Time, days and hours in Basque

149 words on the topic

• goiza

  morning

  Goiz is 'early' and 'morning'; goiza wears the article. Goiz argitu — daybreak, literally 'the morning lightens': a phrase from a song
• egun

  day

  A familiar word: egun on — good morning — comes from it. Egunero — every day, literally 'day-ly'
• gaur

  today

  Gaur gauean — tonight, literally 'today in the night': the word is glued from gau — 'night'
• bihar

  tomorrow

  From bi — 'two' and egun — 'day': tomorrow is the 'second day'. The day before yesterday, herenegun, counts the other way
• atzo

  yesterday

  Atzo — yesterday, gaur — today, bihar — tomorrow: the trio that opens any schedule
• arratsaldea

  evening

  Stretches from lunch to dark — the second half of the day and early evening in one. After dark, gaua begins
• gaua

  night

  Gabon — 'good night' — comes from it: gau + on. Dinner at ten already counts as gauetan
• ordua

  hour

  Both the hour as a measure and the time on the clock: Zer ordu da? — literally 'what hour is it?' — through izan, not egon
• denbora

  time

  Time in Basque is what you have: denbora dut — 'I have time', literally 'time I have'. People ask denbora duzu? — 'do you have time?' more often than denbora al dago?
• lehenik

  first of all

  From lehen — 'first' + -ik: 'firstly-ish'. It opens the list: Lehenik… bigarrenik… — and the listener is already building the plan
• bigarrenik

  secondly

  From bigarren — 'second' + -ik. Partner of lehenik: without it the first one feels superfluous
• batez ere

  mainly

  Literally 'mostly also': batez — from bat — 'one' + -ez, 'by'. Mainly here is 'chiefly': this is how the question about work gets answered
• horrez gain

  besides

  Literally 'over that': hori — 'that' + -rez, 'by' + gain — 'top'. Besides here is 'on top of that': the argument comes as a second layer
• bide batez

  by the way

  Literally 'by the road, saying it': bidea — 'road'. By the way here is 'en route': the thought came along the way — and was said
• oro har

  in general

  Literally 'taking all': oro — 'all' + har — from hartu — 'to take'. In general here is 'taking it all': long stories end this way
• laburbilduta

  in short

  From labur — 'short' + -bildu — 'gather' + -uta: in short here is 'gathered into the short'. The gathered story fits one phrase
• beste hitzetan

  in other words

  Literally 'in other words': hitz — 'word'. Translated word for word — a rare gift for the learner
• garrantzitsuena

  the main thing

  From garrantzitsua — 'important' + -en, the superlative: the main thing in one word. Put at the start of the conclusion — and the argument is over
• azkenean

  in the end

  Literally 'in the last': azken — 'last' + -ean, 'in'. In the end here is 'at the end': a long road, one full stop
• nahiz eta

  even if

  Literally 'even and': the conjunction of concession, related to this unit's -arren grammar. It unfolds the sentence: first the concession, then the will
• truke

  but in return

  A loan from the Spanish trueque — 'exchange', openly admitted. 'But' here is 'in exchange': expensive, but in return — quality
• alderantziz

  the other way around

  Literally 'side-to-side': alde — 'side' + -rantz — 'toward'. The other way around here — about time and about the shirt on backwards alike
• izan arren

  despite

  Literally 'being even': arren — this unit's grammar, here with izan. 'Despite' in short: euria izan arren — despite the rain
• aldiz

  however

  A native word: however and 'for its part' at once. Don't mix with aldizka — 'from time to time': one letter, two meanings
• alde batetik

  on the one hand

  Literally 'from the one side' — word for word: alde — 'side' + batetik — 'from one'. Always in a pair: without alde bestetik it's an orphan
• alde bestetik

  on the other hand

  Literally 'from the other side': bestetik — 'from the other'. The second pan of the scales: Alde batetik… alde bestetik… — and the decision is clearer
• hala ere

  nevertheless

  Literally 'so even': hala — 'so' + ere — 'even, too'. Nevertheless here is 'even so': the obstacle is named — and forward anyway
• horren ordez

  instead

  Literally 'of that instead': ordez — from ordeztu — 'to replace'. Instead here is literally 'in exchange for that' — plan B in two words
• berdin dit

