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Contents
What are some Basque words?
- Kaixo: hello (kai-sho)
- Agur: goodbye.
- Tori: there you go.
- Eskerrik asko: thank you.
- Ez horregatik: you’re welcome (some Basque dialects don’t pronounce h)
- Barkatu: excuse me.
- On egin: enjoy your meal.
- Topa: cheers!
What language is Basque most similar to?
The theory of the Basque-Iberism claims that there is a direct relationship between the Basque language and the Iberian language, meaning either that Basque evolved out of the Iberian language, or that its precursor belonged to the same language family.
Is Basque Spanish different?
Basque is not related to any other Latin language, such as Spanish or French, and is completely unique. The language was spoken in most rural Basque areas until the end of the 19th century, even though they were part of Spain.
What does ONGI Etorri meaning?
Ongi etorri means welcome.
What is Zorionak?
Zorionak_ This means “congratulations”, and it’s what we say to people on their birthday or for any celebration. The famous song “Happy Birthday” is called “Zorionak zuri” on Basque.
What do you call someone who is Basque?
Basque, Spanish Vasco, or Vascongado, Basque Euskaldunak, or Euskotarak, member of a people who live in both Spain and France in areas bordering the Bay of Biscay and encompassing the western foothills of the Pyrenees Mountains.
Is Basque a beautiful language?
Nothing could be farther from the truth: The Basque language is full of heart-warming, beautiful vocabulary words.
Is it bask or Basque?
The English word Basque may be pronounced /bɑːsk/ or /bæsk/ and derives from the French Basque (French: [bask]), which is derived from Gascon Basco (pronounced [ˈbasku]), cognate with Spanish Vasco (pronounced [ˈbasko]).
Is Basque hard to learn?
Basque can be very hard to learn because it has no similarities to any other languages. Basque words do not mirror words in other languages, so learning it will require you to memorize an entirely new vocabulary. The language is also only spoken by a small population of people in the Basque region.
What is typical Basque food?
Basque cuisine refers to the cuisine of the Basque Country and includes meats and fish grilled over hot coals, marmitako and lamb stews, cod, Tolosa bean dishes, paprikas from Lekeitio, pintxos (Basque tapas), Idiazabal sheep’s cheese, txakoli (sparkling white-wine), and Basque cider.
Is Basque still spoken?
The Basque language is spoken by 28.4% (751,500) of Basques in all territories. Of these, 93.2% (700,300) are in the Spanish area of the Basque Country and the remaining 6.8% (51,200) are in the French portion. Schematic dialect areas of Basque. Light-coloured dialects are extinct.
What blood type are the Basques?
It was found that Basques have the highest concentration of type O blood in the world ? more than 50% of the population, with an even higher percentage in remote areas where Basque is more widely spoken. Basques also have a higher incidence of Rhesus-negative blood than anyone else in the world.
How do you say Grandpa in Basque?
And when they leave us, a part of Basque history will go with them forever. A month ago Amatxi and Atautxi (grandmother and grandfather in Basque (their real names are Ilaria and Manuel) celebrated 60 years of marriage.
Are Basques the oldest Europeans?
Are they the oldest? All this evidence, along with that of the mysteries surrounding their language, suggests that yes, the Basques are some of earliest human inhabitants of Europe. They arrived before the Celts and also before the spread of the Indo-European languages and the migration of the Iron Age.
How do you toast in Basque?
Topa! —> Cheers! Hementxe! —> Over / right here!
What is kaixo?
And even in the bigger metropolises, some words, like “Kaixo,” (hello) “Agur” (goodbye) and “Eskerrik asko” (thank you) are much more frequent than their Spanish counterparts.
How do you pronounce kaixo?
It’s pronounced kie (rhymes with pie) + sho (rhymes with saw but with an sh instead of an s) 😉.
What is good morning in Egun language?
