List of ideophones in Basque

This article is list of ideophones in Basque language based on Ibarretxe-Antuñano's (2006) trilingual dictionary Hizkuntzaren Bihotzean - Euskal Onomatopeien Hiztegia.

A

• abaaba — expression for toddling children and in lullabies
• abo-abo — sleep
• abu-abu — go for a walk
• afa — expression of happiness
• aiba! — gasp of astonishment
• aida-aida — cattle
• aikolo-maikolo— indecisive
• aiku-maiku — indecision.
• akuilu-makuilu — stilts
• ani-ani — walk, go for a walk
• antxi-antxika — running
• apa-apa — walking (especially, a little kid).
• apapa — toddle over here.
• apapanturi — drowsy sleepy man
• apar — foam, spray, surf
• aput — expression of disapproval
• araust — call for challenge
• arlote — homeless
• armi-arma — spider
• arra-arra — gush out
• arre — gee up!
• arret-zarret — zigzag.
• asa! — cry to start moving
• asa-asa — without too many clothes.
• atx — ouch; call for pigs.
• atxi-atxi — to run.
• au-au — bark of a small dog
• auk — call for geese
• aup — expression to get up
• aupi — expression of happiness
• ausk — sound of bite
• auzi-mauzi — quarrel, problem.
• axi — expression to set the dog on somebody
• axut — call for a challenge
• azur-mazurrak — leftovers

B

• bala-bala — from person to person; bluntly.
• balan-balan — move clumsily.
• bal-bal — hard boiling sound.
• ban-ban — industrious, proud, non-stop.
• bar-bar — sound of bubbling water; rhythmic falling of a light body.
• barra-barra — a great deal, a lot, amply, abundantly, plentifully.
• barrast — sound of ripping
• barristi-barrasta — move quickly.
• bat-bat — wholly, completely.
• bedera-bedera — profusely (especially grain falling and money spending).
• beilo-beilo — tipsy, slightly drunk.
• ber-ber — equally, no matter.
• bera-bera — to walk by oneself.
• berrinba-barranba — clumsy.
• bi-bi — call for cats.
• biguin-miguin — flattery.
• bil-bil — bubble, rounded.
• biliki-balaka — swinging, teetering.
• bilin-balan — tumbling, turning over.
• bilin-bolan — stagger, totter, reel.
• bilist-balast — slip, sway, rocking.
• bill-bill — piled up.
• bilo-biloka — women's fight (tearing hair out)
• binbili-bonbolo — gently.
• bir-bor — borborygmus; any rumbling noise
• bir-bir — around.
• biri-biri — call for ducks.
• birra-barra — suddenly.
• birri-barra — tp spread.
• birrin-birrin — buzzing.
• bitx-bitx — wee wee, pee pee.
• bix-bixean — throwing the ball to one another.
• bixilli-baxalla — to be naughty.
• blasta-blasta — melt down.
• blei-blei — soaked.
• bli-bli — swollen.
• bolo-bolo — spreading.
• bolon-bolon — sleeping.
• bon-bon — big spending.
• bor-bor — gushing, spurting.
• brenk — precipitous mountain.
• brika-brika — stride purposefully.
• brin-brau — walk hastily.
• bris-bris — twinkle, glitter.
• briu-brau — walk very fast.
• bru-bru — rumour.
• bun-bun — waste.
• burrun-burrun — bumble bee humming.

D

• da-da — knock the door.
• dai-dai — going in a hurry.
• dal-dal — tremble.
• danba-danba — insistently, on and on.
• dank — tap, stroke
• dapa — have an idea suddenly.
• dar-dar — trembling.
• di-da — proceed drastically
• dil-dil — light tremble.
• dinbirri-danbarra — continuous drag.
• din-din — with difficulty.
• dir-dir — the sound of something sparkling or shiny.
• dis-dis — sparkle, sunbeam, gleam.
• diz-diz — sparkle, glow (stars).
• doi-doi — barely, hardly.
• draga-draga — in big gulps.
• drak — to stop suddenly.
• draka-draka — trot.
• drasta-drasta — count or pay by giving the money coin by coin.
• drungun-drungun — clumsily drink in big gulps.
• dui-dui — exactly
• dxxi — sound of a firework being launched.

DZ

• dzast — throw something and put it into an opening or a corner.
• dzat — not to bounce the ball as a result of hitting the angle.
• dzauan-dzauan — walk slowly and swinging.
• dziko — the sound of hitting somebody in the chest.
• dzirrin-dzarran — sawing sound, squeak.
• dzirt-dzart — bim bam.
• dzist — gushing out water

E

• eleka-meleka — chattering.
• enpi-enpi — walk with difficulty, trudge.
• enuxu-banuxu — slow at walking
• epen-epen — keep up with difficulty.
• erotetan-peroretan — without thinking
• erran-merran — gossiping.
• erre-merre — articulating the sound R wrongly
• esti — yaa! (cattle)
• estu-estu — nervously.
• et-et-et — exclamation used when somebody is in a difficult situation or to attract attention.
• etsi-etsian — as a last resort.
• eurt! — yaa! (cattle).

