Agintera — the imperative
The imperative (agintera) is used to give instructions, make requests, and give advice. In Basque, it’s much simpler than it seems: the most common form almost always matches the verb’s participle.
The basic rule: use the participle
For many everyday commands, the verb appears in its participle form without an auxiliary:
| Spanish | Basque |
|---|---|
| Take | Hartu |
| Sit down | Eseri |
| Get up | Jaiki |
| Write | Idatzi |
| Read | Irakurri |
| Listen | Entzun |
| Repeat | Errepikatu |
| Wait | Itxoin |
| Close the door | Itxi atea |
| Open the window | Ireki leihoa |
This is the most common form used in the classroom, on the street, and in written instructions. It works for both zu and zuek.
Synthetic forms (trinkoak): zatoz, zoaz
Some very common verbs have specific synthetic forms for the imperative. These are the ones worth memorizing:
| Verb | You (zu, singular) | You (zuek, plural) |
|---|---|---|
| etorri (to come) | Zatoz | Zatozte |
| joan (to go) | Zoaz | Zoazte |
| ekarri (to bring) | Ekarri / Ekar ezazu | Ekar ezazue |
| eraman (to take/carry) | Eraman / Eramazu | Eramazue |
| egon (to be) | Egon / Lasai (take it easy!) | Egon |
— Zatoz hona, mesedez. — Zoazte lehenbailehen.
NOR-NORI-NORK imperative: emadazu, esadazu
When you give a command with a double object (“give me this”, “tell him that”), Basque has very useful compact forms:
| Spanish | Basque |
|---|---|
| Give me | Emadazu / Eman iezadazu |
| Tell me | Esadazu / Esan iezadazu |
| Give him/her | Emaiozu / Eman iezaiozu |
| Tell him/her | Esaiozu / Esan iezaiozu |
| Give us | Emaguzu |
| Give me (plural you) | Emadazue |
These forms are long to learn; at A2 level, it’s enough to know emadazu / esadazu / emaiozu / esaiozu and understand that they come from the verbs eman / esan.
”Please” and softeners
The imperative in Basque doesn’t sound harsh if you add a polite word:
- Mesedez — please
- Ahal baduzu — if you can
- Faborez (colloquial variant)
- Eskerrik asko aldez aurretik — thanks in advance
Emadazu ogia, mesedez. Itxoin pixka bat, ahal baduzu.
Instructions (recipes, signs, classroom)
The imperative is the standard form in:
- Recipes: Moztu tipula. Bota olioa zartaginera. Frijitu bost minutuz.
- Signs: Itxi atea. Ez ukitu. Erabili maskara.
- Classroom: Ireki liburua. Idatzi koadernoan. Errepikatu nirekin.
- Doctor’s office: Hartu pilula bat. Edan ur asko. Hartu atseden.
Mini-text
Sukaldari eskolan, irakasleak esaten du:
— Hartu patata bat. Garbitu ondo. Kendu azala. Moztu zatitan eta bota ur irakinera. Itxoin hogei minutu. Eta probatu ondoren.
Cultural note: in Basque, the bossy tone of the imperative is softened by intonation and context, not so often with periphrasis (“could you…”). Accompanying the command with mesedez or a smile is usually enough. If you want something more polite, say eman ahal didazu…? (can you give me…?).
Ejercicios
To say "come" (to one person, informal) in Basque, which form do you use?
"Eseri, mesedez" means…
Pass me the water, please = ura, mesedez.