Language | Morning greetings |
---|---|
Bambara | I ni sɔgɔma (sg) Aw ni sɔgɔma (pl) |
Bashkir | хәйерле ирте (xäyyerlye irtye) |
Basque | Egun on |
Bavarian | Guadn moing Moing |
Useful Basque Phrases – Euskara to Know when Visiting the Basque Country – YouTube
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Useful Basque Phrases – Euskara to Know when Visiting the Basque Country – YouTube Updating Want to learn one of Europe’s oldest languages? Start with these useful beginner’s phrases in Euskara, the Basque language. Learn greetings, how to say pleas…Basque, Basque Country, Euskadi, Euskal Herria, Pays Basque, Pais Vasco, Basque People, Basque Culture, Basque Diaspora, Euskara, Euskera, Basque Language, Basque Phrases, Basque Sayings, Basque Greetings, Basque for Beginners, Travel Basque Country, Learn Basque, Learn Euskara
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Basque Phrases & More: An Introduction to Europe’s Most Interesting Language – Devour Tours
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A tumultuous history
Where is Basque spoken today
Why learn Basque
Basque pronunciation & spelling
Useful Basque phrases
Origin of the Basques – Wikipedia
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Contents
Native origin theory[edit]
Alternative theories[edit]
Roman records[edit]
Historiography[edit]
See also[edit]
References[edit]
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10 Things You Didn’t Know About Basque Culture
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for 10 Things You Didn’t Know About Basque Culture Updating Read our guide to the Basque Country, and ten things you (probably) didn’t know about its unique culture.
- Table of Contents:
1 The Basque language has seven different dialects
2 The Basque language is also spoken in part of France
3 The Basques are one of the oldest ethnic groups in Europe
4 Basque is one of the oldest living languages
5 Basques have their own unique festivals
6 Folklore plays an important part in the culture
7 They have their own unique drink
8 They have their own national sport
9 Rural sports still exist
10 Eating is a national pastime
How do you say hello in Basque (audio)
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How do you say hello in Basque (audio) How do you say ‘hello’ in Basque: ‘Kaixo’. Word/phrase list for learning to say hello in the Basque language and a few extra sentences for greeting locals … Hello in Basque (‘Kaixo’) and a few other basic greetings with voice audio. Learn how to meet and greet Basque speakers. Phrase list with audio for travelers and language loverslearn Basque phrases, Basque salutations, say hello in Basque, Basque sayings
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How do you say hello in Basque (audio)
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How do you say hello in Basque (audio) This is “hello” in Basque, a strange-sounding word you’ll hear everywhere. Try saying it in a cheerful way to greet anybody you meet on your trip. Hello in Basque (‘Kaixo’) and a few other basic greetings with voice audio. Learn how to meet and greet Basque speakers. Phrase list with audio for travelers and language loverslearn Basque phrases, Basque salutations, say hello in Basque, Basque sayings
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28 Basque Phrases To Get You Started When You Visit The Spanish Basque Country! – Hand Luggage Only – Travel, Food & Photography Blog
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- Summary of article content: Articles about 28 Basque Phrases To Get You Started When You Visit The Spanish Basque Country! – Hand Luggage Only – Travel, Food & Photography Blog Kaixo —> Hello · Egun on —> Good morning · Arratsalde on —> Good afternoon · Gabon —> Good night · Agur —> Goodbye · Zorte on! —> Good luck · Egun on … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for 28 Basque Phrases To Get You Started When You Visit The Spanish Basque Country! – Hand Luggage Only – Travel, Food & Photography Blog Kaixo —> Hello · Egun on —> Good morning · Arratsalde on —> Good afternoon · Gabon —> Good night · Agur —> Goodbye · Zorte on! —> Good luck · Egun on … One of the biggest things I learnt this past weekend visiting Gipuzkoa is that the Basque language is very different from Spanish (or indeed French). I’d – 28 Basque Phrases To Get You Started When You Visit The Spanish Basque Country! – Travel, Travel Advice – Basque Country, Europe, Spain – Travel, Food and Home Inspiration Blog with door-to-door Travel Planner! – Travel Advice, Travel Inspiration, Home Inspiration, Food Inspiration, Recipes, Photography
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How To Say Hello In Basque Language?
