Basic Nouns

1. ura

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Basque has no grammatical gender; the definite article is the suffix "-a" (ur → ura)

2. janaria

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   From "jan" (to eat); the definite form adds "-a"

3. dirua

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   The definite form; the indefinite is "diru"

4. komuna

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Definite form of "komun"; signs read "komuna"

5. paperezko zapia

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   "Paperezko" means "made of paper"; "zapia" is a cloth or handkerchief

6. sendagaia

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   From "sendatu" (to heal); a pharmacy is "farmazia"

7. ekipajea

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   A loan from Spanish "equipaje"; a suitcase is "maleta"

8. giltza

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Definite "giltza", definite plural "giltzak"

9. txartela

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport tickets

   Grammar Note

   Used for transport tickets. An admission ticket is "sarrera"

10. pasaportea

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    The definite form; the indefinite is "pasaporte"

11. telefonoa

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    A mobile is "telefono mugikorra"

12. kargagailua

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    From "kargatu" (to charge) plus "-gailu" (device)

13. geltokia

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    From "gelditu" (to stop); a railway station is "tren geltokia"

14. ospitalea

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    The definite form; the indefinite is "ospitale"

15. polizia

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Used for the force and for an officer; the Basque force is the "Ertzaintza"

16. denda

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    The definite form is also "denda"; a large store is "saltoki handia"

17. gela

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Used for hotel rooms and rooms in general

18. bidea

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    The definite form of "bide"; a town street is "kalea"

19. familia

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    The definite form is also "familia"; the native word is "sendia"

20. izena

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    The definite form of "izen"; a surname is "abizena"

21. burua

    Head

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

22. begia

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

23. hortza

    Tooth

    Usage

    Shows where it hurts at a dentist or pharmacy

24. eztarria

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

25. sabela

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

26. bizkarra

    Back

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

27. hanka

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts; covers the whole leg

28. oina

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot proper, from the ankle down

29. eskua

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

30. bularra

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or tightness; refers to the front of the torso

31. belarria

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

32. lepoa

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

33. sorbalda

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

34. belauna

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

35. hatza

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

36. azala

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes, itching, or burns

37. besoa

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

38. sudurra

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

39. hotela

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

40. aireportua

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

41. autobus geltokia

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

42. metroa

    Metro

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

43. enbaxada

    Embassy

    Usage

    For getting there after losing a passport

44. kutxazain automatikoa

    ATM

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

45. diru-truke bulegoa

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

46. garbitegia

    Laundromat

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

47. farmazia

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    The word alone is enough to ask where one is

48. suhiltzaileen kamioia

    Fire engine

    Usage

    A fire engine; "suhiltzaile" is a firefighter

49. kontsulatua

    Consulate

    Usage

    A consulate; an embassy is "enbaxada"

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