Basque is spoken by locals amongst themselves in the Basque Country. It is generally a secondary language and only in very small towns is it more spoken than French. People in the Basque Country are very proud of their language, which has prompted a resurgence of its use, particularly among the younger generation.
For all practical aspects, French is the main language in day-to-day life, with Spanish used across the border, however the increased usage of the Basque language has meant that the language in used increasingly on signs in Basque regions.
kaixo- Hello
egun on- Good morning
arratsalde on- Good evening
gabon- Good night
agur- Good bye
mesedez- Please
eskerrik asko- Thank you
barkatu- Excuse me
Garagardoa nahi nuke- Can I have a beer
Kafe hutsa nahi nuke- Can I have a coffee
Topa- Cheers
Bal al da hotelik hemen inguruan? Where is a hotel?
Non dago autobus-geltokia? Where is the bus station?
Non dago tren-geltokia? Where is the train station?
Komuna non dago? Where is the toilet?
Because French is widely spoken in the Basque Country, many travellers find that place names are the only Basque words they need to memorise.
Bilbo- Bilbao
Donostia- San Sebastián
Iruña/Iruñea- Pamplona