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- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How To Say Hello In Basque Language? Hello (Kai-sho): Kaixo. The name’s pronounced: goodbye. The next stop for you will be to go hang out with Tori. A good day asko to Eskerrik asko …
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What Are Some Basque Words
How Do You Say Goodnight In Basque
Do Basques Speak Spanish
How Do You Toast In Basque
Is Basque In France Or Spain
Are There Any Basque Words In English
What Language Is Basque Most Similar To
Why Is Basque So Weird
Watch How To Say Hello In Basque Language Video
Basque Greetings | Hello in Basque
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Basque Greetings | Hello in Basque
Hello in Basque language is Kaixo. It’s interesting to learn different Basque greetings. Hello is the Basque greeting which is suitable in any formal or … … - Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for
Basque Greetings | Hello in Basque
Hello in Basque language is Kaixo. It’s interesting to learn different Basque greetings. Hello is the Basque greeting which is suitable in any formal or … Basque greetings help to communicate in different places at various situations.Basque Greetings, How to say Hello in Basque Language, Thank You, Good Night, Good Evening, Good Afternoon, Good Morning, Please, Sorry, Bye, I Love You, Excuse Me, How Are You?, Learn How to say Thank you and Sorry in Basque - Table of Contents:
How to say Hello in Basque Language
Most Difficult Languages
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Learn How to say Thank you and Sorry in Basque
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Basque Phrases & More: An Introduction to Europe’s Most Interesting Language – Devour Tours
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- Summary of article content: Articles about Basque Phrases & More: An Introduction to Europe’s Most Interesting Language – Devour Tours Useful Basque phrases · Kaixo: hello (kai-sho) · Agur: goodbye · Tori: there you go · Eskerrik asko: thank you · Ez horregatik: you’re welcome (some … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for Basque Phrases & More: An Introduction to Europe’s Most Interesting Language – Devour Tours Useful Basque phrases · Kaixo: hello (kai-sho) · Agur: goodbye · Tori: there you go · Eskerrik asko: thank you · Ez horregatik: you’re welcome (some …
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A tumultuous history
Where is Basque spoken today
Why learn Basque
Basque pronunciation & spelling
Useful Basque phrases
Useful words and phrases in Basque
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- Summary of article content: Articles about Useful words and phrases in Basque Useful Basque words and expressions … When you arrive, we will greet you with an “ongi etorri” (welcome). We may also address you with a “kaixo” (hello). Or … …
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How do you say hello in the Basque Country? – Reviews Wiki | # 1 Source for Information, Tests, Reviews, Reviews and News
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- Summary of article content: Articles about How do you say hello in the Basque Country? – Reviews Wiki | # 1 Source for Information, Tests, Reviews, Reviews and News How do you say hello in Gascon? … Employed for say hi and goodbye. Adiu corresponds to “you”, Adishatz to “you” in the plural or in verb form. “Hi” can be say … …
- Most searched keywords: Whether you are looking for How do you say hello in the Basque Country? – Reviews Wiki | # 1 Source for Information, Tests, Reviews, Reviews and News How do you say hello in Gascon? … Employed for say hi and goodbye. Adiu corresponds to “you”, Adishatz to “you” in the plural or in verb form. “Hi” can be say …
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How do you say hello in Gascon
How do you pronounce the Z in Basque
How old is the Basque language
Where is the Basque Country located on the map of France
What is the origin of the Basque language
How do you say Basque Country in Basque
What are the cultural peculiarities of the Basque Country
How to learn the Basque language
How do you say hello and goodbye in Occitan
How do you say goodbye in Occitan
How do you say good day in Occitan
How is the H pronounced in Basque
How do you say Basque Country in Basque
How to say in Basque
Is Breton a language
Why is the tongue white
Which cities are part of the Basque Country
Is Béarn part of the Basque Country
What is the most beautiful city in the Basque Country
What is the character of the Basques
Why the Basque Coast
How do you know if you are Basque
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Basque Phrases & More: An Introduction to Europe’s Most Interesting Language – Devour Tours
Fun fact: you shouldn’t always speak Spanish when in Spain.
We know that sounds weird. Yes, Spanish is the official national language, and in most of the country, it is what you should be making an effort to speak.
But that’s not always the case. A handful of Spain’s 17 autonomous regions have their own regional co-official languages, and the pride for these runs deep—so deep, in fact, that the people who speak them often hold their regional identity in the highest regard, despite officially holding a Spain passport and ID card.
The Basque Country is one such region that’s home to its own completely unique heritage, culture and language. Being able to say a few basic Basque phrases—or individual words—can even take your trip from ona (good), to handia (great)!
Ready to take a deep dive into one of Europe’s most fascinating languages? Here’s everything you need to know.
A tumultuous history
Though but a tiny blip on the linguistic radar of Europe, especially when compared with neighboring languages Spanish and French, the Basque language boasts perhaps a more fascinating history than nearly any other language on the continent. In fact, it’s one of the oldest European languages still in use—so old that even the most diehard language historians have found it difficult to pinpoint where, exactly, it came from.
Part of the problem when tracing the roots of Basque comes from the fact that it shares no connection with any other known language. While most modern European languages stem from clear Indo-European roots, Basque doesn’t—and as a result, its origins have stumped scholars for centuries.
