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Basic words in Basque

82 words in Basque on the topic “basic words”: bai — yes, ez — no, ondo — well, gaizki — badly. 82 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

82 words on the topic

  • bai
    yes
    A calm yes with no booster. Basque dislikes a second yes in a row: answer 'bai, bai' and it lands like disbelief
  • ez
    no
    One word for 'no' and for verb negation alike: ez dut ulertzen — 'I don't understand'
  • ondo
    well
    An adverb: it answers 'how?'. The adjective 'good' is on, and with the article, ona
  • gaizki
    badly
    The partner of ondo. A bad THING takes txar: eguraldi txarra — the weather is foul
  • oso ondo
    very well
    Oso is 'very' and stands before the word it boosts: oso goxoa — very tasty
  • edo
    or
    A short connector: tea edo kafea — tea or coffee. Questions charged with doubt prefer ala; edo is a calm either/or
  • ere
    too, also
    Stands right after the word it doubles: ni ere — me too, hura ere — him too. It never opens the sentence
  • soilik
    only
    From soil — 'bare, plain': only here means 'one, nothing else'. It goes before the word it restricts
  • dagoeneko
    already
    Literally «of what already is»: dagoen, «which is», from egon — to be. Already means sooner than expected. Its pair is «oraindik» — still
  • oraindik
    still
    From orain 'now' + -dik: still here means 'up to this very moment'. With a negation it means 'not yet': oraindik ez
  • gehiegi
    too much
    From gehi 'more' + -egi, the excess marker: too much here is 'beyond measure'. Same -egi as in luzeegia — 'too long'
  • pixka bat
    a little
    Literally 'one pinch': a little here fits between your fingertips. A relative: apur bat — 'a bit'
  • elkarrekin
    together
    From elkar 'each other' + -kin, the 'with' marker: together literally means 'with each other'
  • ezin
    cannot
    Can’t, unable — in one word: «Ezin dut etorri» — I can’t come. The person is carried by the helper verb: dut, duzu
  • behar
    need to
    Covers 'need' and 'must' at once: joan behar dut — I need to go. It keeps its root form before the verb; the auxiliary carries the person: dut, duzu, dugu
  • nire
    my
    Nire etxea — my house. It also stands alone with the article: nirea — mine (hau nirea da — this one is mine)
  • zure
    your
    Your singular and your polite in one: zure izena — your name, for both. Basque zu itself is both 'thou' and polite 'you'
  • gure
    our
    Gure auzoa — our neighborhood. It rhymes with zure: memorize one and the other follows
  • zuen
    your (plural)
    Your for zuek, you-many: zuen mahaia — your table. Careful: the same zuen also means 'he had' — position in the sentence tells them apart
  • haren
    his, her
    One word for his and her — no gender. 'Their' is beren: beren etxea — their house. Both go before the noun, like nire and zure
  • propioa
    own
    A loan from Spanish propio, openly admitted: own here means 'one's very own'. The native phrase is bere burua — oneself
  • norbera
    oneself
    Literally «who self»: nor, who, plus bera, self. Oneself, the person as such: «norberaren lana» — one’s own work
  • dena
    everything
    Everything and all at once: «dena prest dago» — everything is ready. The plural «denak» means everyone
  • horietako bakoitza
    each of
    Literally «of those, each»: horietako, of those, plus bakoitza, each. The pattern lives on: «gutako bakoitza» — each of us
  • edozein
    any
    From edo 'or' + zein 'which': any here is 'whichever you take'. Edozein ordu — at any hour
  • dirua
    money
    Money comes in the singular only: dirua. Zenbat balio du? asks 'how much is it'; dirua is the thing itself
  • senarra
    husband
    A native word: senar. Partner of emaztea — 'wife'; in fairy tales senar-emazteak is husband and wife in one breath
  • emaztea
    wife
    A wife; the pair to «senarra» — husband. A woman in general is «emakumea»
  • abizena
    surname
    A surname: Basques have two, father’s and mother’s, and both are on documents. A first name is «izena»
  • lekua
    place
    A place; hence «lekuko» — a witness: someone who was on the spot. «Leku librea» — a free seat
  • herrialdea
    country
    Literally 'people's side': herria — 'village, people' + aldea — 'side'. Country here is the state on the map
  • jendea
    people
    People comes in the singular, like 'crowd': jende asko — many people. The verb stays singular too: jendea dator — the people are coming
