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Polite words in Basque

14 words in Basque on the topic “polite words”: eskerrik asko — thank you, mesedez — please (when asking), ez dago zergatik — don't mention it, barkatu — sorry. 14 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

14 words on the topic

  • eskerrik asko
    thank you
    Literally 'many thanks': esker is gratitude. To turn it up, mila esker — a thousand thanks
  • mesedez
    please (when asking)
    Polite request that lands at the END of the phrase: kafe bat, mesedez. The reply 'don't mention it' is ez dago zergatik
  • ez dago zergatik
    don't mention it
    Literally 'there is no reason' — the standard answer to eskerrik asko. Ez is 'not', dago 'there is', zergatik 'why': the phrase assembles itself
  • barkatu
    sorry
    For small stuff: a shove, an interruption. For real regret people say sentitzen dut — literally 'I feel it'
  • ahal baduzu
    if it's not too much trouble
    Literally 'if you can': ahal — 'can' + the condition baduzu. The request softener: not 'do it' but 'if you can' — the way out is always left open
  • …al dezakezu?
    could you
    Literally 'can you?': the action comes first, then the question particle al and dezakezu — 'you can'. The polite-request formula: a question instead of an order
  • oso esker onez egongo naiz
    I'd be very grateful
    Literally 'with very good gratitude I will be': esker ona — 'gratitude', literally 'good memory' + the instrumental -z. Gratitude here is a state one promises to abide in
  • Ez dut uste
    I'm afraid not
    Literally 'I don't think so': uste — opinion, to think. A soft, regretful 'no' when the answer is unwelcome
  • zoritxarrez
    unfortunately
    From zoritxarra — 'misfortune' + the instrumental -z: 'by-misfortune-ly'. Unhappy news is served with this cushion-word
  • ez nuke nahi
    I wouldn't want to
    Literally 'not I-would-have the wish': nuke — the potential 'I would have'. The refusal in the conditional: not 'I don't want' but 'I wouldn't want'
  • agian beste batean
    maybe another time
    Literally 'maybe in another time': agian — 'maybe' + beste batean — 'in another one'. The deferral is not a refusal but an open door
  • pentsatuko dut
    I'll think about it
    Literally 'I-will-think': pentsatu — 'to think' + the future. 'I'll think about it' here is a future promise, not a polite no
  • lotsa egiten zait eskatzea
    I feel awkward asking
    Literally 'shame to-me happens the-asking': lotsa — 'shame' + zait — 'it happens to me'. Awkwardness here is a feeling that happens to you
  • mindu gabe
    no offense
    Literally 'without hurting': mindu — 'to hurt feelings' + gabe — 'without'. Mindu gabe esanda — 'having said without offense': the warning before honesty

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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

eskerrik asko — thank you. Literally 'many thanks': esker is gratitude. To turn it up, mila esker — a thousand thanks.

mesedez — please (when asking). Polite request that lands at the END of the phrase: kafe bat, mesedez. The reply 'don't mention it' is ez dago zergatik.

ez dago zergatik — don't mention it. Literally 'there is no reason' — the standard answer to eskerrik asko. Ez is 'not', dago 'there is', zergatik 'why': the phrase assembles itself.

barkatu — sorry. For small stuff: a shove, an interruption. For real regret people say sentitzen dut — literally 'I feel it'.

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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  5. What is this word?

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

  1. How do you say “thank you” in Basque?

  2. How do you say “could you” in Basque?

  3. How do you say “maybe another time” in Basque?

  4. How do you say “please (when asking)” in Basque?

  5. How do you say “I'd be very grateful” in Basque?

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

“Thank you”, “please” and “sorry” carry you while the rest of the words are still missing: with them even a gesture reads as a request rather than a demand.

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 “thank you” in Basque?

«eskerrik asko». Literally 'many thanks': esker is gratitude. To turn it up, mila esker — a thousand thanks. It is one of 14 words in the set “polite words” — the rest are in the table above.

How many polite words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 14 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, 14 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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