  I don't care

  Literally 'it's the same to me': berdin — 'the same' + dit — 'to me'. 'Whatever' here is 'indifferently': a dare and a philosophy in two words
• hasieran

  at first

  Literally 'in the beginning': hasiera — 'beginning' + -n. At first here is 'at the start': of a story, a film and a hard job
• geroago

  later

  From gero — 'then' + -ago, 'further': later here is 'a bit later'. A pause word: first the coffee, geroago — the whole life
• horren ondoren

  after that

  Literally 'after that': ondoren — from ondo — 'behind, following'. After that here is 'in the wake of that': an event hooks onto an event
• azkenik

  finally

  From azken — 'last' + -ik: finally here is 'lastly'. The full stop of the list: lehenik… geroago… azkenik — and the story is rounded off
• bitartean

  while

  Literally 'in the interval': bitarte — 'interval' + -n. Two actions share one time here: duzun bitartean — while you do it
• aldi berean

  at the same time

  Literally 'in the very same time': aldi — 'a time', bere — 'the same'. Simultaneously: hands, head and conversation — all at once
• aurretik

  before (doing)

  Literally 'from the front side': aurre — 'front' + -tik, 'from'. Before here is 'earlier': atera aurretik — before going out
• ondoren

  after (doing)

  Literally 'behind, following': ondo — 'behind'. After here is 'in the wake of': amaitu ondoren — after finishing
• bezain laster

  as soon as

  Literally 'as soon': bezain — 'as much as' + laster — 'soon'. The formula of instant reaction: iristen den bezain laster — as soon as I arrive
• harrezkero

  since then

  Literally 'from that time': hari — 'that' + -rez + -kero, 'from the spell'. One word carrying a whole era: 'since then' — and everything changed
• beti

  always

  A native word: always and forever at once. Beti is the favorite word of reproaches and oaths: Beti berandu! and Beti zurekin
• askotan

  often

  Literally 'in many times': asko — 'many' + -tan, 'in'. Frequency here is counted in times: often is many times, rarely is few times
• gutxitan

  rarely

  Literally 'in few times': gutxi — 'few' + -tan. Partner of askotan: one letter shifted the scale — from 'often' to 'rarely'
• batzuetan

  sometimes

  Literally 'in some times': batzuk — 'some' + -tan. Sometimes here is 'in other times': the honest middle between beti and inoiz ez
• inoiz ez

  never

  Literally 'ever not': inoiz — 'ever', ez — 'not'. The double negation is obligatory: inoiz ez dut — 'I never do'
• normalean

  usually

  A loan from the Latin normalis + -ean, openly admitted. Usually here is 'in the norm': stories about one's day start this way
• luze

  long (for a time)

  The same word as 'long', without the article — an adverb: luze hitz egin — to speak long. Length works in space and in time alike
• aldi bakoitzean

  every time

  Literally 'in each time': aldi — 'a time' + bakoitza — 'each'. Every time here is 'in every spell': and again the same thing
• aldizka

  from time to time

  From aldi — 'a time' + -ka, 'in portions': time from time here is 'time after time'. Don't mix with aldiz — 'however': the suffix decides everything
• orain arte

  so far

  Literally 'until now': orain — 'now' + arte — 'until', the same as gaur arte — 'until today'. So far is the border: everything before it — the past
• bat-batean

  suddenly

  Literally 'in one': bat — 'one', doubled for sharpness. Suddenly here is 'in one instant': thunder, the bell and the news all arrive bat-batean
• aurrez

  in advance

  Literally 'in-front-ly': aurre — 'front' + -z, 'by'. In advance here is 'ahead': tickets are bought and tables booked this way
• garaiz

  on time

  Literally 'in-spell-ly': garai — 'a spell, a time' + -z. On time here is 'in one's spell': come garaiz — and the door is still open
• presaz

  urgently

  A loan from the Spanish prisa — 'haste' + -z, openly admitted. Urgently here is 'with haste': the doctor and the airline get called this way
• berehala

  right away

  A native word: right away and immediately at once, from bere — 'one's own'. The answer came berehala — of itself, on the spot
• apurka-apurka

  gradually

  Literally 'bit by bit': zati — 'a piece', apur — 'a broken-off bit' + -ka. Gradually here is 'piece by piece': a language is learned exactly so
• kasualitatez

  by chance

  A loan from the Spanish casualidad, openly admitted; related to kasua — 'case'. By chance here is 'by-case': finds and meetings come this way
• nahita

  on purpose

  From nahi — 'wish' + -ta: on purpose here is 'by wish'. The opposite of kasualitatez: one — you wanted it, the other — it happened itself
• azken unean

