Basque (Euskara) is spoken by around 800,000 people in the Basque Country, in Spain and France. A language isolate, with no known link to Indo-European languages, it is one of the oldest living languages in Europe. From Bilbao to Bayonne, from San Sebastian to Saint-Jean-de-Luz: with this kit, you have the bare minimum to get by in any Basque-speaking town.
Basque (Euskara) is one of Europe's great linguistic enigmas: it is the continent's only language isolate, with no demonstrated link to any other known linguistic family. Spoken by around 800,000 people across Spain (756,000 speakers in the southern Basque Country and Navarre) and France (51,000 speakers in the northern provinces), it predates the arrival of Indo-European languages in Western Europe. Modern standardization, called Euskara Batua, was developed in the 1960s to unify the five major regional dialects. The language is written with the Latin alphabet, without special accents, which facilitates reading. The grammar, however, is surprising: agglutinative structure, ergative-absolutive alignment, polypersonal verb agreement. You say "the father gives the book to the child" by stacking suffixes rather than adding prepositions. Pronunciation remains accessible to French speakers thanks to a system of five pure vowels (a, e, i, o, u) very close to Spanish. Beyond the language, the Basque Country is an exceptional gastronomic culture (pintxos, txokos, cider, txakoli), spectacular landscapes between sea and mountain (Bay of Biscay coast, Pyrenees), and a strong identity forged by centuries of cultural resistance. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival in Bilbao or Bayonne, a taxi ride, an order of pintxos, an emergency and a smooth departure. Memorize these expressions and you will immediately earn the sympathy of Basque speakers.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at Bilbao airport in mid-afternoon. You greet the staff in Basque, thank them after the check, then look for the taxi exit.
The driver welcomes you with a "Kaixo". You want to check the price before leaving, give him your address, then ask him to stop right in front of the hotel entrance.
You enter a pintxo bar in the Parte Vieja in San Sebastian. The waiter seats you, you ask for the menu, water, then settle the bill after a series of pintxos.
You feel sick after a day in the Basque mountains. You ask where the nearest hospital is, explain that it is an emergency and ask for a doctor.
On the morning of departure, you settle the room at reception, warmly thank the staff, then take a taxi to the airport.
What you need to know before travelling to a basque-speaking country.
In the Basque Country, your efforts in Euskara are deeply appreciated. Even a simple "Kaixo" or "Eskerrik asko" changes the quality of the exchange. The language is a strong identity marker, speaking Spanish or French remains the norm but the Basque effort is always noticed.
The pintxo (Basque tapa) is a social ritual. You order at the counter, taste, then pay on leaving by announcing what you had: trust is total. Stealing is unthinkable, and each bar has its own must-try specialty.
Txokos are typical Basque gastronomic societies, often reserved for members. If you are invited to a txoko, it is a great honour. Bring wine or dessert to contribute.
Political questions (independence, ETA, relations with Madrid or Paris) remain sensitive. Listen rather than holding overly clear-cut opinions. The topic has deeply marked several generations.
Gastronomy is sacred. San Sebastian (Donostia) is among the world cities with the most Michelin stars per capita. Book early, especially in season, and do not be surprised by long meals.
In Basque-speaking areas, signs are often bilingual (Basque-Spanish or Basque-French). City names sometimes have two forms: Bilbao/Bilbo, San Sebastian/Donostia, Bayonne/Baiona. Learn both.
Tipping remains modest: rounding up or leaving a few coins after a coffee or meal is enough. Beyond 5%, it becomes assumed generosity. Service is included in the bill.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Bai
bay
Yes
Ez
ez
No
Eskerrik asko
es-KÉ-rrik AS-ko
Thank you
Mesedez
mé-SÉ-dez
Please
Barkatu
bar-KA-tou
Sorry
Ura
OU-ra
Water
Ogia
O-gui-a
Bread
Hotela
O-té-la
Hotel
Aireportua
ai-ré-POR-tou-a
Airport
Ospitalea
os-pi-TA-lé-a
Hospital
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
No credit card. One-click unsubscribe. GDPR compliant.
Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
All Targumi resources for this language.
Assess your CEFR level in 5 minutes.
Films, music, traditions. How well do you know?
Guides, methods and tips to progress.
Essential words and phrases organised by themes.
Films, series, podcasts and music to immerse yourself.
Live classes with a bilingual native teacher. First lessons free.
The kit is just the start. To really speak the language, join a live class with a native teacher. Small groups, real feedback, fast progress.
30-day money-back guarantee, native teachers