norbait / zerbait / nonbait / noizbait

Someone, Something, Somewhere

Level 2

Question word + -bait = an indefinite word: nor → norbait (someone), zer → zerbait (something), non → nonbait (somewhere), noiz → noizbait (sometime).

How It Works

  • nor (who) → norbait (someone)
  • zer (what) → zerbait (something)
  • non (where) → nonbait (somewhere)
  • noiz (when) → noizbait (sometime, some day)
  • nola (how) → nolabait (somehow)

Each one is built on a question word you already know: nor, zer, non and noiz.

Case endings go after -bait. norbait and zerbait end in a consonant and take endings like other words: norbaitek (someone, as the doer of a verb with an object), norbaiti (to someone), norbaitekin (with someone), zerbaitek (something, as the doer). Norbaitek deitu du (Someone has called).

Positive or negative? In a negative sentence, use the other set, inor, ezer, inon, inoiz. Norbait etorri da (Someone has come), but Ez da inor etorri (Nobody has come).

In questions both sets are possible, much like English "someone" and "anyone". Norbait etorri al da? (Has someone come?) is open to the answer yes. Inor etorri al da? (Has anybody come?) asks whether anybody at all came.

noizbait has a second, everyday meaning: "at last". Noizbait iritsi zara! (You have finally arrived!)

You will also meet zer edo zer or zeozer for zerbait, and nor edo nor for norbait. They mean the same thing.

Examples (6)

  1. Norbait etorri da.

    Someone has come.

  2. Zerbait jan nahi duzu?

    Do you want to eat something?

  3. Norbaitek deitu du.

    Someone has called.

    deitu takes du, so norbait takes the ergative ending: norbaitek.

  4. Giltzak nonbait daude, baina ez dakit non.

    The keys are somewhere, but I don't know where.

  5. Noizbait Japonia ikusi nahi dut.

    Some day I want to see Japan.

  6. Noizbait iritsi zara!

    You have finally arrived!

    Here noizbait means "at last".

Common Mistakes

  • Forgetting the -k on norbait with a verb that takes du.

    Norbait deitu du.
    Norbaitek deitu du.

    With a du-type verb, the doer takes the ergative ending, and norbait is no exception: norbaitek.

  • Using norbait after ez to mean "nobody".

    Ez da norbait etorri.
    Ez da inor etorri.

    After ez, "anybody" is inor. The -bait words belong in positive sentences and questions.

How It Connects

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

norbait / zerbait / nonbait / noizbaitLevel 2Someone, Something, Somewhere

Learn This First

norbait and zerbait build on the question words.

Words in This Pattern

norbaitzerbaitnonbaitnoizbait