-(r)en izenean
On Behalf of
Izen means name, and izenean is its inessive: "in the name". With a possessor before it, it means on behalf of: Taldearen izenean, eskerrik asko guztioi (On behalf of the team, thank you all).
How It Works
1. Building the phrase.
- Nouns: taldearen izenean, langileen izenean, Mikelen izenean
- Pronouns: nire izenean, zure izenean, bere izenean, gure izenean
It is the ordinary possessive genitive -(r)en plus izen in the inessive -n.
2. Two meanings.
- Acting for someone: Nire izenean hitz egin zuen (He spoke on my behalf). Zure izenean sina dezaket? (Can I sign on your behalf?)
- Registered to someone: Etxea bi anaien izenean dago (The house is in the two brothers' names). Mahaia nire izenean erreserbatu dut (I have booked the table under my name).
Set phrases follow the same model: Jainkoaren izenean (in God's name), legearen izenean (in the name of the law).
3. Do not mix it up with these.
- izenez: by name. Izenez ezagutzen dut (I know him by name).
- izeneko: named. Ane izeneko neska (a girl named Ane).
- -(r)en ordez: instead of. Nire ordez joan da (She went instead of me), but Nire izenean joan da (She went on my behalf).
4. A Northern synonym. In Northern Basque, -(r)en partez can also mean on behalf of: Euskaltzaindia's dictionary gives Mattinen partez goraintzi (Greetings on Mattin's behalf).
Tip: Think of the English phrase "in the name of": Basque says it word for word, with the owner of the name in -(r)en.
Examples (6)
- Taldearen izenean, eskerrik asko guztioi.
On behalf of the team, thank you all.
- Nire izenean hitz egin zuen bileran.
He spoke on my behalf at the meeting.
- Zure izenean sina dezaket?
Can I sign on your behalf?
- Mahaia nire izenean erreserbatu dut.
I have booked the table under my name.
- Etxea bi anaien izenean dago.
The house is in the two brothers' names.
- Langileen izenean, ordezkariak gutun bat bidali dio zuzendaritzari.
On the workers' behalf, their representative has sent a letter to management.
Common Mistakes
Using izenez instead of izenean.
Taldearen izenez, eskerrik asko guztioi.Taldearen izenean, eskerrik asko guztioi.izenez means by name, as in Izenez ezagutzen dut. To speak for a group, use the inessive: taldearen izenean.
Adding -ren to a pronoun.
Zuren izenean sina dezaket?Zure izenean sina dezaket?Pronouns have their own possessive words: nire, zure, bere, gure, zuen. There is no zuren.
How It Connects
Learn This First
On behalf of follows the genitive.
Related Patterns
- nire / zure / haren / gure / zuen / haienPossessive Pronouns
The possessive words used with pronouns: nire izenean, zure izenean.
Level 1 - -nWhere: -n (In, At, On)
izenean is izen with the inessive ending: in the name.
Level 1 - -(r)en ordez / beharreanInstead of
Instead of: nire ordez, which is different from nire izenean.
Level 4 - nire izena ... daSaying Your Name
The basic word izen, name, first met when introducing yourself.
Level 1 - bere / harenHis Own or Someone Else's
bere izenean (in his own name) follows the same rule for bere.
Level 2
Words in This Pattern
Practice -(r)en izenean in Bubblegum
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