gose / egarri / beldur izan

Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid

Level 2

Basque says "I am hunger" with no article: Gose naiz (I am hungry), Egarri naiz (I am thirsty), Beldur naiz (I am afraid).

How It Works

These three nouns combine with izan to describe a feeling:

  • gose (hunger): Gose naiz (I am hungry)
  • egarri (thirst): Egarri naiz (I am thirsty)
  • beldur (fear): Beldur naiz (I am afraid)

logura (sleepiness) works the same way: Logura naiz (I am sleepy).

No article. The noun stays bare. Gosea naiz would mean "I am the hunger".

Afraid of something. The thing you fear takes -(r)en and comes right before beldur: Txakurraren beldur naiz (I am afraid of the dog), Txakurren beldur naiz (I am afraid of dogs), Zure beldur da (He is afraid of you). To ask, say Zeren beldur zara? (What are you afraid of?)

Saying how much. Use oso: Oso gose naiz (I am very hungry). When you add a describing word, many speakers switch to eduki or ukan with the article: Gose handia daukat (I am really hungry, literally "I have a big hunger").

Other forms you will hear. Standard Basque also accepts Goseak nago and Egarriak nago with egon, which are common in everyday speech. Fear can also be beldurra dut or beldurra daukat. Gose naiz and beldur naiz are the forms taught here.

Examples (6)

  1. Gose naiz.

    I am hungry.

  2. Egarri zara? Ura nahi duzu?

    Are you thirsty? Do you want some water?

  3. Txakurren beldur da.

    He is afraid of dogs.

    txakurren is the genitive plural: "of dogs".

  4. Umeak oso gose dira.

    The children are very hungry.

  5. Zeren beldur zara?

    What are you afraid of?

    zeren is the genitive of zer.

  6. Goseak nago.

    I am hungry.

    A common alternative with egon, also accepted in Standard Basque.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the article to the noun.

    Gosea naiz.
    Gose naiz.

    With izan, gose, egarri and beldur stay bare. Gosea naiz would mean "I am the hunger".

  • Leaving the feared thing without -(r)en.

    Txakurra beldur naiz.
    Txakurraren beldur naiz.

    What you are afraid of takes the genitive -(r)en and comes right before beldur.

How It Connects

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

gose / egarri / beldur izanLevel 2Hungry, Thirsty, Afraid

Learn This First

These expressions use izan.

Words in This Pattern

beldur izanbeldurgosegoseegarriegarriizan