-n
Where: -n (In, At, On)
Add -n to say where: etxean (at home), Bilbon (in Bilbao).
How It Works
Forms.
- After a vowel: etxe → etxean, mendi → mendian
- After -a, which is not doubled: eskola → eskolan, hondartza → hondartzan
- After a consonant: lan → lanean (at work), autobus → autobusean (on the bus)
- After -r, which usually doubles: lur → lurrean (on the ground). See words ending in -r.
- Place names, no article: Bilbo → Bilbon, Donostia → Donostian, Gasteiz → Gasteizen, Madril → Madrilen
In, at or on. One Basque ending covers all three English words: kalean (in the street), lanean (at work), mahaian (on the table). For an exact position, add a location word: mahai gainean (on top of the table). See location words.
Times too. The same ending says when: goizean (in the morning), udan (in summer), astelehenean (on Monday). See days and times of day.
Where, not where to. -n is for location. With a verb of movement, use -ra: Bilbon bizi naiz (I live in Bilbao), but Bilbora noa (I am going to Bilbao). The question word is non. See where, where to and where from.
Examples (6)
- Ane etxean dago.
Ane is at home.
Word by Word: Ane house-in is.
- Bilbon bizi naiz.
I live in Bilbao.
Word by Word: Bilbao-in living I-am.
- Giltzak mahaian daude.
The keys are on the table.
Word by Word: The-keys table-on are.
- Mikel lanean dago.
Mikel is at work.
Word by Word: Mikel work-at is.
- Gasteizen ikasten dut.
I study in Vitoria-Gasteiz.
Word by Word: Gasteiz-in studying I-have.
Gasteiz ends in a consonant, so it takes -en.
- Udan hondartzan egoten gara.
In summer we are usually at the beach.
Word by Word: Summer-in beach-at being we-are.
Common Mistakes
Adding the article to a place name.
Bilboan bizi naiz.Bilbon bizi naiz.Place names take no article, so Bilbo takes just -n.
Using -n with a verb of movement.
Etxean noa.Etxera noa.joan (to go) needs the destination ending -ra. Etxean says where you are, not where you go.
Adding a bare -n after a consonant.
Gasteizn bizi da.Gasteizen bizi da.After a consonant the ending is -en.
How It Connects
Learn This First
The inessive is the first local case.
Related Patterns
- -raWhere to: -ra
Says where to instead of where.
Level 1 - -tikWhere from: -tik
Says where from.
Level 1 - non / nora / nondikWhere, Where to and Where from
non is the question that -n answers.
Level 1 - Place Names and Case Endings
Why Bilbon has no article.
Level 2 - gainean / azpian / ondoan / aurrean / atzeanLocation Words
Location words give an exact position and also end in -an.
Level 2 - Days and Times of Day
The same ending says when: goizean, astelehenean.
Level 1
Learn Next
Patterns that build on this one.
Words in This Pattern
Practice -n in Bubblegum
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