eskerrik asko / mesedez / barkatu

Thanks, Please and Sorry

Level 1

Eskerrik asko means thank you. Mesedez means please. Barkatu means sorry or excuse me.

How It Works

Thank you

  • Eskerrik asko: thank you.
  • Mila esker: thanks a lot.
  • Eskerrik asko denagatik: thanks for everything.

To say what you are thanking someone for, add -gatik: Eskerrik asko laguntzagatik (Thanks for your help). See because of: -(r)engatik, -(r)i esker.

You are welcome

  • Ez horregatik: you are welcome (not for that).
  • Ez dago zergatik: no need to thank me.
  • Ez da ezer: it was nothing.

Please

Mesedez usually comes at the end of a request: Ur pixka bat, mesedez (A little water, please). You may also meet otoi, another word for please that makes a request more earnest. It is heard mostly in the North and seen in writing.

Sorry and excuse me

Barkatu apologizes for something you did, and it also opens a polite question to a stranger. To show sympathy about something sad that is not your fault, say sentitzen dut (I am sorry to hear it).

Examples (6)

  1. Eskerrik asko, Ane!

    Thank you, Ane!

    Word by Word: Thanks many, Ane!

  2. — Mila esker! — Ez horregatik.

    Thanks a lot! — You are welcome.

    Word by Word: Thousand thanks! — Not that-for.

  3. Ur pixka bat, mesedez.

    A little water, please.

    Word by Word: Water bit one, please.

    Mesedez usually goes at the end of the request.

  4. Barkatu, non dago geltokia?

    Excuse me, where is the station?

    Word by Word: Forgive, where is station-the?

    Barkatu politely gets a stranger's attention.

  5. Barkatu, berandu nator.

    Sorry, I am late.

    Word by Word: Forgive, late I-come.

  6. Eskerrik asko laguntzagatik.

    Thanks for your help.

    Word by Word: Thanks many help-for.

    The ending -gatik names what you are thanking someone for.

Common Mistakes

  • Putting asko before eskerrik.

    Asko eskerrik!
    Eskerrik asko!

    Asko (many) comes after the word it counts, so the phrase is always eskerrik asko.

  • Writing eskerrik asko as one word.

    Eskerrikasko, Ane!
    Eskerrik asko, Ane!

    Eskerrik and asko are two separate words.

  • Using barkatu to show sympathy.

    — Nire amona gaixorik dago. — Barkatu.
    — Nire amona gaixorik dago. — Sentitzen dut.

    Barkatu asks forgiveness or politely interrupts. To show sympathy when someone shares bad news, say sentitzen dut.

How It Connects

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

eskerrik asko / mesedez / barkatuLevel 1Thanks, Please and Sorry

Learn This First

Polite phrases follow greetings.

Words in This Pattern

eskerrik askomila eskerez horregatikmesedezbarkatu