Western Forms
The western dialect (bizkaiera, spoken in Bizkaia and nearby areas) has its own everyday forms: Ez dot ulertzen = standard Ez dut ulertzen.
How It Works
1. The ukan auxiliary.
- dot = dut (I have)
- dozu = duzu (you have)
- dau = du (he or she has)
- dogu = dugu (we have)
- dozue = duzue (you all have)
- dabe = dute (they have)
2. With: -gaz. Western speech uses -gaz in the singular and -kaz in the plural where the standard uses -(r)ekin: lagunagaz = lagunarekin (with the friend), lagunakaz = lagunekin (with the friends).
3. ei for omen. Etorri ei da = Etorri omen da (He has come, they say). Like omen, it goes right before the auxiliary.
4. egon for actions in progress. Where the standard uses -tzen ari izan, western speakers often use egon: Zer egiten zagoz? = Zer egiten ari zara? (What are you doing?). Note zagoz, the western form of zaude.
5. A few everyday words. gura for nahi (etorri gura dot = etorri nahi dut), barik for gabe (without), and barri for berri (new).
Tip: Standard Basque is what you write, but you will hear these forms in Bilbao and all over Bizkaia. Recognizing them makes conversations much easier. See also the Basque dialects.
Examples (6)
- Ez dot ulertzen.
I do not understand.
Standard Basque: Ez dut ulertzen.
- Lagunakaz etorri da.
He has come with his friends.
Standard Basque: Lagunekin etorri da.
- Zer egiten zagoz?
What are you doing?
Standard Basque: Zer egiten ari zara?
- Bihar etorriko ei da.
He is coming tomorrow, they say.
Standard Basque: Bihar etorriko omen da.
- Kafea azukre barik hartzen dot.
I take my coffee without sugar.
Standard Basque: Kafea azukre gabe hartzen dut.
- Etxe barri bat erosi dabe.
They have bought a new house.
Standard Basque: Etxe berri bat erosi dute.
Common Mistakes
Using dau when the subject is plural.
Eurak etxe barri bat erosi dau.Eurak etxe barri bat erosi dabe.In western Basque, dau means he or she has. For they, the form is dabe, like standard dute.
Putting ei after the auxiliary.
Etorriko da ei.Etorriko ei da.Like omen, ei goes right before the auxiliary.
How It Connects
Learn This First
Western forms follow the dialects.
Related Patterns
- Standard Basque (Euskara Batua)
The standard forms that these western forms correspond to.
Level 5 - omenReportedly: Omen
ei is the western form of omen.
Level 4 - -tzen ari izanRight Now: -tzen Ari Naiz
The standard way to say an action is in progress.
Level 2 - -(r)ekinWith: -(r)ekin
The standard ending that -gaz replaces.
Level 1 - ukan: dut / duzu / duThe Verb to Have (Dut, Duzu, Du)
The standard auxiliary forms that dot, dozu and dau correspond to.
Level 1
Practice Western Forms in Bubblegum
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