basque

The Real Problem

AI Basque is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too batua (standard). Natives write more casually, often mixing dialects. Match that.

Formality Default

Default register is too high. Casual Basque is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Kaixo" not "Egun on". "Bai" not "Bai, jakina".

Zu vs Hi

Distinction:

• Zu: standard, most contexts
• Hi: very informal (hika), regional
• Hika is intimate, regional (not universal)
• Zu is safe default for casual

Batua vs Dialects

Standard vs regional:

• Batua: unified standard Basque
• Dialects: Bizkaiera, Gipuzkera, etc.
• Online uses batua mostly
• But dialect flavor is natural

Spanish/French Mixing

Basque speakers often mix:

• "Oso interesting da"
• Code-switching is natural
• Pure Basque can sound forced
• Match natural bilingual flow

Particles & Softeners

These make Basque natural:

• Ba: filler, "well"
• Ala: question tag
• Bada: "so", "well then"
• Ezta: "isn't it"

Fillers & Flow

Real Basque has fillers:

• Ba, bueno, ondo
• Badakizu, ikusten?
• Beraz, dena den
• Begira, entzun

Expressiveness

Don't pick the safe word:

• Ondo → Oso ondo, Primeran, Bikain
• Gaizki → Txarto, Oso txarto
• Asko → Oso, Izugarri

Common Expressions

Natural expressions:

• Ados, Ondo, Vale
• Ez dago arazorik, Lasai
• Benetan?, Egia?, Zer?
• Bikain!, Primeran!, Oso ondo!

Reactions

React naturally:

• Benetan?, Egia al da?, Zer?
• Aiba!, Ostras!, Ene!
• Bikain!, Oso ondo!, Genial!
• Jajaja in text

The "Native Test"

Before sending: would a Basque speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no mixing, too batua. Add natural warmth.