-tzat

Take as, Consider: -tzat

Level 4

-tzat says what you take or consider something to be: Laguntzat hartu nau (He has taken me as a friend), Galdutzat jo dute (They have given it up for lost).

How It Works

1. Formation. Add -tzat straight to the bare word, without -a. This is an article-less form:

  • lagun → laguntzat (as a friend)
  • ergel → ergeltzat (for a fool)
  • on → ontzat (as good)
  • participles work too: galdu → galdutzat (as lost)

2. The verbs.

  • hartu, take as: Laguntzat hartu nau. (He has taken me as a friend.) Ergeltzat hartzen nauzu? (Do you take me for a fool?)
  • jo, consider: Galdutzat jo dute. (They have given it up for lost.)
  • eduki, regard: Irakasle zintzotzat daukagu. (We regard him as an honest teacher.)
  • eman, give as: Oparitzat erloju bat eman genion. (We gave him a watch as a present.) ontzat eman means to approve: Proposamena ontzat eman dute. (They have approved the proposal.)

3. Not every verb. Verbs like izendatu (appoint) and aukeratu (choose) use the bare word without -tzat: Lur alkate izendatu zuten. (They appointed Lur mayor.)

4. -tzat or bezala? Spanish "como" leads learners to say ergel bezala hartu. The Basque Academy recommends -tzat here and keeps bezala for comparisons.

Tip: Do not confuse -tzat with -(r)entzat, which means "for" someone's benefit: zuretzat (for you). Compare also -(r)en gisa, "in the role of".

Examples (5)

  1. Laguntzat hartu nau.

    He has taken me as a friend.

    lagun + -tzat with hartu. It can also mean "She has taken me".

  2. Galdutzat jo dute.

    They have given it up for lost.

    The participle galdu + -tzat with jo.

  3. Ergeltzat hartzen nauzu?

    Do you take me for a fool?

  4. Oparitzat erloju bat eman genion.

    We gave him a watch as a present.

    opari + -tzat with eman.

  5. Proposamena ontzat eman dute.

    They have approved the proposal.

    ontzat eman is a fixed phrase: to approve.

Common Mistakes

  • Adding the article before -tzat.

    Lagunatzat hartu nau.
    Laguntzat hartu nau.

    -tzat goes on the bare word, so lagun becomes laguntzat, not lagunatzat.

  • Using bezala instead of -tzat.

    Ergel bezala hartzen nauzu?
    Ergeltzat hartzen nauzu?

    With hartu, jo and eduki, the Basque Academy recommends -tzat. Keep bezala for comparisons.

  • Using -(r)entzat instead of -tzat.

    Ergelarentzat hartzen nauzu?
    Ergeltzat hartzen nauzu?

    -(r)entzat means "for the benefit of". To say "take as", use -tzat.

How It Connects

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

-tzatLevel 4Take as, Consider: -tzat

Learn This First

-tzat follows -(r)entzat.