Basque

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name: Basque description: Write Basque that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.

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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.