  • bizitza
    life
    From bizi — 'to live': life here is 'living'. Hence etxebizitza — 'housing', literally 'house-living'
  • hurrengoa
    the next one
    A native word: hurrengo — next, upcoming. Hurrengo biran — at the next turn, hurrengo astean — next week
  • joan den
    previous
    Literally «that has gone»: joan, go, plus den, which is. Last year is «joan den urtea», or simply «iaz»
  • …tzeko
    so as to
    Purpose is glued to the verb: «irakurtzeko» — in order to read, «jateko» — to eat. «Ura edateko» — to have a drink: verb plus -tzeko
  • baldin eta
    if
    Literally 'if and': baldin eta euria egiten badu — if it rains. The condition itself rides on the verb's -ba: badu — 'if there is'
  • denbora bitartean
    in the meantime
    Literally 'in the time between': bitartean — 'meanwhile'. While here = one action runs during another
  • -nez gero
    seeing that
    Literally 'since so, then': -nez — 'since', gero — 'then'. It hooks onto the verb: zoazenez gero — seeing that you're going. A reason already accepted. Izan ere is something else: 'in fact, because'
  • -tzekotan
    as long as
    A condition ending: verb + -tzekotan — 'on condition that'. Zu etortzekotan — as long as you come. Besterik ez is something else: only, nothing more
  • beraz
    so
    A native word: so, therefore. It opens the conclusion: berandu da, beraz joaten naiz — it's late, so I'm leaving
  • … artean
    between
    Literally 'in the interval': bi herrien artean — between two villages. A relative of arte — 'until': the same root of the in-between
  • inguru
    roughly
    Literally 'the surroundings': roughly here is an estimate by eye. It follows the number: bost euro inguru — about five euros
  • … ordez
    instead of
    Follows the 'of what' form: kafearen ordez — instead of coffee. Nire ordez zu — you instead of me
  • kontra
    against
    A loan from Latin contra, openly admitted. Against a person or a plan: haren kontra naiz — I'm against him
  • … gabe
    without
    'Without' glues to the end: gatzik gabe — without salt, kafearik gabe — without coffee. The -rik particle leaves not a crumb
  • …rako
    for
    -rako means «for» a purpose or place: «etxerako» — for the home, «mendirako» — for the mountains. For people it is -tzat: «zuretzat» — for you
  • buruz
    about (a subject)
    About: the talk is about something. It goes after the ending -ri: «filmari buruz» — about the film. By heart is also «buruz»
  • ostean
    after
    Literally 'in the track': after here is 'behind something'. A relative of ondoren: bazkaldu ostean — after lunch
  • …n zehar
    during
    Literally 'along': during here is stretched across a span. Udan zehar — over the summer, neguan zehar — over the winter
  • …gatik
    because of
    'Because of' glues to the end: euriagatik — because of the rain, lanagatik — because of work
  • inguruan
    around
    Literally 'in the district': around here is 'encircling the thing'. It follows the 'of what' form: etxearen inguruan — around the house
  • … barru
    within
    Literally 'inside': within here is a deadline something will happen in. Ordu barru — in an hour, aste barru — within a week
  • barrutik
    from inside
    Literally 'from the inside': barruan — 'inside' + -tik, 'from'. They shut the door from the inside: atea barrutik itxi dute
  • inguruetan
    nearby
    Literally 'in the surroundings': inguru made plural — the outlying districts. Nearby here is close, but with no exact spot named
  • soinu handia
    loud sound
    Literally 'big sound': soinu — 'sound'. A loud sound is one you hear through the wall
  • soinu txikia
    quiet sound
    Literally 'small sound': txikia — 'small'. A quiet sound asks you to lean in
  • ozena
    sonorous
    A native word: ozen — 'sonorous, loud'. Sonorous here is a voice or a bell: ahots ozena — a sonorous voice
  • hitza
    word
    A native word: hitz. Hence hitzez hitz — 'word for word'. A word here is a single one, in the dictionary and in speech
  • gauza
    matter
    A native word: thing and matter in one. A matter here is something to be done: gauza asko ditut egiteko — 'I have many matters to do'
  • modua
    way, method
    A native word: way and manner. Zein da modurik onena? — what's the best way? Hence modu berean — 'in the same way'
  • zatia
    part
    The same word as 'piece' — context splits them: part here is a share of the whole, not a chunk of bread. Zatirik handiena — the biggest part
