-raino / -rantz

As Far as, Towards

Level 3

Bilbora (to Bilbao), Bilboraino (as far as Bilbao), Bilborantz (towards Bilbao).

How It Works

-raino: as far as, up to, until. This is the -ra ending plus -ino. It marks the end point and stresses that the movement or time reaches it:

  • Tren hau Bilboraino doa. (This train goes as far as Bilbao.)
  • Goizeraino dantzan egon ginen. (We danced until morning.)
  • The question word is noraino? (how far?): Noraino iritsi zara liburuan?

-rantz: towards. This gives a direction without saying you arrive:

  • Etxerantz noa. (I am heading home.)
  • Itsasorantz begiratu zuen. (He looked towards the sea.)
  • With times, it means around or towards: arratsalderantz (towards evening).

Forms. They attach exactly like -ra. A singular noun has no article before them: mendiraino, mendirantz. Place names follow the same pattern (Madrilera, Madrileraino), and plurals and indefinites use -eta- and -ta- (etxeetaraino, bi etxetaraino). With people, they build on -gana: lagunenganaino; see animate cases -gan, -gana, -gandik. The place words give honaino, horraino, haraino and gorantz, beherantz.

With a noun. To describe a noun, add -ko: Erromarainoko bidaia (the trip as far as Rome), etxeranzko bidea (the road towards home; tz becomes z before k). See adnominal -ko.

Spoken variants. In speech you may hear -runtz or -rontz. For written Standard Basque, Euskaltzaindia has chosen -rantz.

For a span with a start and an end, see from ... to: -tik ... -ra.

Examples (6)

  1. Tren hau Bilboraino doa.

    This train goes as far as Bilbao.

    -raino marks the last stop.

  2. Goizeraino dantzan egon ginen.

    We danced until morning.

    -raino also works with time.

  3. Noraino iritsi zara liburuan?

    How far have you got in the book?

  4. Etxerantz noa.

    I am heading home.

    -rantz gives the direction only.

  5. Itsasorantz begiratu zuen.

    He looked towards the sea.

  6. Erromarainoko bidaia luzea izan zen.

    The trip as far as Rome was long.

    With -ko, the phrase describes the noun bidaia.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the singular article before -raino.

    Mendiaraino igo gara.
    Mendiraino igo gara.

    Like -ra (mendira), -raino and -rantz attach without the singular article: mendiraino, mendirantz.

  • Using -rantz when you arrive.

    Bilborantz iritsi naiz.
    Bilbora iritsi naiz.

    -rantz only means towards. When you actually arrive, use -ra; to stress the end point, use -raino.

How It Connects

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

-raino / -rantzLevel 3As Far as, Towards

Learn This First

As far as and towards follow the allative.