kaixo / egun on / zer moduz?
Greetings
Kaixo! works at any time. For a warmer or more polite greeting, use the time of day: egun on, arratsalde on, gabon. Then ask Zer moduz?
How It Works
Hello
- Kaixo: hi. It is friendly and works at any time. Among friends you will also hear Aupa!
- Egun on: good morning, until about midday.
- Arratsalde on: good afternoon, from lunchtime until dark.
- Gabon: good evening or good night, for both hello and goodbye. It is the usual form in the South, while gau on, the same wish, is used in every region. You can answer with the same word.
Add a name or a group: Egun on, Miren! or Kaixo denoi! (Hi, everyone!).
How are you?
Ask Zer moduz?, Zer moduz zaude? or Nola zaude? Common answers are Ondo (fine), Oso ondo (very well), Primeran (great), Nahiko ondo (quite well) and Ez oso ondo (not very well). Then ask back: Eta zu? (And you?).
To answer in a full sentence, standard Basque uses the verb egon, which describes how someone is: Ondo nago (I am fine). In the North you will also hear Ongi naiz, with izan. See egon present: nago, zaude, dago.
Examples (6)
- Kaixo, Ane! Zer moduz?
Hi, Ane! How are you?
Word by Word: Hi, Ane! What manner-by?
- Ondo, eta zu?
Fine, and you?
Word by Word: Well, and you?
- Egun on denoi!
Good morning, everyone!
Word by Word: Day good all-to!
- Arratsalde on, Mikel. Nola zaude?
Good afternoon, Mikel. How are you?
Word by Word: Afternoon good, Mikel. How you-are?
- — Gabon, ama! — Gabon, maitea!
Good night, Mom! — Good night, dear!
Word by Word: Good-night, mother! — Good-night, dear-the!
Gabon is used in the evening, both when you meet and when you part. You can answer with the same word.
- Oso ondo nago, eskerrik asko.
I am very well, thank you.
Word by Word: Very well I-am, thanks many.
Common Mistakes
Putting on (good) before the noun.
On egun!Egun on!In Basque, on comes after the word it describes, like other adjectives: egun on, arratsalde on, gau on.
Using egun on at night.
Egun on! Ondo lo egin!Gabon! Ondo lo egin!Egun on is a morning greeting. At night, before going to sleep, say gabon or gau on.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- agur / gero arte / bihar arteSaying Goodbye
The goodbyes that go with these greetings.
Level 1 - eskerrik asko / mesedez / barkatuThanks, Please and Sorry
Other everyday courtesy words.
Level 1 - nire izena ... daSaying Your Name
After greeting someone, you can tell them your name.
Level 1 - egon: nago / zaude / dagoThe Verb Egon (To Be Somewhere)
The verb used to say how you are: ondo nago.
Level 1 - nolaHow (Nola)
Nola zaude? is another way to ask how someone is.
Level 1 - Days and Times of Day
The times of day behind egun on, arratsalde on and gabon.
Level 1
Words in This Pattern
Practice kaixo / egun on / zer moduz? in Bubblegum
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