But a language seemingly as old as the world itself is bound to run into a few bumps along the road over the course of several millennia. Less than a century ago, Basque was hovering on the brink of extinction as Spain’s fascist dictator, Francisco Franco, made an effort to snub the language completely in favor of Spanish during the nearly four decades he was in power.
From 1939 until 1975, the use of the Basque language—or euskara—was effectively outlawed. Children learned their ancestral tongue in secret language schools, or ikastolak, which were set up in clandestine locations such as church basements. Those who dared to speak euskara in public risked being overheard by an informant, and penalties often included jail time, public humiliation, and a fine.
Fortunately, the language managed to survive these uncertain decades in the mid-20th century. If anything, the prohibition of euskara only served to give the Basque people an increased sense of pride in their language and culture.
A family waves the ikurrina, or Basque flag, while participating in Korrika, a race throughout the Basque Country aimed at promoting knowledge of the Basque language. Photo credit: Euskalakari AEK
Where is Basque spoken today?
If you’re visiting one of the Basque Country’s “big three” cities —San Sebastian, Bilbao, or Vitoria—it’s unlikely that you’ll hear much Basque being spoken out and about. Due to their status as major tourist hubs for visitors from Spain and beyond, Spanish is overwhelmingly common in these urban areas as the everyday language, though you’ll certainly see plenty of things written in Basque, such as signs and menus.
But head a little further afield, out to the idyllic villages dotting the verdant Basque countryside, and things will start to change. Restaurantes become jatetxeak; coches become autoak. Listen carefully and you’ll hear the staccato sounds of Basque slowly but surely overtaking the rolling familiarity of Spanish.
An estimated 700,000 people speak Basque throughout the region today, a number that is sure to rise in coming years due to the educational model. When it comes to the language of instruction at schools, parents have three choices: primarily in Spanish (with exceptions for Basque language and literature), an equal mix of Spanish and Basque depending on the subject, or primarily in Basque (with exceptions for Spanish language and literature). One thing that’s the same across the board: euskara is mandatory in some way, shape, or form.
Only those in the know will be able to follow this sign out in the countryside to find a real treat: Basque cider! Photo credit: Andy Roberts
Why learn Basque?
We’re not saying you have to learn enough Basque to maintain a vivid, fluent conversation with the adorable grandpas propping up the bar in the tiniest, furthest-flung village in the region where Spanish is all but an anomaly. But even the slightest effort to replace your gracias with eskerrik asko is sure to earn smiles of appreciation from locals, no matter how clumsy your pronunciation may be (and we’ll get to some pronunciation tips in a bit).
Saying that the Basque people are proud of their language is an understatement. In fact, being Basque is so intrinsically tied to the ability to speak Basque that the language features a unique, nearly untranslatable definition for a Basque person.
The word “Euskaldun,” in its purest sense, means something along the lines of “the one that can speak euskara.” But in the Basque Country, it takes on a deeper meaning—it’s often used to mean “Basque” in and of itself.
Using Basque with locals is also seen as a sign of respect—you’re showing that you acknowledge their heritage. When possible, try to use Basque when greeting someone or starting a conversation, then politely switch to Spanish or English.
Basque pronunciation & spelling
Despite its quirks, Basque is a fairly easy language to get the hang of as far as pronunciation and spelling are concerned. Once you familiarize yourself with a few basic rules, you’ll be well on your way to speaking confidently—and avoiding the awkwardness of “Non dago [badly mispronounced Basque place name]?” when asking a local for directions.
Here are a few common Basque phonemes that often trip up non-Basque speakers, as well as a rough approximation of how to pronounce them correctly. When in doubt, ask a local—chances are they’ll love having the chance to help you learn a little bit of Basque.
tx : “ch”
: “ch” tt : similar to the “c” sound in Spanish
: similar to the “c” sound in Spanish tz : “ts”
: “ts” x: “sh”
Our favorite Basque word containing tx: txakoli (pronounced “cha-co-LEE”)!
Useful Basque phrases
Now for the fun part—it’s time to put your Basque language skills to the test in San Sebastian (or wherever in the Basque Country you may find yourself)! Try out a few of these simple Basque phrases and words, and you’ll be well on your way to winning the hearts of locals throughout the region.
