Animals

1. txakurra

   Dog

   Usage

   Begins with "tx" (the "ch" sound). A sheepdog is "artzain-txakurra"

2. katua

   Cat

   Usage

   The bare stem is "katu"

3. txoria

   Bird

   Usage

   The general word, known from the song "Txoria txori" (a bird is a bird)

4. arraina

   Fish

   Usage

   The bare stem is "arrain". A fishing country — you will use this at the market

5. zaldia

   Horse

   Usage

   The "pottoka" is the small native Basque pony, grazed on the hillsides

6. behia

   Cow

   Usage

   Beef is "behi-okela"; the famous bone-in steak is "txuleta"

7. txerria

   Pig

   Usage

   Pork is "txerri-okela". Show this to decline pork for religious reasons

8. oiloa

   Hen

   Usage

   A rooster is "oilarra"; chicken as meat is "oilaskoa"

9. ahatea

   Duck

   Usage

   The bare stem is "ahate"; the same word appears on menus

10. ahuntza

    Goat

    Usage

    Note the "tz". Seen on mountain farms

11. ardia

    Sheep

    Usage

    Milk from the native latxa breed makes the celebrated Idiazabal cheese

12. basurdea

    Wild boar

    Usage

    From "baso" (forest) + "urde" (pig). If you meet one on a trail, back away quietly rather than running

13. oreina

    Deer

    Usage

    Lives in the forests of the Pyrenees and the Gorbeia range

14. azeria

    Fox

    Usage

    Found in the countryside and outskirts; a stock character in Basque folk tales

15. trikua

    Hedgehog

    Usage

    Nocturnal, seen in gardens and by roadsides

16. untxia

    Rabbit

    Usage

    Note the "tx". Also common on menus

17. sagua

    Mouse

    Usage

    The small mouse — and also the computer kind

18. arratoia

    Rat

    Usage

    The word to report one at your lodging

19. saguzarra

    Bat

    Usage

    From "sagu" (mouse) + "zahar" (old). Flies over towns at dusk

20. sugea

    Snake

    Usage

    Mostly harmless, though the venomous adder "sugegorria" lives in the hills

21. muskerra

    Lizard

    Usage

    Basks on stone walls; harmless

22. igela

    Frog

    Usage

    Croaks by rivers and ponds

23. dortoka

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    The stem ends in -a, so the definite form matches. A sea turtle is "itsas dortoka"

24. kaioa

    Seagull

    Usage

    Everywhere in the ports of Donostia and Bilbao — they raid terrace tables

25. usoa

    Pigeon / dove

    Usage

    Common in squares. The autumn woodpigeon ("pagausoa") migration is a western Pyrenees fixture

26. belea

    Crow / raven

    Usage

    Seen in the hills and farmland

27. eltxoa

    Mosquito

    Usage

    Note the "tx". Common along rivers in summer

28. labezomorroa

    Cockroach

    Usage

    Literally "oven bug" (labe = oven, zomorro = bug). Use it to report one at your lodging

29. inurria

    Ant

    Usage

    The variant "txindurria" is used in some dialects

30. erlea

    Bee

    Usage

    Honey is "eztia". Seek care at once if you are allergic to stings

31. liztorra

    Wasp / hornet

    Usage

    The invasive Asian hornet ("liztor asiarra") is a growing problem here — keep away from nests

32. armiarma

    Spider

    Usage

    The stem ends in -a, so the definite form matches. House spiders are harmless

33. tximeleta

    Butterfly

    Usage

    Note the "tx"; the stem ends in -a, so the definite form matches

34. eulia

    Fly

    Usage

    Point at this if flies are a problem at an outdoor eatery

35. marmoka

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    The stem ends in -a, so the definite form matches. Beaches on the Bay of Biscay raise a warning flag for them

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