-a
The Definite Article -a
To say "the", add -a to the end of the word: etxe becomes etxea (the house), mendi becomes mendia (the mountain).
How It Works
How to add it
- etxe → etxea (the house)
- mendi → mendia (the mountain)
- lagun → laguna (the friend)
- neska → neska (the girl): the word already ends in -a, so nothing is added.
Most words that end in -r double it before the article, as in haur → haurra (the child) and zahar → zaharra (the old one). See Words Ending in -r.
On the last word of the phrase
The article belongs to the whole noun phrase, so it goes on its last word: etxe handia (the big house), not on both words. See Adjective, Then Article.
Where English has no article
A Basque noun usually needs a determiner: the article, a demonstrative or bat at its end, or a number before it. So -a appears where English uses no article at all:
- General statements: Kafea gustatzen zait. I like coffee.
- Things you buy or eat: Ogia erosi dut. I have bought bread.
- After izan: Ni ikaslea naiz. I am a student.
When it is not used
- Names of people and places: Ane, Bilbo.
- With bat or a demonstrative, which take its place: etxe bat, etxe hau. See A, One and Some.
- After a number, when you mean just "three houses": hiru etxe. See Numbers and Nouns.
For "the" with more than one, use the plural article -ak.
Examples (6)
- Etxea handia da.
The house is big.
Word by Word: House-the big-the is.
- Mendia oso polita da.
The mountain is very beautiful.
Word by Word: Mountain-the very beautiful-the is.
- Neska etxean dago.
The girl is at home.
Word by Word: Girl(-the) house-the-in is.
Neska already ends in -a, so no second a is added.
- Ogia erosi dut.
I have bought bread.
Word by Word: Bread-the bought have.
English can drop "the" here; Basque still needs the article.
- Kafea gustatzen zait.
I like coffee.
Word by Word: Coffee-the pleasing is-to-me.
A general statement about coffee still uses -a.
- Laguna etorri da.
The friend has come.
Word by Word: Friend-the come is.
Common Mistakes
Adding a second a to a word that already ends in -a.
Neskaa etorri da.Neska etorri da.Neska already ends in -a, so the article merges with it. The word stays neska.
Leaving out the article where English has none.
Kafe gustatzen zait.Kafea gustatzen zait.A Basque noun needs an ending such as the article, even in a general statement where English says just "coffee".
Adding the article to a name.
Anea etorri da.Ane etorri da.Names of people and places do not take the article.
How It Connects
Related Patterns
- -akThe Plural Article -ak
The plural of -a: etxeak (the houses).
Level 1 - Noun + Adjective + -aAdjective, Then Article
With an adjective, the article moves to the end of the phrase: etxe handia.
Level 1 - bat / batzukA, One and Some
Bat and batzuk take the place of the article: etxe bat.
Level 1 - Adjective + -a + izanDescribing with Izan
Adjectives after izan also take the article: Etxea handia da.
Level 1 - Numbers and Nouns
After a number the noun usually has no article: hiru etxe.
Level 1 - Words Ending in -r
Most words ending in -r double it before the article: haurra, zaharra.
Level 2
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Practice -a in Bubblegum
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