Kaixo : hello ( kai -sho)
: hello ( -sho) Agur : goodbye
: goodbye Tori : there you go
: there you go Eskerrik asko : thank you
: thank you Ez horregatik : you’re welcome (some Basque dialects don’t pronounce h)
: you’re welcome (some Basque dialects don’t pronounce h) Barkatu : excuse me
: excuse me On egin : enjoy your meal
: enjoy your meal Topa : cheers!
: cheers! Zer moduz? : How are you?
: How are you? Oso ondo : very good
: very good Bai/Ez : yes/no
: yes/no Jatetxea : restaurant (You may also see the Spanish spelling: jatechea)
: restaurant (You may also see the Spanish spelling: jatechea) Pinpilinpauxa : butterfly (okay, so this one may not come up during your travels, but it deserves a mention after it was voted the most beautiful word in the Basque language a few years back!)
: butterfly (okay, so this one may not come up during your travels, but it deserves a mention after it was voted the most beautiful word in the Basque language a few years back!) Zorte on! : good luck
: good luck Komuna, non dago? : Where are the toilets?
: Where are the toilets? Ez dakit euskaraz : I do not speak Basque.
: I do not speak Basque. Ba al dakizu ingelesez? : Do you speak English?
: Do you speak English? Ez dut ulertzen: I don’t understand.
Want to hear how to pronounce a few of the above Basque phrases (plus a few extras) like a pro? Check out the video below for a crash course in Basque, courtesy of Devour San Sebastian City Coordinator Ania and our friend Jesús from Bar Txepetxa (pronounced “che-pe-cha”—but you knew that now, right?).
Zorte on with your Basque language journey!
Origin of the Basques
Hypotheses of Basque ethnic origins
The origin of the Basques and the Basque language is a controversial topic that has given rise to numerous hypotheses. Modern Basque, a descendant or close relative of Aquitanian and Proto-Basque, is the only Pre-Indo-European language that is extant in western Europe. The Basques have therefore long been supposed to be a remnant of a pre-Indo-European population of Europe.
The main hypotheses about the origin of the Basques are:
Native origin , the mainstream theory, according to which the Basque language would have developed over the millennia entirely between the north of the Iberian Peninsula and the current south of France, without the possibility of finding any kind of relationship between the Basque language and other modern languages in other regions.
, the mainstream theory, according to which the Basque language would have developed over the millennia entirely between the north of the Iberian Peninsula and the current south of France, without the possibility of finding any kind of relationship between the Basque language and other modern languages in other regions. Basque-Iberism theorizes the existence of a kinship between the Basque and the Iberian language, and therefore between their speakers.
theorizes the existence of a kinship between the Basque and the Iberian language, and therefore between their speakers. Caucasian origin theorizes that the Basque language and the languages of the Caucasus may have a direct relation, explaining why they share some linguistic typologies absent in the Indo-European languages.
Native origin theory [ edit ]
Distribution of Paleolithic settlements in Europe.
According to Stephen Oppenheimer, from c. 16,000 BC, the warmer climate allowed the expansion of proto-Basque groups, or proto-Europeans, across the north of Africa and the entire continent of Europe,[1][page needed] expanding the Magdalenian culture across Europe.
In 2008, the Finnish linguist Kalevi Wiik proposed that the current Basque language is the remainder of a group of “Basque languages” that were spoken in the Paleolithic throughout western Europe and that retreated with the progress of the Indo-European languages. Wiik states that his theory coincides with the homogeneous distribution of the Haplogroup R1b in Atlantic Europe.[2]
Ludomir R. Lozny states that “Wiik’s controversial ideas are rejected by the majority of the scholarly community, but they have attracted the enormous interest of a wider audience.”[3]
Paleogenetic investigations [ edit ]
In May 2012, the National Geographic Society Genographic Project released a study that showed through detailed DNA analysis of samples from French and Spanish Basque regions that Basques share unique genetic patterns that distinguish them from the surrounding non-Basque populations. The results of the study clearly support the hypothesis of a partial genetic continuity of contemporary Basques with the preceding Paleolithic/Mesolithic settlers of their homeland.[4]
Paleogenetic investigations by the Complutense University of Madrid[5] indicate that the Basque people have a genetic profile coincident with the rest of the European population and that goes back to Prehistoric times.[6] The haplotype of the mitochondrial DNA known as U5 entered in Europe during the Upper Paleolithic[7] and developed varieties as the U8a, native of the Basque Country, which is considered to be Prehistoric,[8] and as the J group, which is also frequent in the Basque population.[8] The works of Alzualde A, Izagirre N, Alonso S, Alonso A, de la Rua C.[9] about mitochondrial DNA of the Human remains found in the Prehistoric graveyard of Alaieta, in Alava, note that there are no differences between these remains and others found across Atlantic Europe.
