Numbers

1. Bat, bi, hiru

   Bat, bi, hi-ru

   One, two, three

   Usage

   Basque numbers 1–3, useful in markets and when ordering

   Grammar Note

   Basque numbers belong to a language isolate unrelated to any other tongue

2. Lau, bost, sei

   Four, five, six

   Usage

   Basque numbers 4–6

   Grammar Note

   "bost" (5) is entirely unrelated to Spanish "cinco" or any other language

3. Zazpi, zortzi, bederatzi

   Zaz-pi, zor-tzi, be-de-ra-tzi

   Seven, eight, nine

   Usage

   Basque numbers 7–9

   Grammar Note

   "zortzi" (8) is a uniquely-shaped numeral that fascinates linguists

4. Hamar

   Ha-mar

   Ten

   Usage

   Basque number 10

   Grammar Note

   Basque uses a vigesimal (base-20) component; "hogei" = 20

5. Hogei, ehun, mila

   Ho-gei, e-hun, mi-la

   Twenty, hundred, thousand

   Usage

   Larger numbers used when stating prices or quantities

   Grammar Note

   "hogei" (20) is the base for the vigesimal system; 30 = hogeita hamar (20+10)

6. Sei, zazpi, zortzi, bederatzi, hamar

   Sei, zaz-pi, zor-tzi, be-de-ra-tzi, ha-mar

   Six, seven, eight, nine, ten

   Usage

   Numbers 6–10 — essential for counting in Basque

   Grammar Note

   Basque numbers follow a vigesimal (base-20) system. "hamar" (10) is a key building block

7. Zenbat da?

   Zen-bat da?

   How much is it?

   Usage

   Asking the price of an item in a shop

   Grammar Note

   "zenbat" is the Basque interrogative for quantity. "da" is third-person singular present of "iz" (to be)

8. Ehun, berrehun, mila

   E-hun, ber-re-hun, mi-la

   One hundred, two hundred, one thousand

   Usage

   Large numbers for prices and quantities

   Grammar Note

   "berrehun" combines "bi" (two) + "ehun" (hundred). Compound numbers are built by combining units

9. Zer ordu da?

   Zer or-du da?

   What time is it?

   Usage

   The most common Basque way to ask what time it is

   Grammar Note

   "ordu" means "hour/time". Telling time: "Bostak dira" (it is five o'clock) — note plural verb

10. Lehen, bigarren, hirugarren

    Le-hen, bi-gar-ren, hi-ru-gar-ren

    First, second, third

    Usage

    Ordinal numbers for expressing order or ranking

    Grammar Note

    Ordinals add "-garren" to cardinal numbers (bi → bigarren). "lehen" (first) is an irregular form

11. Hogeita zazpi urte ditut.

    Ho-gei-ta zaz-pi ur-te di-tut.

    I'm 27 years old

    Usage

    Giving your age — the answer to "Zenbat urte dituzu?" (How old are you?)

    Grammar Note

    Basque states age as "X urte ditut" ("I have X years"), the same frame as "sei urte ditu" with the person changed. "ditut" is the first-person form with a plural object. Twenty-one to twenty-nine are built as "hogeita" plus the unit

12. Aurten hogeita zortzi urte beteko ditut.

    Aur-ten ho-gei-ta zor-tzi ur-te be-te-ko di-tut.

    I turn 28 this year

    Usage

    Saying what age you will reach during the current year

    Grammar Note

    "X urte bete" is the set phrase for turning an age; "bete" literally means "to fill". The future adds -ko to the stem, giving "beteko ditut". "aurten" is a single-word adverb meaning "this year"

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