  at the last moment

  Literally 'in the last instant': une — 'instant', a loan from Latin, openly admitted. All purchases and decisions live in the azken unean
• goiz edo berandu

  sooner or later

  Literally 'early or late' — word for word: goiz — 'early', berandu — 'late'. The formula of consolation and prediction: everything will come out goiz edo berandu
• mendea

  century

  A native word: a hundred years. Before the number Basque puts a dot: XXI. mendea — the twenty-first century
• aroa

  era

  A native word: a spell as a layer of time. Related to haurtzaroa — 'childhood' and gaztaroa — 'youth': everything on -aro — a life spell
• hamarkada

  decade

  The same word as 'a set of ten' — context splits them: ten items and ten years alike. The eighties are laurogeiko hamarkada
• aldia

  period

  A native word: a span, a term and a turn at once. With berean it gives 'simultaneously' — aldi berean
• unea

  instant

  A native word: a moment. Related to une hartan — 'at that instant': the instant everything happened
• iraunkorra

  prolonged

  The same word as 'durable' — context splits them: iraun is both to endure and to last. Long-lasting: a rain and a conversation alike
• egun hauetan

  these days (soon)

  Literally 'in these days': egun — 'day' + -tan. Around today: just now or very soon
• gaur egun

  nowadays

  Literally 'today now': two time words stacked. In contrast to before
• aspalditik

  since time immemorial

  Literally 'from long since': aspaldi — 'long ago' + -tik, 'from where'. From the very beginning of times
• minutu gutxi batzuetan

  in a matter of minutes

  Literally 'in few minutes': minutu — 'minute' + gutxi — 'few'. Count to three and it's ready
• egungoa

  modern

  From egun — 'day' + -go: 'today's', current. Partner of antzinakoa — 'the ancient'
• antzinakoa

  age-old

  The same word as 'olden' — context splits them: from the depths of centuries, about peoples and eras. From antzina — 'long ago'
• kondaira

  legend

  A native word: an old tale that goes from mouth to mouth. Related to kontatu — 'to tell'
• arbasoa

  ancestor

  A native word: 'the father's father'. Related to aita — 'father': the kin walks backward — arbasoak are those who were
• historikoa

  historic

  A loan from the Greek historia — 'an inquiring', openly admitted. Touching the past: a day, a center, a moment
• zaharkitu

  become outdated

  From zahar — 'old' + -kitu: 'to become old', to leave use. Phones and words zaharkitzen dira
• iragana

  the bygone

  The same word as 'the past' — context splits them: what went by and is sighed over. From igaro — 'to pass'
• urtekaria

  chronicle

  From urte — 'year' + -kari: 'the yearly' — what is written on year by year. The village and the school keep one
• indusketak

  excavations

  From indusi — 'to dig' + -keta, the action noun: digging, the earth removed layer by layer
• hondakin zaharrak

  ancient ruins

  Literally 'the old remains': hondakin — ruins and waste at once (next lesson is about waste). What remained of the walls
• noizbehinka

  occasionally

  From noizbait — 'sometime' + -ka: 'once-when', from time to time. Partner of etengabe — 'constantly'
• egunero

  daily

  From egun — 'day' + -ero, as urtero — 'every year': day after day
• aldiro

  regularly

  From aldi — 'a period' + -ro: period after period, without skips
• lehenengoz

  for the first time ever

  From lehenengo — 'first' + the instrumental -z: 'by the first'. Related to lehen aldiz — 'the first time'
• berriro

  anew

  From berri — 'new' + -ro: 'newly again'. Related to berriz — 'again' and berritu — 'to renew'
• gero eta sarriago

  more and more often

  Literally 'then and more-often': sarri — 'often' + the comparative -ago. One time after another, more often
• astegunetan

  on weekdays

  Literally 'in the week's days': aste — 'week' + egun — 'day'. Without Saturday and Sunday
• bat bai, bat ez

  every other time

  Literally 'one yes, one no': you take one, you leave the other. Luck and transport are often bat bai, bat ez
• urtean behin

  once a year

  Literally 'in the year one time': behin — 'once'. The holiday or the vacation you wait for all year
• behin eta berriz

  time and again

  Literally 'once and again': the same thing repeats without end. Basque loves such pairs: berriro eta berriro
• bitartean

  meanwhile

  The same word as 'while' — context splits them: filling the pause while another thing goes on. From bitarte — 'the interval'
• aldi berean

  in parallel

  The same pairing as 'simultaneously' — context splits them: two matters side by side, one not waiting for the other
• … arte

  until (then)

