Getting around in Basque
Left, right, the station, one ticket, where is the toilet. Play the ten Basque words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 10 Basque phrases in this lesson
- Non dago komuna?non DA-go ko-MOO-na
- Where is the toilet?
- Nola joan naiteke ...-ra?NO-la yo-AN nai-TE-ke ...-ra
- How do I get to...?
- Ezkerreraes-ke-RRE-ra
- To the left
- Eskuineraes-koo-ee-NE-ra
- To the right
- Zuzen aurreraZOO-zen ow-RE-ra
- Straight ahead
- HemenE-men
- Here
- Tren geltokiatren gel-TO-ki-a
- Train station
- Autobusaow-to-BOO-sa
- Bus
- Aireportuaai-re-por-TOO-a
- Airport
- Txartel bat, mesedezCHAR-tel bat, me-SE-des
- One ticket, please
Essential knowledge. In bars, the toilet is often down a narrow staircase at the back. Signs may say "komunak" (plural) or the Spanish "aseos" or "servicios."
The place takes -ra, to: "Nola joan naiteke hondartzara?", how do I get to the beach?
Literally "to the left".
From esku, hand.
"Zuzen" means straight or direct and "aurrera" means forward. You may also hear the Spanish "todo recto" used in the southern Basque Country.
The Basque narrow-gauge rail network (Euskotren) connects many towns. Say this phrase to any taxi driver or passerby and they will point you in the right direction.
"Txartel" covers both transport tickets and payment cards. At transport windows, also have your destination ready: point at a map if the name is hard to pronounce.