Language/Basque/Grammar/Plurals
Hi Basque learners! 😊
In this lesson, we will learn how to form plurals in Basque and some interesting facts about the language. We will also have a dialogue to see how plurals are used in context. Let's get started!
Introduction[edit | edit source]
The Basque language (Euskara in Basque) is a unique and fascinating language. The origins of the language are still unknown, and it is considered a language isolate, meaning it has no known linguistic relatives. Basque is spoken in the Basque Country, a region that covers parts of Spain and France, and it is the official language of the Basque Autonomous Community and Navarre in Spain. Basque has a complex grammar system, and one of its peculiarities is the formation of plurals, which we will explore in this lesson.
After mastering this lesson, these related pages might interest you: Possessive Case in Basque, Gender, Prepositions & Conditional Mood.
Forming Plurals in Basque[edit | edit source]
In Basque, there are several ways to form plurals depending on the noun's ending. Generally, we can say that there are three groups of nouns that form the plural differently:
- Nouns ending in -a, -e, -i, -o, -u add -k to form the plural. (For example, txakur → txakurrak - dog → dogs)
- Nouns ending in -r add -ak to form the plural. (For example, zaldar → zaldarak - horse → horses)
- Nouns ending in a consonant add -(e)ak to form the plural. The (e) is added when the noun ends in -n, -l, -rr, -s, -ts, -tz. (For example, etxeko andre → etxeko andreak - housewife → housewives)
Let's see some examples:
| Basque | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| txakur | tʃakuɾ | dog |
| txakurrak | tʃakuɾak | dogs |
| zaldar | saldaɾ | horse |
| zaldarak | saldarak | horses |
| etxeko andre | etʃeko andɾe | housewife |
| etxeko andreak | etʃeko andɾeak | housewives |
Note that some words change their stems when forming the plural. For example, gizona (man) becomes gizonak (men). Also, some words are plural by default (for example, lantokiak - workshops).
Irregular Plurals[edit | edit source]
Aside from the general rules for forming plurals, there are several irregular plurals that we need to learn by heart. Here are some examples:
| Basque | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| ur | uɾ | water |
| urak | uɾak | waters |
| eserleku | eserleku | cemetery |
| eserlekuek | eserlekuek | cemeteries |
| gaizki | gaiski | badly |
| txaki | tʃaki | chess |
| txapeldun | tʃapeldun | boss |
| txapeldunak | tʃapeldunak | bosses |
Interesting Facts[edit | edit source]
Basque is the oldest language in Europe and one of the oldest in the world. It is also one of the few languages that is not related to any other known language. The Basque word for Basque is "Euskara," which comes from "Euskal Herria," meaning "the land of the Basque language."
Basque also has a unique feature called the ergative case. It means that the subject of a transitive verb has the same form as the object of an intransitive verb. For example, in the sentence "I hit him," the word for "I" is in the same form as the word for "he" in the sentence "He fell."
Additionally, Basque is an agglutinative language, which means that new words can be created by adding suffixes to existing words. For example, biztanle (resident) can become biztanleria (residency).
Dialogue[edit | edit source]
- Person 1: Hau zaldi bat da. (This is a horse.)
- Person 2: Ez, hori bi zaldi dira. (No, those are two horses.)
Conclusion[edit | edit source]
In this lesson, we have learned the general rules for forming plurals in Basque and some irregular plurals. We have also explored some interesting facts about the language, such as its uniqueness and age, and the ergative case. To improve your Basque Grammar, you can also use the Polyglot Club website. Find native speakers and ask them any questions! Don't hesitate to practice and immerse yourself in the language.
➡ If you have any questions, please ask them in the comments section below.
➡ Feel free to edit this wiki page if you think it can be improved. 😎
Sources[edit | edit source]
Now that you've completed this lesson, don't stop learning! Check out these related topics: Questions, Conditional Tense, Give your Opinion & Definite Articles in Basque.