85 great phrases and expressions in Basque (and their meaning)
The Basque people have a unique culture and identity, the hypotheses about the origin of this people are not conclusive (currently) and therefore they do not stop being mere conjectures.
What is undeniable for any person is that their traditions, language and other sociological characteristics make the Basques a people with a great sense for their traditions and a wonderful harmony with the nature that surrounds them that they do not share with the rest of their neighbors cultural.
- Recommended article: "10 Basque legends full of ancient mythology"
Phrases and expressions in Basque
Euskera is a language that can sound very exotic to us if we are not familiar with it, but then, you will be able to discover 85 great phrases in Basque and their meaning, that perhaps will help you to learn a little more about this language and this culture.
1. Beti egongo naiz zurekin.
I will always be with you.
2. Izarrak jaitsi eta zure eskuetan jarriko ditut.
I will lower the stars and put them in your hands.
3. Adiskide onekin, orduak labur.
With a good friend, the hours are short.
4. Aditzaile onari, hitz gutxi.
A good listener needs few words.
5. Aldi luzeak, guztia ahaztu.
Over time, everything is forgotten.
6. Umea balitz bezala sentitzen naiz ni zure alboan irudikatuz.
And I feel like a child, imagining myself with you.
7. Oraindik zugan pentsatzen dut.
I still think of you.
8. Zer naiz ni zu gabe?
What am I without you?
9. Asko maite zaitut.
I love you very much.
10. Nire bizitzaren zergaitia zara.
You are the reason of my life.
11. Nire bihotzeko poxpoloa zara.
You are the match of my heart.
12. Ai Zelako irriparra, hura da nire iparra, gidatzen nauen izarra!
Ah, what a smile, she is my north, the star that guides me!
13. Kaixo, nire bihotzeko laztana!
Hello, darling of my heart!
14. Maite zaitut, olatuek itsasoa maite duten bezala.
I love you, as the waves love the sea.
15. Zergatik da itsasoa gazia? Zuk daukazulako goxotasun guztia!
Why is the sea salty? Because you have all the sweetness!
16. Zu kurba horiekin eta ni frenorik Gabe.
You are like those curves, and me without brakes.
17. Ilun dago itsasoa nire ohe azpian: egunargi arte ez ditut irekiko begiak:
How black the sea looks under my bed: I won't open my eyes until tomorrow.
18. Sentitzen dut min eman izana, barka iezadazu.
I'm sorry I hurt you, forgive me.
19. Musu beat jakingo duzu isildu doubt guztia.
In a kiss, you'll know everything I kept silence.
20. Non gogoa, they have zangoa.
Where the heart walks, the foot bows.
21. Benetako adiskide bat, zuregan sinesten duen norbait da, zuk zuregan sinesten utzi duzun arren.
A true friend is someone who believes in you even though you have stopped believing in yourself.
22. Dezagun gutxi dezagun beti.
The little we do, let's do it always.
23. Eroriz ikasten da oinez.
Falling, you learn to walk.
24. Osasuna, munduko ondasuna.
Health is the wealth of the world.
25. Utzi bake, bake dagoenari.
She leaves alone, who is at peace.
26. Marinelaren emaztea, goizean senardun, arratsean alargun.
The sailor's wife, handcuffed in the morning, widowed in the evening.
27. Hegaztia airerako, gizona lanerako.
The bird for the air, the man for the work.
28. Ilea zuritzea hobe da burua baino.
It is better for the hair to go blank than the mind.
29. Berriz ikusiko gara horrela idatzita badago.
We'll see each other again, if that's how it's written.
30. Isilik dagoenak ez dio gezurrik.
He who is silent does not lie.
31. Gora gu eta gutarrak!.
Up us and ours!
32. Aditu nahi ez duenak, he ez du esan behar.
He who does not want to hear, he should not say.
33. Alferkeria, askoren hondamendia.
Laziness, ruin of many.
34. Arian, arian, zehetzen da burnia.
Forging, forging, he bends to iron.
35. Asko balio du indarrak, gehiago buru azkarrak.
Much is worth strength, but more an intelligent head.
36. Bakoitzak bere zoroa bizi du.
Each one lives his own madness.
37. Beste lekuetan ere txakurrak oinutsik ibiltzen dira.
In other places, dogs also walk barefoot.
The Spanish equivalent would be: The sun heats everywhere equally.
38. Besteren loves, ona; norberea, askoz hobea.
The mother of others, good, her own, the best.
39. Eguneroko izerdia, eguneroko ogia.
The daily sweat, (is) the daily bread.
40. Envyful, bere etsai osoa,
Envy was its own enemy.
41. Esandako hitzak lotzeko ez duzu giltzarik topatuko,
You will not find a key that manages to unite your spoken words.
