Language/Basque/Vocabulary/Numbers-1-20

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Basque → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → Numbers and Counting → Numbers 1-20

Basque is a unique language and counting in Basque can be quite challenging for beginners. In this lesson, we will learn how to count from 1 to 20 in Basque, and practice the correct pronunciation. Knowing how to count is especially important in daily life when you need to make purchases, tell the time, or exchange phone numbers.

Basque Numbers 1-20

In Basque, numbers are formed systematically, making them relatively easy to learn once you have learned the patterns. Here are the numbers from 1 to 20:

Basque	Pronunciation	English
bat	bat	One
bi	bi	Two
hiru	hiɾu	Three
lau	law	Four
bost	bost	Five
sei	sei	Six
zazpi	sazpi	Seven
zortzi	soɾt͡si	Eight
bederatzi	beðeɾat͡si	Nine
hamar	hamar	Ten
hamaika	hamaika	Eleven
hamabi	hamabi	Twelve
hamahiru	hama(i)ɾu	Thirteen
hamalau	hamalaw	Fourteen
hamabost	hama(bost)	Fifteen
hamasei	hama(sei)	Sixteen
hamazazpi	hama(sa)zpi	Seventeen
hemezortzi	eme(so)ɾt͡si	Eighteen
hogei	hoɡei	Nineteen
hogei ta hamar	hoɡei ta hamar	Twenty

As you can see, the numbers in Basque are similar to those in other Romance languages, with the exception of one (bat). Yet, the pronunciation can be difficult for beginners, so let's practice it together.

Pronunciation

The Basque language has unique sounds that may be difficult to pronounce correctly. It's important to use the correct pronunciation when learning and using any language, so let's take a closer look at the pronunciation of numbers 1-20 in Basque.

- Bat (one): This is pronounced "bat" with a short "a" sound, similar to the "a" sound in "cat."

- Bi (two): This is pronounced "bi" with a short "i" sound, like the "i" in "bit."

- Hiru (three): This is pronounced "hi-ru", with the emphasis on the first syllable.

- Lau (four): This is pronounced "law", with a long "a" sound, like the "a" sound in "saw."

- Bost (five): This is pronounced "bost", similar to the English word "boss".

- Sei (six): This is pronounced "sei", similar to the English word "say".

- Zazpi (seven): This is pronounced "sa-zpi", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Zortzi (eight): This is pronounced "sor-tzi", with the emphasis on the first syllable.

- Bederatzi (nine): This is pronounced "bede-ratzi", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamar (ten): This is pronounced "ha-mar", with the emphasis on the first syllable.

- Hamaika (eleven): This is pronounced "ha-ma-i-ka", with the emphasis on the first syllable.

- Hamabi (twelve): This is pronounced "ha-ma-bi", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamahiru (thirteen): This is pronounced "ha-ma-i-ru", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamalau (fourteen): This is pronounced "ha-ma-law", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamabost (fifteen): This is pronounced "ha-ma-bost", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamasei (sixteen): This is pronounced "ha-ma-sei", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hamazazpi (seventeen): This is pronounced "ha-ma-za-zpi", with the emphasis on the third syllable.

- Hemezortzi (eighteen): This is pronounced "he-mez-sortzi", with the emphasis on the second syllable.

- Hogeita hamar (nineteen): This is pronounced "ho-gei-ta-ha-mar", with the emphasis on the third and first syllables.

- Hogei ta hamar (twenty): This is pronounced "ho-gei-ta-ha-mar", with the emphasis on the second and first syllables.

Now that we have learned the numbers 1-20 in Basque and practiced their correct pronunciations, let's move on to some examples using these numbers.

Examples

- Zenbat langile daude enpresan?: How many workers are in the company?

 - Bat langile daude enpresan: One worker is in the company.
 - Bost langile daude enpresan: Five workers are in the company.

- Zenbat orduko tren hartuko dugu?: What time will we take the train?

 - Hamarretan hartzeko dugu: We will take it at ten o'clock.
 - Hamabi eta hirutan hartzeko dugu: We will take it at twelve thirty.

- Nire data naiz: I am (the date) of mine.

 - Urriaren hogeita hamarrean jaio nintzen: I was born on the 19th of October.
 - Maiatzaren laugarren eta urtarrilaren zazpigarren artean: Between the 4th of May and the 7th of January.

- Nire telefono zenbakia da... My phone number is...

 - Hameka bederatzi lau hiru zortzi bost sei hamazazpi: 11-948-463-576

Conclusion

In this lesson, we have learned how to count from 1 to 20 in Basque, and practiced the correct pronunciation. We have also seen some examples of how to use these numbers in context. It's important to continue to practice and review the numbers, as they are a fundamental part of everyday communication in any language. Don't be discouraged if you find the pronunciation difficult at first, it takes time and practice to master any new skill. Keep up the good work!

Table of Contents - Basque Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Basque Language

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Nouns and Articles

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Noun Gender and Number

  ---

Numbers and Counting

• Numbers 1-20
• Ordinal Numbers

  ---

Pronouns and Verb Conjugation

• Subject Pronouns
• Regular Verb Conjugation

  ---

Days, Months, and Seasons

• Days of the Week
• Months and Seasons

  ---

Questions and Negation

• Interrogative Words
• Forming Questions
• Negation

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Adjectives and Adverbs

• Descriptive Adjectives
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Common Foods
• Eating Out

  ---

Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Conjunctions

  ---

Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Vocabulary

  ---

Basque Culture and Traditions

• History and Geography
• Festivals and Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Camping
• Count to 10
• Ordinal Numbers
• Health
• Geography
• How to Say Hello and Greetings
• Directions
• Basic phrases in Basque
• Breakfast
• Family

Sources

• Basque Vocabulary - Numbers
• Numbers in Basque
• Basque Vocabulary - Count to 10

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