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.