F

• fara-fara — light motion (sails, birds, sweat running down...)
• farfal — very full dress
• far-fan — frivolous.
• far-far — rustling.
• farran-farran — spin clumsily.
• fistin-fastan — walk angrily.
• fil-fil-fil — fall down in circles and slowly.
• fili-fala — fray.
• fir-fir — murmur.
• firi-firi — soft breeze.
• firik-firiki — softly.
• firin-faran — walk aimlessly.
• firiri — rotative motion of an object thrown in the air.
• firri-farra — foolishly.
• fixti-faxta — stomp around in a rage.
• flisk-flask — crack, crackle, crash.
• fliu-fliu — long wave.
• flost — fall into water.
• fri-fri — whoosh, go across the air fast
• frink — not to keep one's word
• furra — call for hens.
• furrunta — sound the spinning wheel.

G

• gal-gal — boiling, bubbling, gushing out.
• gan-gun — lazy person.
• gara-gara — caw, croak, honk.
• garamanazal — mature woman ready to marry the first one to appear.
• garra-garra — rolling around.
• geri-geri — groping in the dark.
• gexa-mexa — weak.
• gilin-gilin — sound of a cowbell.
• glaska-glaska — sound of gnawing.
• gli-gli — water murmur.
• glin-glan — wine poured in a bottle.
• glaska-glaska — sound of cutting hair.
• glok — to get upset stomach from something.
• glu-glu — swallow.
• gori-gori — red-hot, burning, incandescent.
• grik-grak — bone crackling.

H

• hanka-hanka — one after another
• hapa-hapa — pant (breath with difficulty).
• harrikalanka — carry stones
• hasi-masi — basics, rudiments.
• hauka-mauka — profusely eating.
• hautsi-mautsi — from time to time.
• hezur-mezur — bits and scraps of bones and pork.
• hikili-mikili-klik — drink up in a gulp
• hinki-hanku — hobbling.
• hirrun-harrun — bickering.

I

• ia-ia — almost.
• igiri-bigiri — otter.
• iji-aja — ridicule.
• ika-mika — quarrel, argument.
• ikertu-mikertu — hunt around for.
• ikusi-makusi — "I Spy" game.
• ikusle-mirusle — voyeur.
• ilun-milun — growing dark.
• indura-mandura — indecisive man.
• ingili-angala — sig of disgust and sadness.
• ingura-mingura — beat about the bush.
• intzire-mintzire — complaint.
• ipi-apa — in great detail.
• ipin-apan — carefully.
• iritzi-miritzi — tittle-tattle.
• irra — call for pigeons.
• irri-borro — rotative motion, quick and confusing.
• irri-irri — mocking laugh.
• irri-kar-kar — guffaw.
• irri-marra — throw money in christening ceremonies
• irri-mirri — weak.
• irri-murri — mischievous smile
• irrintzi — whoop of joy typical of Basque shepherds when they are in the mountains, and of Basque people in general
• irri-orro — smudge.
• isilka-misilka — whispering.
• iski-miski — trivialities.
• ito-ito — a big hurry.
• itsu-itsu — blindly.
• itx-atx — not a word.
• ixil-mixil — secret conversation.
• ixo — shhh, hush.
• izka-mizka — chattering whispering.
• izkutu-mizkutu — mystery
• izt — oi, call for attention

J

• jai-jai — expression of skepticism.
• jarrai-marrai — steps of a procedure.
• jauzi-mauzi — prancing.
• jin-jun — twangy.
• jitipiti-jatapata — crawl

