bat / batzuk

A, One and Some

Level 1

bat means "a" or "one" and comes after the noun: etxe bat (a house), kafe bat, mesedez (a coffee, please). Its plural batzuk means "some": lagun batzuk (some friends).

How It Works

bat: a, one
Bat is both the number one and the word for "a". It follows the noun and any adjective:

  • etxe bat a house / one house
  • etxe handi bat a big house
  • Kafe bat, mesedez. A coffee, please.

The other numbers come before the noun: bi etxe, hiru etxe. (In Bizkaia you will also hear bi after the noun, as in etxe bi; that is regional usage.) See Numbers One to Ten.

batzuk: some
Batzuk is the plural of bat. It also follows the noun, and the verb is plural:

  • lagun batzuk some friends
  • Lagun batzuk etorri dira. Some friends have come.

For other amount words, such as asko (a lot) and gutxi (few), see Quantity Words.

On their own
Both can stand without a noun: Bat nahi dut (I want one), Batzuk etorri dira (Some have come).

"A" after izan
To say what someone is, Basque usually uses the article, not bat: Ni ikaslea naiz (I am a student). See The Definite Article -a.

Examples (6)

  1. Kafe bat, mesedez.

    A coffee, please.

    Word by Word: Coffee one, please.

  2. Etxe bat erosi dugu.

    We have bought a house.

    Word by Word: House one bought have-we.

  3. Liburu bat irakurri dut.

    I have read a book.

    Word by Word: Book one read have.

  4. Hemen etxe handi bat dago.

    There is a big house here.

    Word by Word: Here house big one is.

    Bat comes after the adjective, at the end of the phrase.

  5. Lagun batzuk etorri dira.

    Some friends have come.

    Word by Word: Friend some come are.

    With batzuk the verb is plural.

  6. Sagar batzuk nahi ditut.

    I want some apples.

    Word by Word: Apple some want have(pl).

Common Mistakes

  • Putting bat before the noun, as with English "a".

    Bat kafe, mesedez.
    Kafe bat, mesedez.

    Bat follows the noun. Only numbers from two upward come before it.

  • Using the article together with bat.

    Etxea bat erosi dugu.
    Etxe bat erosi dugu.

    Bat takes the place of the article, so the noun stays bare: etxe bat.

  • Using a singular verb with batzuk.

    Lagun batzuk etorri da.
    Lagun batzuk etorri dira.

    Batzuk makes the phrase plural, so the verb must be plural too.

How It Connects

Tap a pattern to see what it builds on and what it leads to.

bat / batzukLevel 1A, One and Some

Learn This First

bat and batzuk contrast with the article.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

batbatbatzuk