” in Basque?
A collective in the plural: fruta + ak. One piece of fruit is fruta bat
- How do you say “tasty” in Basque?
With the article: goxo+a. Basque doesn't split 'tasty right now' from 'tasty always' — goxoa is just goxoa
- How do you say “dinner” in Basque?
Both the meal and the verb's root: afaltzen dugu bederatzietan — we dine at nine. Dinner in the Basque Country comes later than you're used to
- How do you say “potato” in Basque?
A borrowing, as elsewhere: the word left the Americas through Spanish. Patata frijituak — fried potatoes, the bars' national food
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
A menu, a market, a shop sign, the question “what is this?”. Food is the most frequent subject of the first weeks and the safest excuse to start talking.
A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.
- Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many timesAdesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
- This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many timesMawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.
Frequently asked
How do you say “coffee” in Basque?
«kafea». The article -a has grown onto the end: kafe+a. You order without it: kafe bat — one coffee. It is one of 254 words in the set “food and drink” — the rest are in the table above.
How many food words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 254 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.