Public Transport

1. Zein autobus doa hirigunera?

   Zein au-to-bus do-a hi-ri-gu-ne-ra?

   Which bus goes to the city center?

   Usage

   Used at a bus stop to find the correct bus to the city center

   Grammar Note

   Basque is a language isolate. "-ra" is the allative suffix meaning "to/towards"

2. Zenbat geltoki daude [helmugara] arte?

   Zen-bat gel-to-ki dau-de [hel-mu-ga-ra] ar-te?

   How many stops to [destination]?

   Usage

   Used to ask how many stops to the destination

   Grammar Note

   "zenbat" is the Basque question word for quantity

3. Mesedez, jaitsi nazazu hemen.

   Me-se-dez, jai-tsi na-za-zu he-men.

   Please let me off here.

   Usage

   Used to ask the driver to let you off here

   Grammar Note

   Basque verbs encode subject, indirect object, and direct object agreement simultaneously

4. Eserleku hau hartuta dago?

   E-ser-le-ku hau har-tu-ta da-go?

   Is this seat taken?

   Usage

   Used to check if a seat is occupied

   Grammar Note

   "-ta dago" is a Basque structure expressing a completed state

5. Zer ordutan doa azken autobusa?

   Zer or-du-tan do-a az-ken au-to-bu-sa?

   What time is the last bus?

   Usage

   Used to find out when the last bus departs

   Grammar Note

   "zer ordutan" is the Basque expression for asking what time

6. Non eros dezaket txartel bat?

   Non e-ros de-za-ket txar-tel bat?

   Where can I buy a ticket?

   Usage

   Used to ask where to purchase a transport ticket

   Grammar Note

   "dezaket" is the first person potential form meaning "I can"

7. Autobus hau merkatuan gelditzen da?

   Au-to-bus hau mer-ka-tu-an gel-di-tzen da?

   Does this bus stop at the market?

   Usage

   Used to confirm whether the bus stops at the market

   Grammar Note

   "gelditu" is intransitive, so its subject is absolutive (unmarked) and the auxiliary is the "izan"-series "da". An ergative -k ("Autobus honek") would clash with "da". "-n" is the locative suffix

8. Zein nasatatik abiatzen da?

   Zein na-sa-ta-tik a-bi-a-tzen da?

   Which platform does it depart from?

   Usage

   Used at a station to find the departure platform

   Grammar Note

   A railway platform is "nasa". "-tatik" is the plural ablative suffix "from"

9. Ba al dago ibilbide zuzen bat?

   Ba al da-go i-bil-bi-de zu-zen bat?

   Is there a direct route?

   Usage

   Used to ask if there is a direct route

   Grammar Note

   "ba al" is the Basque question particle for yes/no questions

10. Zenbat denbora irauten du bidaiak?

    Zen-bat den-bo-ra i-rau-ten du bi-dai-ak?

    How long does the journey take?

    Usage

    Used to ask the duration of the journey

    Grammar Note

    Basque is ergative-absolutive; the verb typically comes near the end of the clause

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