non / nora / nondik

Where, Where to and Where from

Level 1

English uses one word, "where". Basque uses three: non (where at), nora (where to) and nondik (where from).

How It Works

The three words carry the same endings you use on place names, so each question matches its answer:

  • non (where at) goes with -n: Non bizi zara? Bilbon.
  • nora (where to) goes with -ra: Nora zoaz? Etxera.
  • nondik (where from) goes with -tik: Nondik zatoz? Lanetik.

Which verbs go with which word? Being and living somewhere use non: Non dago komuna? (Where is the toilet?) Movement toward a place uses nora: Nora joango zara oporretan? (Where will you go on holiday?) Movement away from a place uses nondik: Nondik dator tren hau? (Where does this train come from?)

English says "Where are you going?" with the plain word "where". Basque must show the direction, so it is always Nora zoaz?

Related forms. nongoa asks where someone is from (see nongoa). The answers here, there and over there are hemen, hor and han, and the "to" forms are hona, horra and hara.

Examples (6)

  1. Non bizi zara?

    Where do you live?

  2. Non dago komuna?

    Where is the toilet?

  3. Nora zoaz?

    Where are you going?

    Going somewhere needs nora.

  4. Nora joango zara oporretan?

    Where will you go on holiday?

  5. Nondik zatoz?

    Where are you coming from?

  6. Nondik dator tren hau?

    Where does this train come from?

Common Mistakes

  • Using non with a verb of going.

    Non zoaz?
    Nora zoaz?

    zoaz means "you are going". Movement toward a place needs nora, the "where to" word.

  • Using nora with a verb of being.

    Nora dago geltokia?
    Non dago geltokia?

    dago tells where something is, not where it goes, so the question word is non.

How It Connects

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

non / nora / nondikLevel 1Where, Where to and Where from

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Place questions mirror the local case endings.

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Patterns that build on this one.

Words in This Pattern

nonnoranondik