  • erdialdea
    middle
    Literally 'the half's side': erdia — 'half' + aldea. The middle of the city, the room, the year: hiriaren erdialdea
  • aldea
    side
    The same word as 'difference' — context splits them: side here is a flank of a thing or a street. Bi aldeak — both sides
  • bidea
    path
    A native word: bide. Hence bidean — 'on the way'. A path here is both the road and the method
  • errepidea
    highway
    A road for cars, a highway. Its pair is «bidea» — a way in general, for feet and for wheels
  • loa
    sleep
    A native word: lo — sleep and doze. Loa hartzen du — 'sleep takes him': Basque takes sleep the way it takes rest
  • aparte
    separately
    A loan from Spanish aparte, openly admitted. Separately here is both a separate bill and a separate house
  • arretaz
    carefully
    Literally «with attention»: arreta, attention, plus -z. Carefully is slowly and looking closely
  • isilik
    quietly
    Literally 'in quietness': isil — 'quiet' + -ik. Quietly here covers 'hush' too: isilik egon! — sit still!
  • zarataka
    loudly
    Literally 'with noise': zarata — 'noise' + -ka, manner. Loudly here is so the walls can hear
  • ezer esan gabe
    silently
    Literally 'without saying anything': ezer — 'anything', esan — 'to say', gabe — 'without'. Silently here is without a single word
  • nahiko
    fairly
    From nahi — 'want': fairly here is 'as much as needed and a bit more'. Nahiko ona da — fairly good
  • apur bat
    a bit
    Literally 'one little piece': apur — 'a piece'. A bit here is less than pixka bat — 'a little'
  • erabat
    completely
    Completely, fully — to the last drop: «ez dut erabat ulertzen» — I don’t fully understand
  • bete-betean
    to the full
    Literally 'in the full full': betea — 'full', doubled for force. Fully here is with nothing left, a glass filled to the brim
  • askoz
    by far
    Literally 'by much': asko — 'much' + the instrumental -z. It lives next to a comparison: askoz hobea — much better
  • baita ere
    even
    Literally 'and indeed too': the word goes between baita and ere. Baita ni ere — even I. Related to ere — 'too'
  • batzuk
    some (people)
    From «bat», one, in the plural: some. «Batzuk… beste batzuk» — some… others
  • norbait
    someone
    From «nor», who, plus -bait, «some-», like «nonbait». Someone knocks at the door but doesn’t open it
  • zeozer
    anything
    A colloquial form of «zerbait» — something. «Zeozer edan?» — something to drink? — said to guests
  • bere burua
    oneself (reflexive)
    Literally 'his very self': burua — 'head'. Oneself here covers 'myself, himself': bere burua zaintzea — taking care of oneself

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How it sounds in a sentence

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What is worth knowing about these words

bai — yes. A calm yes with no booster. Basque dislikes a second yes in a row: answer 'bai, bai' and it lands like disbelief.

ez — no. One word for 'no' and for verb negation alike: ez dut ulertzen — 'I don't understand'.

ondo — well. An adverb: it answers 'how?'. The adjective 'good' is on, and with the article, ona.

gaizki — badly. The partner of ondo. A bad THING takes txar: eguraldi txarra — the weather is foul.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

  1. What is this word?

  2. What is this word?

  3. What is this word?

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Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

  1. How do you say “yes” in Basque?

  2. How do you say “only” in Basque?

  3. How do you say “need to” in Basque?

  4. How do you say “oneself” in Basque?

  5. How do you say “surname” in Basque?

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Yes, no, good, bad, very. The small change of a language — and no sentence assembles without it.

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.

Frequently asked

How do you say “yes” in Basque?

«bai». A calm yes with no booster. Basque dislikes a second yes in a row: answer 'bai, bai' and it lands like disbelief. It is one of 82 words in the set “basic words” — the rest are in the table above.

How many basic words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 82 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 82 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.

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