Food & Drinks

1. Pintxo bat mesedez

   Pin-txo bat me-se-dez

   One pintxo, please

   Usage

   Standard phrase to order a pintxo at a bar

   Grammar Note

   "mesedez" is the Basque polite word, placed at the end

2. Bazkaria nahi dut

   Baz-ka-ri-a na-hi dut

   I would like lunch

   Usage

   Used to express that you want to have lunch at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Basque places the verb at the end; verb conjugation is highly complex

3. Txuleta handi bat nahi dut

   Txu-le-ta han-di bat na-hi dut

   I want a large txuleta steak

   Usage

   Ordering the famous thick bone-in Basque ribeye steak

   Grammar Note

   The adjective "handi" (big) follows the noun in Basque

4. Glutenik gabe jan dezaket?

   Glu-te-nik ga-be jan de-za-ket?

   Can I eat gluten-free?

   Usage

   Checking with a restaurant about gluten-free options

   Grammar Note

   "gabe" is a postposition meaning "without" used after a declined noun

5. Kontua ekarri mesedez

   Kon-tu-a e-kar-ri me-se-dez

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Standard way to ask for the check after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "ekarri" is the imperative of "to bring"; adding "mesedez" softens it

6. Zer gomendatzen duzu?

   Zer go-men-da-tzen du-zu?

   What do you recommend?

   Usage

   Standard phrase for asking a bar or restaurant server what they recommend

   Grammar Note

   Basque is ergative: the auxiliary "duzu" encodes both the ergative subject (you) and the absolutive object (it), so no pronoun is needed. "Gomendatzen" is the habitual form of "gomendatu" (to recommend)

7. Sagardoa nahi dut.

   Sa-gar-do-a na-hi dut.

   I want cider.

   Usage

   Ordering traditional Basque apple cider — a regional specialty

   Grammar Note

   Adding "-a" makes a Basque noun definite. "sagardoa" = "sagardo" (cider) + "-a" (the definite article)

8. Bazkaltzeko mahaia nahi dugu.

   Baz-kal-tze-ko ma-hai-a na-hi du-gu.

   We would like a table for lunch.

   Usage

   Requesting a lunch table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   Basque uses SOV order — the auxiliary "dugu" (we have; with "nahi" = we want) comes at the end. "-eko" is the purposive genitive suffix

9. Zer da eguneko menua?

   Zer da e-gu-ne-ko me-nu-a?

   What is today's set menu?

   Usage

   Asking about the daily set menu — a common affordable option in Basque restaurants

   Grammar Note

   "eguneko" = "egun" (day) + "-eko" (genitive of). The "menú del día" (daily menu) is hugely popular in Basque Country

10. Oso goxoa zen! Eskerrik asko.

    O-so go-xo-a zen! Es-ker-rik as-ko.

    It was very delicious! Thank you very much.

    Usage

    Complimenting the food and thanking the cook or server after a meal

    Grammar Note

    "zen" is the past tense of "izan" (to be). "goxo" (delicious) + "-a" (definite) = "goxoa"

11. arroza

    Rice

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

12. ogia

    Bread

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

13. fideoak

    Noodles

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

14. gordina

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    For checking whether a dish is uncooked

15. pikantea

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish is hot

16. zopa

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering

17. gazta

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point at it to order or to check ingredients

18. gurina

    Butter

    Usage

    Also useful when avoiding dairy

19. tofua

    Tofu

    Usage

    For finding a vegetarian option

20. jogurta

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Point at it at breakfast or in a shop

21. fruta

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point at it in a market or an eatery

22. esnea

    Milk

    Usage

    Point at it to order or to check ingredients

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