  The same postposition as 'until (doing)' — context splits them: a limit of time, not place. Gaueko hamarrera arte — 'until ten in the evening'
• ondoren

  afterwards

  The same word as 'after (doing)' — context splits them: years later, looking back. From ondoren — 'after'
• bezperan

  on the eve

  From bezpera — 'the eve, the evening before': the day before, preparations under way
• jarraian

  further on

  Literally 'in the continuation': jarraitu — 'to continue'. Further along the course of the matter
• oraingoan

  this time

  From orain — 'now' + -koan: by the present count, unlike the past ones
• denboran

  in due time

  Literally 'in time': in its own term, neither early nor late. Related to denbora — 'time'
• atzeratuta

  retroactively

  The same participle as 'put off': setting the date backward. Data atzeratuta jarri — 'to write the date retroactively'
• berehala

  without delay

  The same word as 'right away' — context splits them: not dragging a single second, carrying out the order as is
• errutina

  routine

  A loan from the French routine — 'a road with a rut', openly admitted. Every day the same: both comfort and cage
• egonkortasuna

  stability

  From egon — 'to stay' + -kor + -tasun: 'the standing-ness' — nothing wobbles
• egokitu

  adapt

  From egoki — 'suitable' + -tu: 'to become suitable', to the place and the time
• konformatu

  resign oneself

  A loan from the Latin conformare — 'to shape together', openly admitted. To shape oneself with it: not liked, but accepted
• bira puntua

  turning point

  Literally 'the turn's point': bira — 'turn' + puntu — 'point'. After it everything goes differently
• berriro hasi

  start over

  Literally 'to begin anew': berriro — 'anew' + hasi — 'to begin'. From a clean page
• lehen bezala

  everything as before

  Literally 'as before': bezala is 'like, in the manner of'. Everything as before — the years passed, the order stayed
• bira eman

  to turn the tide

  The same phrase as 'to take a turn' (wave 10) — the meaning tells them apart: here it gives the course of things a sharp turn. A match and an illness can turn the tide
• bere kabuz joan

  to go on its own

  Literally 'to go by its own will': bere kabuz is 'on its own'. Going on its own — no push needed, it just goes
• aldaketaren atean

  on the threshold of change

  Literally 'change at the door': atea is door (this course). On the threshold of change — the change stands behind the door, the hand already on the handle
• berriz ere

  again

  Literally 'again too': berriz — 'anew' + ere — 'too'. Again here is a boost: once more, and for sure
• laster

  soon

  A native word: soon, shortly. Laster bisitan! — 'visiting soon' — is how people sign letters
• aspaldi

  long ago

  Literally 'long since far': aspalditik — 'since long ago'. Partner of berriki — 'recently'
• berriki

  recently

  From berri — 'new': recently here is 'newly close'. Partner of aspaldi — 'long ago': berriki heldu naiz — I arrived recently
• berandu

  late

  A native word: late. From it, berandutu — 'to be late'. Partner of goiz — 'early'
• goiz

  early

  A native word: early — and 'morning' is the same word: goizean — 'in the morning'. Goiz esnatu naiz — I woke up early
• azkar

  swift

  The same word as 'sharply' — context splits them: fast here is about your own motion. Azkar ibili! — walk faster!
• erraz

  easy

  A native word: easy, simple. Partner of zail — 'hard': erraza edo zaila? — easy or hard?
• zail

  hard

  A native word: difficult, uphill. Partner of erraz — 'easy'. Zaila da — it's hard
• oraintxe

  just now

  Literally 'now-just': orain + -txe, closeness. Just now here is a minute ago: oraintxe heldu da — he's just arrived
• goizean

  in the morning

  From goiza — 'morning' + -an: literally 'in the morning'. A relative: goiz — 'early': goiz esnatu, goizean kafea — woke up early, coffee in the morning
• eguerdian

  at midday

  From eguerdia — 'noon' + -an. Partner: gauean — 'at night'
• arratsaldean

  in the evening

  The same word as 'in the afternoon' — context splits them: here it is the time after work. From arratsaldea — 'evening'
• gauean

  at night

  From gaua — 'night' + -an: night as darkness and sleep. Partner: eguerdian — 'at midday'. Gauean isiltasuna dago — at night there is silence
• egunoro

  every day

  Literally 'day-every': egun — 'day' + oro — 'every'. Every day here means with no skips. A relative: egunero — 'daily'
• egun osoan

  all day

  Literally 'in the whole day': osoa — 'whole' + -an. All day here is one stretch from waking to sleep
• momentua

  moment

  A loan from Latin momentum, openly admitted. The native relative is unea
• erlojua

  clock

  A loan from Spanish reloj, openly admitted. One word for the wall clock and the wristwatch: hormako erlojua, esku erlojua
• egutegia

  calendar

  Literally a 'day-store': egun — 'day' + -tegi, a keeping place. A calendar hangs on the wall or lives in your phone
• Zer ordu da?

  what time is it?