Studies based on the Y chromosome genetically relate the Basques with the Celtic Welsh, and Irish;[10] Stephen Oppenheimer from the University of Oxford says that the current inhabitants of the British Isles have their origin in the Basque refuge during the last Ice age. Oppenheimer reached this conclusion through the study of correspondences in the frequencies of genetic markers between various European regions.[11][12][13][14] The haplogroup R1b,[15] can be found most frequently in the Basque Country (91%), Wales (89%) and Ireland (81%).[11] The age of subclade which Basque carry, Haplogroup R1b-DF27, “is estimated at ~4,200 years ago, at the transition between the Neolithic and the Bronze Age, when the Y chromosome landscape of Western Europe was thoroughly remodeled. In spite of its high frequency in Basques, Y-STR internal diversity of R1b-DF27 is lower there, and results in more recent age estimates”, implying it was brought to the region from elsewhere.[16]
In 2015, a new scientific study of Basque DNA was published which seems to indicate that Basques are descendants of Neolithic farmers who mixed with local hunters before becoming genetically isolated from the rest of Europe for millennia.[17] Mattias Jakobsson from Uppsala University in Sweden analysed genetic material from eight Stone Age human skeletons found in El Portalón Cavern in Atapuerca, northern Spain. These individuals lived between 3,500 and 5,500 years ago, after the transition to farming in southwest Europe. The results show that these early Iberian farmers are the closest ancestors to present-day Basques.[18] The official findings were published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America.[19] “Our results show that the Basques trace their ancestry to early farming groups from Iberia, which contradicts previous views of them being a remnant population that trace their ancestry to Mesolithic hunter-gatherer groups,” says Prof. Jakobsson. However, the results also showed that Basques, along with many other Iberian groups, carry both Neolithic farmer ancestry as well as some local mesolithic hunter-gatherer ancestry; showing that “the incoming farmers admixed with local, Iberian hunter-gather groups, a process that continued for at least 2 millennia.”[20]
Rather, some 4500 years ago almost all Y-DNA heritage from Iberian admixture of Mesolithic hunter-gatherers and Neolithic farmers was replaced by the lineage of Indo-European herders from the steppe,[21][22] and the Basque genetic distinctiveness is a result of centuries of low population size, genetic drift, and endogamy.[23] In 2019, a study was published in Science in which a more fine-tuned and deep time-transect of Iberian ancient populations including the Basque were analyzed. From their abstract, it says: “and we reveal that present-day Basques are best described as a typical Iron Age population without the admixture events that later affected the rest of Iberia.” This indicates Basques were isolated from admixture with outside groups since at least 1000BC or 3000 years before the present. In Iberia, these later admixture (interbreeding) events were with central European (Celtic), eastern Mediterranean and northern African populations, and genomic ancestry from them are found in all or most present-day Iberian populations, except for the Basque.[24]
Linguistics [ edit ]
In the field of linguistics, there are two lines of investigation, both based on etymology; one on toponyms, not only in the Basque Country but also in the rest of the Iberian Peninsula and Europe, and the other on the etymology of Basque words.[citation needed]
The aizkora controversy [ edit ]
Some vasconists have, in the past, suggested that Basque may have several words, all related to tools, that are derived from the root word for “stone”, haitz. These include:
(h)aizkora “axe”
“axe” (h)aitzur “hoe”
“hoe” (h)aitzur “shears”
“shears” (h)aiztur “tongs”
“tongs” aizto “knife”
Theories regarding the possibility of such a shared root have been put forward by Louis Lucien Bonaparte, Miguel de Unamuno, Julio Caro Baroja and others.[25] One inference of these hypothetical and controversial etymologies was that some aspects of the Basque language had been stable and uninfluenced by other languages since the Stone Age.
However, these etymologies are now doubted by mainstream vasconists. Aizkora has been identified as a loan from the Latin asciola.[26] The root of the remaining terms – based on the Roncalese dialect, which is known for its preservation of historical nasals and has the documented forms antzur, ainzter, aintzur and ainzto – was ainz- and thus the reconstructed root was *ani(t)z or *ane(t)z. There are no traces of such a nasal sound in the word haitz “rock” (cf. Roncalese aitz).[25]
Alternative theories [ edit ]
Baskunes. Sides of an Iberian coin with the inscription
The theory of the Basque-Iberism claims that there is a direct relationship between the Basque language and the Iberian language, meaning either that Basque evolved out of the Iberian language, or that its precursor belonged to the same language family. The first author to suggest this theory was Strabo in the 1st century BC (at a time when the Iberian language was still spoken); he asserted that the Iberians and the Aquitanians were similar physically and that they spoke similar languages and had similar customs.
