gustatuko litzaidake / nahi nuke

I Would Like

Level 3

For I would like, say nahi nuke: Kafe bat nahi nuke (I would like a coffee). Or say gustatuko litzaidake: Gustatuko litzaidake Parisera joatea (I would like to go to Paris).

How It Works

nahi nuke. Use it with a noun or with a verb in the participle: Kafe bat nahi nuke (I would like a coffee), Zurekin hitz egin nahi nuke (I would like to talk with you). In Standard Basque nahi takes the ukan forms, even with verbs like joan: Joan nahi nuke (I would like to go). In the North-East you may also hear izan forms, as in joan nahi nintzateke.

  • nik nahi nuke
  • zuk nahi zenuke
  • hark nahi luke
  • guk nahi genuke
  • zuek nahi zenukete
  • haiek nahi lukete

Zer nahi zenuke? (What would you like?) is a polite way to offer something. nahiko nuke is also correct and means the same.

gustatuko litzaidake. The thing you would like is the subject, and you are the receiver, as in gustatzen zait. The receiver sets the ending:

  • litzaidake (to me)
  • litzaizuke (to you)
  • litzaioke (to him or her)
  • litzaiguke (to us)
  • litzaizueke (to you all)
  • litzaieke (to them)

With a verb, use the -tzea form: Gustatuko litzaidake Parisera joatea. When the liked thing is plural, add -zki-: litzaizkidake.

Keep it in the conditional. Use litzaidake, not the past zitzaidan: Gustatuko litzaidake bihar joatea (I would like to go tomorrow).

Examples (6)

  1. Kafe bat nahi nuke.

    I would like a coffee.

  2. Gustatuko litzaidake Parisera joatea.

    I would like to go to Paris.

    Going to Paris is the subject, so the verb takes the -tzea form.

  3. Zer hartu nahi zenuke?

    What would you like to have?

  4. Zurekin hitz egin nahi nuke.

    I would like to talk with you.

  5. Gustatuko litzaizuke gurekin afaltzea?

    Would you like to have dinner with us?

    litzaizuke: it would please you.

  6. Aneri asko gustatuko litzaioke opari hori.

    Ane would really like that present.

    Ane is the receiver: Aneri, litzaioke.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the past instead of the conditional.

    Gustatuko zitzaidan bihar sagardotegira joatea.
    Gustatuko litzaidake bihar sagardotegira joatea.

    zitzaidan is past. A wish about now or later needs the conditional: litzaidake.

  • Using nuke with gustatu.

    Gustatuko nuke Parisera joatea.
    Gustatuko litzaidake Parisera joatea.

    gustatu works like gustatzen zait. You are the receiver, so the form is litzaidake.

How It Connects

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

gustatuko litzaidake / nahi nukeLevel 3I Would Like

Learn This First

I would like needs the conditional, zait and nahi.

Words in This Pattern

nahi izannahigustatu