Basic Basque Dictionary: Learning Euskara One Word at a Time

Learn Euskara One Word at Time

No matter whether traveling to the Basque country as a tourist, an exchange student, or with the intention of moving there as an expatriate, this guide will serve you well. Euskara is a distinct and unique idiom, rich with words and phrases. Intended for English speakers, this book shares common slang words and phrases that will help you communicate in everyday situations like ordering dinner in a restaurant, shopping at the market for fresh produce, flirting, getting street directions, or hiring a taxi.

That said, be advised this little book is neither a complete course in learning the Basque Language, neither is it a textbook. Instead, it is a basic introduction to the Basque language, a good pocket beginners guide you can handily carry on your travels either in your back pocket or tucked away in a backpack.

As an eBook, it is even more portable. Before you go, consider taking the time to learn a few Basque words and phrases so you can speak street Euskara like a local. This guide contains a wealth of words and expressions that you can look up when you hear, or read them, in order to know what is going on around you. Even better, spend a night curled up with the book gaining familiarity with the wisdom it contains. That way, when you hear a vaguely familiar word on the street, you will know which page to consult in order to refresh your memory. Knowing at least some street talk will pay big dividends. Instead of being seen as some soul-less gringo tourist, the locals will hold you in much higher esteem. As a result, you may make new friends, and as a bonus perhaps get a better hotel room or lower prices while shopping.

A Sampling of Basque Vocabulary/Hitztegia

• Streets - Kaleak
• Shops - Dendak
• Beaches - Hondartzak
• Restaurants - Jatetxeak
• Dance clubs - Dantza klubak
• Hotels - Hotelak
• Grocery stores – Janari-denda
• Market - Merkatua
• Tapas: - Pintxos
• Seafood – Itsaski
• Fish - Arrainak

Part One, from A to Z, lists words in English along with their Basque translation. Then in part two, vocabulary is listed in groups to make them easy to find, ie: Colours, animals, places, food, flavours, days of the week, weather and people, and so on. Know that modern Basque is spoken by about a half million people in Euskal Herria, a region spanning the Spanish/French border, that encompasses four provinces in Spain and three in France. In Bilbao, because of the city’s size and diversity, one mainly hears Spanish. That said, some Basque words and phrases like, Kaixo, Agur, and Eskerrik asko, are more frequently spoken than their Spanish counterparts. But mere miles away in smaller villages, Basque/Euskara is the first language.

Top Twenty Basque Words You Should Know

Agur – Goodbye
Aita – Dad
Ama - Mom
Arratsalde on - Good afternoon
Aupa – Howdy/hey
Bai – Yes
Bai ote? - Really?
Barkatu – Excuse me
Egun on – Good morning
Erdera - Any language other than Basque
Eskerrik asko – Thank you
Euskara - Basque
Ez – No Gabon – Good evening/Good night
Geldi! - Stop
Hementxe! - Over / right here!
Kaixo – Hello
Lasai - Take it easy
Mesedez – Please
Ongi etorri – Welcome
Osaba - Uncle
Topa! - Cheers!
Zorte on! - Good luck

Consider investing in your future happiness by reading this dictionary before you travel to the Basque Country. Click the Buy Button at the top of your page and a minute from now you can begin exploring the language and culture of this charismatic land and its people.

Basic Basque Dictionary
English/Euskara
Euskara/English

Learning Euskara One Word at a Time

Euskaraz badakizu?

Do you speak Basque?

The Basic Basque Dictionary is perfect for beginners just starting to learn the language.Simply stated, it is an introduction to Euskara.Suffice it to say, this is a good pocket beginners guide you handily can carry on your travels in your back pocket or backpack.

For English Speakers New to the Basque Language

Intended for English speakers, this English/Euskara dictionary shares common slang words and phrases that will help you communicate in everyday situations like ordering dinner in a restaurant, shopping at the mercado for bacalao or fresh produce, flirting, getting street directions, or hiring a taxi.No matter whether traveling to the Basque Country as a tourist, or with the intention of moving there as an expatriate, this guide will serve you well.That said, be advised this little book is neither a complete course in learning the Basque or Spanish Languages. Neither is it a textbook.

Pintxos is the Euskara word for Tapas

In Part One, from A to Z, this handy, little dictionary lists words in English along with their Basque translation.Then in part two, vocabulary is listed in groups to make them easy to find, ie: Colours, animals, places, food, flavours, days of the week, weather and people and so on.Modern Basque is spoken by about a half million people in Euskal Herria, a region spanning the Spanish/French border, that encompasses four provinces in Spain and three in France.In Bilbao, because of the city’s size and diversity, one mainly hears Spanish.That said, some Basque words and phrases like, Kaixo, Agur and Eskerrik asko, are more frequently spoken than their Spanish counterparts.But mere miles away in smaller villages, Basque/Euskara is the first language.

The Basque word for seafood: Itsaski
The Basque word for fish: Arrainak

Basque, the language of the Basques is the only remnant of the languages spoken in southwestern Europe before the region was Romanized in the 2nd through 1st century BCE.Linguistically Basque is unrelated any other languages in Europe, or elsewhere in the world.It is also important to note that Basque is not a Spanish dialect. In fact, it's a completely different language with no ties to Spanish besides a handful of loan words.

One reason for the continued revival of the Basque language is its widening use in media, including television and radio.Which means you can watch Basque language TV and read Euskara language newspapers online.Which further means, when you hear or read an unfamiliar Basque word you can look it up in this dictionary.Learning at least some of the language provides a glimpse into Basque social and family life.

A Sampling of Basque Vocabulary Basics

Agur – Goodbye
Aita – Dad
Ama - Mom
Arratsalde on - Good afternoon
Aupa – Howdy/hey
Bai – Yes
Bai ote? - Really?
Barkatu – Excuse me
Egun on – Good morning
Erdera - Any language other than Basque
Eskerrik asko – Thank you
Euskara - Basque
Ez – No
Gabon – Good evening/Good night
Geldi! - Stop
Hementxe! - Over / right here!
Kaixo – Hello
Lasai - Take it easy
Mesedez – Please
Ongi etorri – Welcome
Osaba - Uncle
Topa! - Cheers!
Zorte on! - Good luck

Besides a basic get-you-started dictionary, this book includes certain categories of word groups including but not limited to:

The Days of the Week
Telling Time
Food
Colours
Flavours
Sizes
The Animal World
Weather

Finally, we use a large font to make the text eminently more readable.