The German linguist Wilhelm von Humboldt proposed, in the early 19th Century, a thesis in which he stated that the Basque people were Iberians, following some studies that he had conducted.[vague][citation needed]
Others claim there is not a direct connection, including Koldo Mitxelena who claims the similarities between Iberian and Basque are attributed solely to the relationship of vicinity, and not to any kinship.[27][28]
Caucasian origin [ edit ]
Some researchers have propounded the similarities between the Basque language and the Caucasian languages, especially the Georgian language.
The comparison between the matrilineal and patrilineal DNA of the native peoples from the Basque Country and Georgia has allowed the discovery of significant differences. The hypothesis that related both populations is only based on the typological similarities, which is never a good marker of linguistic kinship. These superficial similarities in the linguistic typologies do not seem to accompany a genetic relation at a population level.[29] The possible relation between Basque and the languages of the Caucasus is denied by authors such as Larry Trask, who stated that the comparisons were wrongly made, given the fact that the Basque language was compared with several Caucasian languages at the same time.
Old European [ edit ]
These theories are based on the Old European hydronymy, assuming that the first inhabitants of Europe spoke a common tongue[30] or languages of the same language family. This theory is not accepted by most linguists, who believe that, in a territory as large as Europe, more than one language had to be spoken.[30]
In January 2003, the Spanish edition of the popular science magazine Scientific American published a study conducted by Theo Vennemann,[31] where he concluded:
Much of the names of settlements, rivers, mountains, valleys and landscapes in Europe would have their origin in Pre-Indo-European languages, specifically the Basque language.
Vennemann:
We do not fall in exaggeration if we say that all the Europeans are Basques.
According to Vennemann, the Proto-Basque language (or a language family from which the Basque language originated) was the linguistic stratum in which the Indo-European languages later settled. He found, among other examples, the Basque words “ibai” (river) and “ibar” (bottom) to repeat continuously in European rivers, or the word “haran” (valley) in toponyms such as Val d’Aran, Arendal, Arundel, Arnach, Arnsberg, Aresburg, Ahrensburg, Aranbach or Arnstein.
The Vennemann theory has been criticized by Basque scholars and it is not accepted by most linguists.[32]
Specifically, Trask, after many pointed critiques of the methods employed, affirmed that Vennemann had found an agglutinative language, but with no relation to the Basque language, and that probably it is simply the Indo-European language, as many other linguistic scholars agree.[33]
Joseba Andoni Lakarra, a researcher of the Proto-Basque language, criticizes the thesis of Vennemann, saying, like Trask, that he identifies modern Basque roots that are not related to the archaic Basque. In the same way, Lakarra says that, despite Basque now being an agglutinative language, there are reasons to believe that previously it was not so.[33]
Roman records [ edit ]
Basque and other pre-Indo-European tribes (in red) at the time of Roman arrival
The early story of the Basque people was recorded by Roman classical writers, historians and geographers, such as Pliny the Elder, Strabo, Ptolemy and Pomponius Mela. The present-day Basque Country was, by the time of the Roman arrival in the Iberian Peninsula, inhabited by Aquitanian and Celtic tribes. The Aquitanians are also known[by whom?] as the “Proto-Basque people”, and included several tribes, such as the Vascones, who were located at both sides of the western Pyrenees. In present-day Biscay, Gipuzkoa, and Álava were located the Caristii, Varduli, and Autrigones, whose origin is still not clear.[34] It is not known if these tribes were of Aquitanian origin, related to the Vascones, or if they were of Celtic origin. The latter seems more likely, based on the use of Celtic and Proto-Celtic toponyms by these tribes. These tribes would have then gone through a Basquisation, caused by progress of the Aquitanian tribes on their territory.