  Literally 'what hour is it?': ordu — 'hour'. The answer runs plural: bostak dira — 'it's five o'clock'
• otsaila

  February

  A native word, from otso — 'wolf': the wolf-month of cold. It follows urtarrila — 'January'
• martxoa

  March

  A loan from Latin martius, openly admitted. The month of winds: martxo haizeak — the March winds
• apirila

  April

  A loan from Latin aprilis, openly admitted. The month of rains: apiril euriteak
• maiatza

  May

  A loan from Latin maius, openly admitted. The month of flowers: loreen hila — literally 'the flowers' month'
• ekaina

  June

  A native word: ekain. Don't mix it with uztaila — 'July': one letter divides the summer
• abuztua

  August

  A loan from Latin augustus, openly admitted. The month of festivals: herriko jaiak abuztuan — the village festivals are in August
• iraila

  September

  A native word: irail. School opens in it: irailan eskola hasten da
• urria

  October

  A native word: urri — and the same word means 'rare, sparse': fewer days, less light
• azaroa

  November

  A native word, from aza — 'cabbage': the month for planting cabbage. You couldn't invent anything more practical
• abendua

  December

  A native word: abendu, the month of long nights. Toward it they prepare gabonak — Christmas (this course)
• urtea

  year

  A native word: urte. You know urtarrila — 'January', the year's month. How old are you is zenbat urte? — 'how many years?'
• egun betea

  full day

  Literally 'a full day': betea — 'full', from bete — 'to fill'. A full day here is day and night in one piece
• mende bat

  a hundred years

  Literally 'one century': mendea — 'century'. A century here is a hundred years as a span, or the anniversary: mendeurrena
• minutua

  minute

  A loan from Latin minutus — 'lessened', openly admitted. A minute here is a small part of the hour: orduaren zatia
• segundua

  a second

  A loan from Latin secundus — 'following', openly admitted. A second is the 'next step' after the minute: minutuaren atzetik
• ordu erdi

  half an hour

  Literally 'half of the hour': erdia — 'half'. Half an hour goes bare, as after a number: ordu erdi itxaron dut
• eguerdia

  noon

  Literally 'day's half': eguna — 'day' (this course) + erdia — 'half'. Partner of gauerdia — 'midnight' (this lesson)
• gauerdia

  midnight

  Literally 'night's half': gaua — 'night' (this course) + erdia. Midnight is when trains arrive in fairy tales
• orain

  now

  A native word: now, at present. Related: oraindik — 'still' and oraintxe — 'just now'
• epea

  deadline

  A native word: epe. You know berme-epea — 'the warranty period'. Epea amaitzen da — the deadline is running out

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.

• Goizean kafea edaten dut

  In the morning I drink coffee
• Egun luzea izan da

  The day turned out very long
• Gaur etxean lan egiten dut

  Today I'm working from home
• Bihar ez dut lanik

  Tomorrow I'm not working
• Atzo euria egin zuen egun osoan

  Yesterday it rained all day
• Arratsalderako ez da bero handirik egiten

  Closer to evening it isn't so hot anymore

What is worth knowing about these words

goiza — morning. Goiz is 'early' and 'morning'; goiza wears the article. Goiz argitu — daybreak, literally 'the morning lightens': a phrase from a song

egun — day. A familiar word: egun on — good morning — comes from it. Egunero — every day, literally 'day-ly'

gaur — today. Gaur gauean — tonight, literally 'today in the night': the word is glued from gau — 'night'

bihar — tomorrow. From bi — 'two' and egun — 'day': tomorrow is the 'second day'. The day before yesterday, herenegun, counts the other way

Test yourself

Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Today, tomorrow, in the morning, at six. You cannot arrange to meet without these — let alone understand the answer.

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 times
  Adesope, 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 times
  Mawson & 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.

Next

• All topics of the Basque language3960 words by topic and letter
• Greetings and goodbyes18 words
• Polite words14 words
• Numbers and counting57 words
• Food and drink254 words
• Shopping and money94 words