Language/Basque/Vocabulary/Describing-Relationships
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Introduction
In this lesson, you will learn about how to describe relationships and marital status in Basque. This topic is essential to everyday conversation, and it will help you better communicate with Basque speakers. By the end of this lesson, you should be able to name family relationships in Basque, use the appropriate terms to describe status, and engage in basic conversations about relationships.
Family Relationships
In Basque, family plays an essential role in social life. Here are some of the most common family relationships:
| Basque | Pronunciation | English |
|---|---|---|
| aita | [ai-ta] | father |
| ama | [a-ma] | mother |
| anaia | [a-na-ia] | brother (older) |
| ahizpa | [a-hiz-pa] | sister (older) |
| anaia txiki | [a-na-ia txi-ki] | brother (younger) |
| ahizpa txiki | [a-hiz-pa txi-ki] | sister (younger) |
| seme-alabak | [se-me-a-la-bak] | sons and daughters |
| aitona | [ai-to-na] | grandfather |
| amona | [a-mo-na] | grandmother |
| nagusi | [na-gu-si] | boss (usually refers to grandparents in Basque) |
| ahaide | [a-hai-de] | cousin |
Note: In Basque, nouns have masculine and feminine genders. For example, "aita" is masculine, and "ama" is feminine. It's important to know the gender of the term you're using when referring to someone.
Describing Relationships
When you meet someone new, it's common to ask about their marital status or family relationships. Here are some of the most common ways to describe relationships in Basque:
- Eskualduna naiz. - I'm single.
- Ezkondu naiz. - I'm married.
- Ezkondu nintzen. - I was married.
- Jatorria izan dut. - I am from...
- Berandu nintzen. - I got married late.
- Aita edo ama naiz. - I am a father/mother.
Note: The word "ezkondu" is used for both getting married and being married. It's also used to describe a person's spouse.
Cultural Information and Interesting Facts
Basque culture is unique and fascinating. Here are some interesting facts:
- Basque is one of the oldest languages in Europe, and it has no known linguistic relatives.
- Basque cuisine is known for its pintxos, small snacks served at bars.
- Basque pelota is a popular sport played with a wooden racket and a ball.
- The Basque Country is known for its distinct architecture, including Basque rural houses and Basque Gothic church architecture.
- San Fermin, a festival held in Pamplona, is famous for the running of the bulls.
Conclusion
In this lesson, you've learned about the most common family relationships in Basque and how to describe relationships and marital status. You've also learned some interesting cultural facts about the Basque Country. Remember to practice these new words and phrases with your Basque-speaking friends and family. In the next lesson, you'll learn about adjectives and adverbs in Basque. Zorte on! (Good luck!)
Other Lessons
- Family Members
- Transportation
- Greetings
- Essencial Phrases in Basque
- Eating Out
- Weather
- Family
- Weather and Climate
- Basic phrases in Basque
- Dinner Table
Sources
| ◀️ Family Members — Previous Lesson | Next Lesson — Descriptive Adjectives ▶️ |