eta / edo / baina

And, Or, But

Level 1

eta means and, edo means or, and baina means but. They go between the things they link, just as in English.

How It Works

eta (and) joins words, phrases or whole sentences: kafea eta ogia, euskaraz eta ingelesez, Etxera joan naiz eta lo egin dut (I have gone home and slept). In fast speech it often sounds like ta. You also meet it inside numbers and clock times: hogeita bat comes from hogei eta bat (twenty and one), and seiak eta bost is five past six. See numbers hamaika to ehun.

A plural verb. Two subjects joined by eta count as a plural subject: Ane eta Mikel etorri dira (Ane and Mikel have come).

edo (or) gives alternatives: tea edo kafea, bihar edo etzi (tomorrow or the day after). edo is always correct, in statements and in questions. In a question that asks someone to pick one option, you will also often hear ala: Kafea ala tea? See ala and ezta? in questions.

baina (but) introduces a contrast. It usually starts the second part, often after a comma: Polita da, baina garestia (It is pretty, but expensive), Ulertzen dut, baina ez dut hitz egiten (I understand it, but I do not speak it). Do not mix up baina (but) with baino (than): Ane Mikel baino altuagoa da (Ane is taller than Mikel). See comparative -ago ... baino.

Later you will meet paired forms such as bai ... bai (both ... and) and ez ... ez (neither ... nor). See bai ... bai and ez ... ez.

Examples (6)

  1. Kafea eta ogia, mesedez.

    Coffee and bread, please.

  2. Ane eta Mikel etorri dira.

    Ane and Mikel have come.

    Two subjects joined by eta take the plural dira.

  3. Goizean tea edo kafea hartzen dut.

    In the morning I have tea or coffee.

  4. Bihar edo etzi etorriko naiz.

    I will come tomorrow or the day after.

  5. Polita da, baina garestia.

    It's pretty, but expensive.

    Word by Word: Pretty is, but expensive-the.

  6. Euskaraz eta ingelesez hitz egiten dut.

    I speak Basque and English.

Common Mistakes

  • Writing baino (than) when you mean but.

    Polita da, baino garestia.
    Polita da, baina garestia.

    baina means but. baino means than and is used in comparisons.

  • Using a singular verb for two subjects joined by eta.

    Ane eta Mikel etorri da.
    Ane eta Mikel etorri dira.

    Ane and Mikel together are a plural subject, so the verb is plural.

How It Connects

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eta / edo / bainaLevel 1And, Or, But

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Words in This Pattern

edo