Compound Nouns

Level 5

Two words can make one: aste (week) + buru (end) = asteburu (weekend). The last word is the main one, and the first word says what kind.

How It Works

1. The main word comes last. Read a compound from right to left:

  • ikasgela = ikas (study) + gela (room): classroom
  • eskuliburu = esku (hand) + liburu (book): handbook
  • asteburu = aste (week) + buru (end): weekend
  • sagardo = sagar (apple) + ardo (wine): cider

The article and case endings are added only once, at the very end: asteburuan (at the weekend).

2. Pair words. Some compounds join two equal words, like and. They are written with a hyphen: aita-semeak (father and son), seme-alabak (sons and daughters, children), han-hemen (here and there).

3. Short first forms. A few words change when they come first:

  • euskara → euskal: euskal kultura, Euskal Herria
  • erdara (a non-Basque language) → erdal: erdal testua
  • gizon → giza: giza eskubideak (human rights), gizarte (society)
  • itsaso (sea) → itsas: itsas ekologia

Some words also drop a final -a: biologia → biologi azterketa (a biology exam).

4. How to write them. Many compounds are one word (ikasgela, asteburu, gizarte). Those with euskal, erdal, giza and itsas are usually written as two words (giza zientziak). Pair words take a hyphen. Other noun + noun compounds may be written either with a hyphen or as two words: ardo-botila or ardo botila.

Tip: A compound can name a type of thing: ardo-botila is a wine bottle, while botila bat ardo is a bottle of wine.

Examples (6)

  1. Ikasgelan hogei ikasle daude.

    There are twenty students in the classroom.

    The ending -n goes on the end of ikasgela.

  2. Asteburuan mendira joango gara.

    At the weekend we will go to the mountains.

  3. Aita-semeak futbolera joan dira.

    Father and son have gone to the football match.

    A pair word, written with a hyphen.

  4. Euskal kultura oso aberatsa da.

    Basque culture is very rich.

    euskara becomes euskal when it comes first.

  5. Giza eskubideak denontzat dira.

    Human rights are for everyone.

  6. Sagardoa sagarrez egiten da.

    Cider is made from apples.

    sagardo = sagar (apple) + ardo (wine).

Common Mistakes

  • Using the full word euskara before another noun.

    Euskara kultura oso aberatsa da.
    Euskal kultura oso aberatsa da.

    When it describes another noun as Basque, euskara takes the short form euskal: euskal kultura, euskal literatura.

  • Writing a pair word without the hyphen.

    Seme alabak parkean daude.
    Seme-alabak parkean daude.

    Pair words that join two equal nouns, like seme-alabak (children), are written with a hyphen.

How It Connects

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Compound NounsLevel 5

Learn This First

Compounds follow noun phrase order.

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Patterns that build on this one.