42. Gaizki esanak barkatu eta ondo esanak gogoan hartu.
Excuse the badly said and remember the well said.
43. Eskuko behatzak ere ez zituen Jainkoak berdinak egin.
God did not even make the fingers of the hands equal.
44. Entzun eta isil, baiezko borobil.
Listen and shut up, total affirmation.
45. Eguzkia eta euria, Erromako zubia.
The sun and the rain, (bring us) the rainbow.
46. Bihar ere eguzkia aterako duk.
The sun will rise tomorrow too.
47. Besteen faltak aurreko aldean, geureak bizkarrean.
The faults of others before us, ours behind us.
48. Aurreak erakusten du atzea nola dantzatu.
The ones in front teach the ones in the back to dance.
49. Arrats gorri, goiz euri.
Reddish sunset, rainy dawn.
50. Apirilaren azkenean, hostoa haritz gainean.
At the end of April, the leaves bloom on the oak trees.
51. Aldi joana ez da itzultzen.
The past moment never comes back.
52. Abendua, jai huts eta gau huts.
December, all party and all night.
53. Ikusten ez duen begiak negarrik ez.
Eye that does not see, does not cry.
54. Inor ez da ikasia jaiotzen.
No one is born known/enlightened.
55. Ez pentsa ahastu zaitudanik.
Do not think that I have forgotten you.
56. Idiazabal: zeruko ateak zabal.
Idiazabal: the open heavenly door.
57. Munduan nahi duenak luzaroan bizi, oiloekin ohera eta txoriekin jaiki.
Whoever wants to live long in this world, let him lie down with the rooster hens and get up with the birds.
58. Zahar hitz, zuhur hitz.
Old man's word, prudent word.
59. Ogi gogorrari hagin zorrotza.
To the bad day, good face.
60. Egia eta fedea, Ezkurrako legea.
Truth and faith, the law of Ezkurra.
61. Atzera begiratzeak min egiten dizunean eta aurrera begiratzeak bildurtzen zaitunean, begira zazu ezker edo eskubira eta han egongo naiz, zure ondoan.
When it hurts to look back and you're afraid to look forward, look left or right and I'll be there, by your side.
62. Adiskidetasuna da, bizitzaren errezetan, osagairik garrantzitsuena.
Friendship is the most important ingredient in the recipe of life.
63. Olerki laburrenaren bertsorik politenak bi hitz baino ez ditu.
The most beautiful verse of the shortest poem only has two words: Maite zaitut. I love you.
64. Agian munduarentzat ez zara inor, baina niretzat mundua zara.
Maybe to the world you are nobody, but to me you are the world.
65. Harrian bixulo: euria egitean xomorroak bainatuko.
Under the rain two stones with holes: pools for goldfinches.
66. Zu zara piroporik ederrena.
You are the cutest compliment.
67. Zerua bezain ederra zara!.
You are as beautiful as the sky!
68. Ella ona da natila, ona da sufflea, baina zu zeu zara nahiago dudan postrea.
Custard is good, soufflé is good, but you are the dessert I crave the most.
69. Loreak mendian, perretxikoak basoan eta zu bezalako mutila, nire bihotzean.
The flowers in the mountains, the mushrooms in the forest, and a boy like you, in my heart.
70. Esan zure izena, eta Olentzerori eskatuko diot.
Tell me your name, I ask the Olentzero.
71. Nire bizitzako emakumea zara.
You are the woman of my life.
72. Bizitzak desio bat eskatzeko aukera emango banindu, zu berriz ezagutzea desiatuko nuke.
If life gave me one wish, I would want to meet you again.
73. Edo garela urrun ilargia ikusten dugun bera da.
Although we are far away, the moon we see is the same.
74. Iratzarri nintzen zure alboan negoela ametz eginez.
I woke up dreaming I was beside you.
75. Amen: Zu hor eta ni hemen.
Amen, you there and me here.
76. Agindua bitch, that's ohi da.
What is promised is debt, it is often said.
77. Adiskidegabeko bizitza, ausogabeko heriotza.
Life without friends means death without neighbors.
78. Aberats izatea baino, izen ona hobe.
It is better to have a good name than to be rich.
79. Distantziak izan arren, jada ez gaude bakarrik.
Although there are distances we are no longer alone.
80. Aberatsa, tranpa hutsa; poor, amets hutsa.
The rich, all cheating; the poor, all dreams.
81. Ahoa zabal, logale edo gose.
Open mouth, sleepy or hungry.
82. Alfer egon eta alfer-lana egin, biak berdin.
To be idle and to do work in vain, both the same.
83. Alferrak, beti lanez beterik.
The lazy, always full of work.
84. Alferrik gives ura joanda gero egitean prey.
It is in vain to make the dam after the water has gone.
85. Apaizak eta praileak, hegal gabeko beleak.
Priests and friars, wingless ravens.