Compliments

1. Janaria bikaina da!

   Ja-na-ri-a bi-kai-na da!

   The food is excellent!

   Usage

   Praising the food at a restaurant or bar

   Grammar Note

   "bikaina" is a widely used adjective for the highest praise

2. Leku eder bat da hau.

   Le-ku e-der bat da hau.

   This is a beautiful place

   Usage

   Expressing admiration for a beautiful location or scenery

   Grammar Note

   Adjective "eder" (beautiful) follows the noun, typical of Basque word order

3. Euskara oso ondo hitz egiten duzu.

   Eus-ka-ra o-so on-do hitz e-gi-ten du-zu.

   You speak Basque very well

   Usage

   Also said by locals to compliment foreigners attempting Basque

   Grammar Note

   "hitz egin" is a compound verb meaning "to speak" (literally "make words")

4. Eskerrik asko harrera onagatik.

   Es-ker-rik as-ko har-re-ra o-na-ga-tik.

   Thank you for the warm hospitality

   Usage

   Expressing gratitude for hospitality at a Basque home or accommodation

   Grammar Note

   "-agatik" is the Basque motive suffix meaning "for / because of". It is used for inanimate nouns (harrera ona); people take -(r)engatik

5. Zoragarria da!

   Zo-ra-ga-rri-a da!

   It is wonderful / amazing!

   Usage

   A heartfelt exclamation of wonder or admiration

   Grammar Note

   "zoro" means "crazy, mad"; "-garri" is a productive suffix meaning "that causes". Zoragarri ("maddening") has come to mean "wonderful"

6. Benetan ona zara.

   Be-ne-tan o-na za-ra.

   You are truly wonderful

   Usage

   A sincere compliment on someone's character or kindness

   Grammar Note

   "benetan" is an adverb meaning "truly/genuinely" (≈ egiaz). It is placed before the adjective ona (good) to intensify it

7. Pintxoak izugarriak dira!

   Pin-txo-ak i-zu-ga-rri-ak di-ra!

   The pintxos are amazing!

   Usage

   Exclaiming admiration for the pintxos (Basque tapas) at a bar

   Grammar Note

   "-ak" is the Basque plural absolutive suffix, making "pintxo" into "pintxoak"

8. Zure lorategia ikusgarria da.

   Zu-re lo-ra-te-gi-a i-kus-ga-rri-a da.

   Your garden is spectacular

   Usage

   Polite compliment on someone's garden, especially at a Basque farmhouse

   Grammar Note

   The suffix "-garri" means "worth doing"; "ikusgarri" comes from "ikusi" (to see)

9. Oso lagun ona zara niretzat.

   O-so la-gun o-na za-ra ni-re-tzat.

   You are a very good friend to me

   Usage

   A warm expression of appreciation for a close friendship

   Grammar Note

   "-tzat" is the Basque benefactive case suffix meaning "for/as"

10. Euskal Herria eder-ederra da.

    Eus-kal Her-ri-a e-der-e-der-ra da.

    The Basque Country is absolutely beautiful

    Usage

    Expressing heartfelt admiration for the Basque Country's beauty

    Grammar Note

    Reduplication ("eder-ederra") is a common Basque intensifier, emphasizing "very beautiful"

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