Strabo in the 1st century AD reported that the Ouaskonous (Vascones) inhabited the area around the town of Pompelo, and the coastal town of Oeaso (Οἰασών) in Hispania. He also mentioned other tribes between them and the Cantabri: the Varduli, Caristii, and Autrigones.[35] About a century later, Ptolemy also listed the coastal Oeasso (Οἰασσώ) beside the Pyrénées to the Vascones, together with 15 inland towns, including Pompelon.[36] Pompelo/Pompelon is easily identified as modern-day Pamplona, Navarre. The border port of Irún, where a Roman harbour and other remains have been uncovered, is the accepted identification of the coastal town mentioned by Strabo and Ptolemy.[37][38][39] Three inscriptions in an early form of Basque found in eastern Navarre can be associated with the Vascones.[40]
However, the Vascones appear to have been just one tribe within a wider language community. Across the border in what is now France, the Aquitanian tribes of Gascony spoke a language different from the Celts and were more like the Iberi.[41] Although no complete inscription in their language survives, a number of personal names were recorded in Latin inscriptions, which attest to Aquitanian being the precursor of modern Basque[42] (this extinct Aquitanian language should not be confused with Occitan, a Romance language spoken in Aquitaine since the beginning of the Middle Ages).
Historiography [ edit ]
Tubalism [ edit ]
Between the 14th and 15th century, a series of historical legends were created with the objective of defending the singularity of the Basque people and their Fuero system, which regulated the relations between the Basque territories and the Crown. Among these legends are the Basque-Iberism, the Basque-Cantabrism, and The Battle of Arrigorriaga. These legends were used in a context of political vindication. In the 19th century, the Basque nationalists would use these legends as the basis for their vindications.[43]
Tubalism and Basque-Iberism [ edit ]
Developed by Esteban de Garibay and Andrés Poza, this legend states that the Basque people are direct descendants of Tubal, grandson of Noah, fifth son of Japheth. According to the legend, Japheth and his tribe, the Iberians, departed to the Iberian Peninsula, settling between the Pyrenees and the river Ebro, right after the confusion of languages in the Tower of Babel.
Then, the Basque language would be one of the 72 languages that were created as a punishment of God after the Tower of Babel.[43]
It is based on a historical and geographical distortion of the Cantabrian Wars, based on a manuscript gloss that Cristóbal de Mieres, secretary of Lope García de Salazar (1399–1476) introduced on a 1491 copy of Las bienandanzas e fortunas. This legend makes the Vascones the protagonists of these wars.
See also [ edit ]
28 Basque Phrases To Get You Started When You Visit The Spanish Basque Country!
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One of the biggest things I learnt this past weekend visiting Gipuzkoa is that the Basque language is very different from Spanish (or indeed French). I’d been to Spain quite a few times in the past and so I assumed that I would be able to throw around all the Spanish phrases I’d learned (which are really only limited to about 5 basic ones – typically involving food or gratitude). Boy was I in for a surprise!
The Basque language indeed looks and sounds nothing like what I expected but fret not, in advance of my blog posts on our visit to Gipuzkoa, I have put together a list of some Basque phrases I recently learnt. Hopefully, this will help you when you go visit but more importantly, it’s a chance for me to show off my new found love for the Basque language! 🙂 😉 (I jest!!! This has been written more to help you than for me to show off – as Lloyd will attest to, it took me the best part of 2 days to figure out the best way of saying “Thank You” in Basque!)
Before I get started, it’s probably worth noting that Basque in Basque language is actually “Euskara” . The list below follows the structure “Basque —> English“.
Kaixo —> Hello Egun on —> Good morning Arratsalde on —> Good afternoon Gabon —> Good night Agur —> Goodbye Zorte on! —> Good luck Egun on izan dezala —> Have a nice day Ez dut ulertzen —> I don’t understand Astiro—>astiro hitz egin mesedez —> Please speak more slowly Idatz iezadazu mesedez —> Please write it down Euskaraz badakizu? —> Do you speak Basque? Bai —> Yes Ez —> No Zenbat balio du? —> How much is this? Eskerrik asko —> Thank you Komuna, non dago? —> Where are the toilets? Non dago tren—>geltokia? —> Where is the train station? Non dago autobus—>geltokia? —> Where is the bus station? Ez dakit euskaraz—> I do not speak Basque Ba al dakizu ingelesez?—> Do you speak English? Nongoa zara? —> Where are you from? Non dago xxxxxxx? —> Where is xxxxxxx? Bai ote? —> Really? Topa! —> Cheers! Hementxe! —> Over / right here! Geldi!—> Stop Lasai—> Take it easy Ez dut nahi—> I do not want
For those who are looking to go a step even further and learn how to pronounce these phrases, the BBC has put together a useful Basque pronunciation guide.
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