noiz

When (Noiz)

Level 1

noiz means "when" in questions: Noiz etorriko zara? (When will you come?)

How It Works

noiz asks about time. Like other question words, it goes directly before the verb:

  • Noiz etorriko zara? (When will you come?)
  • Noiz da festa? (When is the party?)
  • Noiz hasten da klasea? (When does the class start?)

Other time questions.

  • noiztik: since when. Noiztik bizi zara hemen? (How long have you lived here?)
  • noiz arte: until when. Noiz arte geratuko zara? (Until when will you stay?)
  • noizko: for when. Noizko da hitzordua? (When is the appointment for?) This uses -ko with time words.

noiz asks; it does not link clauses. English also uses "when" to join two statements: "When I get home, I eat dinner." Basque does not use noiz there. It adds the ending -(e)nean to the verb instead: Etxera iristen naizenean, afaltzen dut.

For "sometime" or "ever", see noizbait.

Examples (5)

  1. Noiz etorriko zara?

    When will you come?

  2. Noiz da festa?

    When is the party?

  3. Noiz hasten da klasea?

    When does the class start?

  4. Noiztik bizi zara hemen?

    How long have you lived here?

    Word by Word: Since-when living you-are here?

    noiztik literally means "since when".

  5. Noiz arte geratuko zara?

    Until when will you stay?

Common Mistakes

  • Using noiz for "when" in a statement.

    Noiz etxera iristen naiz, afaltzen dut.
    Etxera iristen naizenean, afaltzen dut.

    noiz asks about time; it does not join two statements. In a statement, "when" is the ending -(e)nean on the verb.

  • Putting the subject between noiz and the verb.

    Noiz zu etorriko zara?
    Noiz etorriko zara zu?

    noiz must stand directly before the verb. The subject goes after it or is left out.

How It Connects

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

noizLevel 1When (Noiz)

Learn This First

noiz follows zer.

Words in This Pattern

noiz