zatoz / zoaz
Simple Commands
To tell someone to come, go or stay, say Zatoz!, Zoaz! or Zaude!. For other verbs, the participle on its own works as a command: Itxi atea! (Close the door!)
How It Works
One-word commands. A few verbs with one-word present forms also use them as commands. The command is the same as the zu form of the present:
- etorri: Zatoz! (Come!), for a group Zatozte!
- joan: Zoaz! (Go!), for a group Zoazte!
- egon: Zaude! (Stay! Be!), for a group Zaudete!
The situation and your tone of voice show that it is a command. In writing, an exclamation mark helps: Zatoz hona! (Come here!)
The participle as a command. In everyday speech, the dictionary form of almost any verb works as a command: Etorri hona! (Come here!), Itxi atea! (Close the door!), Eseri! (Sit down!), Ekarri ura, mesedez! (Bring some water, please!). It stays the same for one person or for a group.
More commands later. Speakers also build commands with zaitez and ezazu, as in Eser zaitez (Sit down) and Ireki ezazu (Open it). These come in formal commands. Telling someone not to do something is covered in negative commands.
Being polite. Add mesedez (please) to soften any command: Zatoz hona, mesedez.
Regional note. In some Western speech you may hear atoz for zatoz. Standard Basque uses zatoz and zatozte.
Examples (6)
- Zatoz hona!
Come here!
- Zoaz etxera!
Go home!
- Zaude lasai!
Relax! Don't worry!
Literally "be calm". zaude is the command form of egon.
- Zatozte bazkaltzera!
Come and have lunch, everyone!
Speaking to a group, zatoz becomes zatozte.
- Itxi atea, mesedez!
Close the door, please!
The participle itxi works as a command on its own.
- Eseri hemen!
Sit here!
Common Mistakes
Using the singular form for a group.
Umeak, zatoz hona!Umeak, zatozte hona!When you speak to several people, add -te: zatozte, zoazte, zaudete.
Using a perfect-tense statement as a command.
Etorri zara hona!Etorri hona!Etorri zara means "you have come". For a command, use the participle alone or zatoz.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Simple commands reuse the synthetic motion verbs.
Related Patterns
- joan: noa / zoaz / doaGoing (Noa, Zoaz, Doa)
Gives the present forms of joan, where zoaz comes from.
Level 1 - egon: nago / zaude / dagoThe Verb Egon (To Be Somewhere)
Gives the present forms of egon, where zaude comes from.
Level 1 - zaitez / ezazuCommands with Zaitez and Ezazu
The next step: commands built with zaitez and ezazu.
Level 3 - Don't
Explains how to tell someone not to do something.
Level 3 - hona / horra / haraTo Here and to There
Direction words that often follow a command, as in Zatoz hona!
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice zatoz / zoaz in Bubblegum
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