-tik

Where from: -tik

Level 1

-tik marks where something starts: Bilbotik nator (I am coming from Bilbao).

How It Works

Forms.

  • After a vowel: etxe → etxetik, eskola → eskolatik
  • Common noun after a consonant: lan → lanetik (from work)
  • Place names, no article: Bilbo → Bilbotik, Donostia → Donostiatik

Place names ending in a consonant have two correct forms: Madriletik or Madrildik, Gasteizetik or Gasteiztik. After n or l, the short form uses -dik: Irundik. The Academy prefers neither, but the short forms are becoming more common.

Here and there. Place words also take -dik: hemendik (from here), handik (from over there), and the question word nondik (from where). See where, where to and where from.

Through. -tik also names the way through: Katua leihotik sartu da (The cat came in through the window).

Since. With a time, -tik gives the starting point: goizetik (since the morning), atzotik (since yesterday). With -ra it makes from ... to. See from ... to.

People. For a person, use -gandik: Amarengandik gutun bat jaso dut (I have received a letter from my mother). See people as places.

Examples (6)

  1. Bilbotik nator.

    I am coming from Bilbao.

    Word by Word: Bilbao-from I-come.

  2. Etxetik goiz irten naiz.

    I left home early.

    Word by Word: House-from early left I-am.

  3. Mikel lanetik etorri da.

    Mikel has come back from work.

    Word by Word: Mikel work-from come is.

  4. Nondik zatoz? — Gasteiztik.

    Where are you coming from? — From Vitoria-Gasteiz.

    Word by Word: Where-from you-come? — Gasteiz-from.

    Gasteizetik is also correct.

  5. Katua leihotik sartu da.

    The cat came in through the window.

    Word by Word: The-cat window-through entered is.

  6. Goizetik lanean nago.

    I have been at work since the morning.

    Word by Word: Morning-since work-at I-am.

Common Mistakes

  • Using the location ending -n for where from.

    Bilbon nator.
    Bilbotik nator.

    nator (I am coming) with a starting point needs -tik.

  • Adding a bare -tik to a common noun ending in a consonant.

    Lantik etorri naiz.
    Lanetik etorri naiz.

    A common noun ending in a consonant takes -etik: lanetik.

  • Putting -tik straight onto a person.

    Amatik gutun bat jaso dut.
    Amarengandik gutun bat jaso dut.

    For people, from is -gandik, not -tik.

How It Connects

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

-tikLevel 1Where from: -tik

Learn This First

The ablative contrasts with the inessive.

Learn Next

Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nondik