Where are you coming from? — the NONDIK case
If in the previous lesson we learned NORA (where you go to), now comes its partner: NONDIK — where you come from. The suffix is -tik. On its own it is not hard; the important thing is not to mix it up with NORA.
The question: Nondik?
| Question | English |
|---|---|
| Nondik zatoz? | Where are you coming from? |
| Nondik dator? | Where is he/she coming from? |
| Nondik gatoz? | Where are we coming from? |
| Nondik datoz? | Where are they coming from? |
The natural verb with NONDIK is etorri (to come): nator, zatoz, dator, gatoz, zatozte, datoz. The basic question that will open conversations for you all the time is Nondik zatoz?.
The suffix: -tik
It is added to the place of origin. The pattern adapts according to the ending:
| End of the place | Pattern | Example |
|---|---|---|
| -a (organic, eskola) | + tik | eskola → eskolatik |
| Vowel without final -a (Bilbo, etxe) | + tik | Bilbo → Bilbotik, etxe → etxetik |
| Consonant (Madril, lan) | + (e)tik or + dik | Madril → Madriletik / Madrildik; lan → lanetik |
Note: after a consonant both variants exist (Madriletik / Madrildik) and both are accepted. The form with
-etikis more standard and less risky when writing.
Examples
- Etxetik nator. — I come from home.
- Lanetik dator. — He/she comes from work.
- Eskolatik gatoz. — We come from school.
- Tabernatik datoz. — They come from the bar.
- Bilbotik etorri da. — He/she has come from Bilbao.
- Iruñetik Donostiara doa. — He/she goes from Pamplona to Donostia.
NORA and NONDIK together: nondik nora?
It is very common to combine both in a single sentence: “from where to where”.
- Hegazkina Bilbotik Madrilera doa. — The plane goes from Bilbao to Madrid.
- Autobusa Iruñetik Tutera doa. — The bus goes from Pamplona to Tudela.
- Idoia bankutik supermerkatura doa. — Idoia goes from the bank to the supermarket.
The general question is Nondik nora?: “from where to where?”.
Mini-trick: the three basic questions about place are: Non? (to be), Nora? (to go), Nondik? (to come). And the three corresponding suffixes are: -an / -ra / -tik. Almost everything you will say about places fits in this trio.
Summary table NON / NORA / NONDIK
| Question | Suffix | Typical verb | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| Non? (where?) | -an | egon (to be) | Etxean nago. — I am at home. |
| Nora? (where to?) | -ra | joan (to go) | Etxera noa. — I go home. |
| Nondik? (where from?) | -tik | etorri (to come) | Etxetik nator. — I come from home. |
NONDIK adverbs and demonstratives
The three distances also have their NONDIK form:
| NON | NORA | NONDIK | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| hemen | hona | hemendik | from here |
| hor | horra | hortik | from there |
| han | hara | handik | from over there |
- Hemendik gertu dago. — It is near here.
- Handik nator. — I come from over there.
- Hortik aurrera, jo eskuinera. — From there onwards, turn right.
Mini-conversation
— Aupa, nondik zatoz? — Hi! Where are you coming from?
— Lanetik nator. Eta zu, nora zoaz? — I come from work. And you, where are you going?
— Supermerkatura noa, afaria erostera. — I’m going to the supermarket, to buy dinner.
— Ni ere supermerkatura noa! Goazen elkarrekin. — I’m going to the supermarket too! Let’s go together.
Typical mistakes to avoid: confusing Bilbon (in Bilbao) with Bilbora (to Bilbao) or Bilbotik (from Bilbao). And, within NONDIK, don’t forget that after a vowel it’s
-tikand after a consonant an-e-is inserted or-dikis allowed. Practise stringing the three suffixes together with the same word: etxean / etxera / etxetik; Bilbon / Bilbora / Bilbotik. Once it comes out automatically, you’ve got it.
Ejercicios
"I come from Bilbao" is said:
I come from home = Etxe nator.
They come from Madrid = Madril datoz.
What does "Lanetik nator" mean?
Combine origin and destination: "I come from the bank and I go to the supermarket":
Question: Where are you coming from? = zatoz?