-(r)en bila / -(r)en zain

Looking for, Waiting for

Level 3

To say you are looking for or waiting for something, put it in the -(r)en form and add bila or zain: giltzen bila (looking for the keys), zure zain (waiting for you).

How It Works

1. The pattern. Thing + -(r)en + bila or zain + verb. The ending is the possessive -(r)en:

  • autobusa (the bus) → autobusaren zain
  • giltzak (the keys) → giltzen bila
  • Mikel → Mikelen zain
  • pronouns use their possessive form: nire bila, zure zain. See nire, zure, haren.

2. bila: looking for. It is very common with nabil, zabiltza, dabil: Giltzen bila nabil. (I am looking for the keys.) With joan or etorri it means going or coming to get something or someone: Zure bila etorriko naiz. (I will come and pick you up.)

3. Things in general. When you mean "any", not a specific one, the noun has no article and no -en: lan bila (looking for work), ogi bila (to get bread). Compare Lan bila nabil (I am looking for work) with Nire giltzen bila nabil (I am looking for my keys). See endings without the article.

4. zain: waiting for. It goes with egon: Autobusaren zain nago. (I am waiting for the bus.) Ordubete egon naiz zure zain. (I have been waiting for you for an hour.)

5. Asking. Use the -(r)en form of the question word: Zeren bila zabiltza? (What are you looking for?) Noren zain zaude? (Who are you waiting for?)

Tip: The verbs bilatu (to search) and itxaron (to wait) also exist. bila and zain are the everyday way to say you are busy looking or waiting right now.

Examples (6)

  1. Giltzen bila nabil.

    I am looking for the keys.

    giltzak (the keys) becomes giltzen before bila.

  2. Zure zain nago.

    I am waiting for you.

    The pronoun zu uses its possessive form zure.

  3. Autobusaren zain gaude.

    We are waiting for the bus.

    autobusa + -ren. zain goes with egon (gaude).

  4. Ogi bila joan da.

    He has gone to get bread.

    Bread in general has no article and no -en. It can also mean "She has gone".

  5. Zeren bila zabiltza?

    What are you looking for?

    zer becomes zeren before bila.

  6. Lan bila nabil.

    I am looking for work.

    Any job, not a specific one, so lan stays bare.

Common Mistakes

  • Leaving out -(r)en before bila.

    Giltzak bila nabil.
    Giltzen bila nabil.

    A noun with an article must take -(r)en before bila, so giltzak (the keys) becomes giltzen.

  • Using the plain pronoun before zain.

    Zu zain nago.
    Zure zain nago.

    Pronouns take their possessive form before zain and bila: nire, zure, haren, gure, zuen, haien.

  • Leaving out -(r)en before zain.

    Autobusa zain nago.
    Autobusaren zain nago.

    The thing you wait for takes -(r)en: autobusa becomes autobusaren.

How It Connects

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

-(r)en bila / -(r)en zainLevel 3Looking for, Waiting for

Learn This First

Looking for and waiting for need the genitive.

Words in This Pattern

bila