K

• kaiku — wooden bowl for milk.
• kainka — cry of pain (of dogs being hit)
• kakamilikuri — cockatoo
• kako-mako — cunning argument, trickery.
• kala-kala — rhythmical noise.
• kalaka — millstone.
• kali-kola — poppy, weed in wheat.
• kank — sound of bouncing ball in Jai-Alai
• kanu-kanu — little by little.
• kar-kar-kar — guffaw; ha-ha-ha.
• kask — jolt, screech.
• katx-katx — call for sheep and cows.
• kax-kax — rat-a-tat-tat.
• kaz-kaz — expression for keeping away a cat.
• keinu-meinu — gesture, wink.
• ker-ker — in a straight line.
• ki-ki — hen's hiccups.
• kil-kil — coward, intimidated.
• kikili-kakala — staggering astride.
• kiki-mako — twist of rivers.
• kikirriki — multicoloured.
• kili-kili — tickles.
• kili-kolo — wobbling; unsure.
• kili-mili — slip away.
• kilin-kilin — swords fighting sound.
• kil-kil — cricket sound.
• kinki-kanka — trudge.
• kinkili-mankala — keep up with difficulty.
• kinkinka — jumping or rolling on the ends of a wooden log that rolls down the hill.
• kirik — hide-and-seek game.
• kirka-kirka — in bites
• kir-kir — joy, jubilation.
• kirri-karra — frog sound, croak.
• kirri-kirri — gnashing of teeth.
• kirri-marro — articulating R sound wrongly.
• kinkirrinka — champagne
• kisket — latch.
• kiski — central part in leather balls.
• kiskili-maskili — with difficulty.
• kitzi-kitzi — rummage.
• kixkil — trinket.
• klak — sound of unstacking.
• klaska — wolf down.
• klax-klax — scissors' sound
• kli-kli — insect's flight.
• klik-klik — cut hair.
• kluk — stop out of tiredness.
• klun — sound of liquid in a bottle.
• klun-klan — cot sound, to rock.
• kokolo-mokoli — idiot.
• koko-meko — indecisive.
• kokoriko — squatting, crouching.
• konkela-kaskala — carry a boy astride.
• korrok — belch.
• krak-krak — get drunk
• krik — drink buzz; if said to somebody, it is an invitation to do so, if the other person accepts, this one must say krak.
• kri-kra — strumming.
• krink-krank — griding.
• krisk — sound of breaking small things.
• kriskitin — castanet, snap
• kuka — strawman.
• kuku-marro — flat corncake filled with green cheese.
• kukurruku — cock-a-doodle-doo
• kulike-mulike — kitchen job.
• kulu-mulu — trifling.
• kuluxka — nap, siesta, light sleep.
• kun — rhythmical sound of a cradle/cot
• kunku — doorstop.
• kuñkuñkuño — full of fruit.
• kurrik — exclamation used by children when playing
• kurrin — pig grunt, oink.
• kurrun-kurrun — call for pigs.
• kuse-kuse — that precise moment
• kus-kur — a person with hunched shoulders
• kzzz — set the animals on somebody

L

• laba-laba — (game) blind man's bluff.
• lafa-lafa — sound of dog gnawing.
• lala — tasteless.
• langet — hefty man.
• lapa-lapa — slurp down.
• lapatx — small snowflake.
• laprast — slip, slide
• lauodrio-maudorio — praises and flatteries, suck up to somebody.
• lepa-leba — sound of rough sea, roar
• lele — naive; for kids: milk (not maternal).
• lelo — "the same old story".
• lili — flower.
• lirin-laran — singing softly to oneself.
• lir-lar — sun glitter over a field.
• liruli — bird trill.
• lolo — sleep.
• lui — windward.
• lulu — dummy.
• luza-muza — put somebody off.

M

• maila-maila — slow and peacefully.
• mailo-mailo — little by little.
• makaka-orro — roar of oxen.
• ma-la — land dragged by a torrent.
• ma-ma — drinking water or liquid.
• mamo — lice and fleas.
• mamor — bug insect.
• mamu — ghost, boogeyman.
• mar-mar — whispering, mumbling.
• mara-mara — snow softly and continuously.
• maro-maro — gradually.
• marra-marra — gulp down making noises.
• marru — bellowing, howling.
• marru-marru — voraciously, greedily.
• masta-masta — kissing.
• matanta — sluggish.
• matxar — big lips.
• mauka-mauka — eating voraciously.
• meka — twangy.
• mela-mela — completely soaked.
• meleka-meleka — eat without appetite.
• merro — weak and thin.
• mist — not a word
• miu — finicky.
• miz-miz — call for cats.
• mokoka — scold.
• mulu-mulu — whisper.
• mur-mur — murmur of water.
• mutx — with one arm.

N

• nahasi-nahasi — chaos, mess.
• nahaste-borraste — confusion, mess
• nahi-mahi — wish.
• nar-nar — dull ache.
• ne-ne — (kids) milk.
• nikiki-nakaka — irritate.
• nir-nir — twinkle.
• nirro — with half closed eyes
• nunu — wet nurse.

Ñ

• ñaka — dirty trick.
• ñan-ñan — yum-yum, (kids) to eat.
• ña-ña — (kids) cheese; food.
• ña-ñi — offering but not giving.
• ñasta-ñasta — eating without appetite.
• ñika — wink
• ñiki-ñiki — sound of having sex.
• ñiku-ñaku — hitting a bit, fighting for fun.
• ñimiño — teeny-weeny.
• ñiñika — iris.
• ñirro-ñarro — short-sighted.
• ñiski-ñaska — chewing.

O

• ok — indigestion.
• op — call for challenge; expression of anger.
• opa-opa — offering.
• ospa — out!
• otx — expression of pain when burned or stuck with a needle
• ozta-ozta — with great difficulty.

P

• pafa-pafa — puffing.
• palast — swish.
• palax-palax — walk step by step.
• pal-pak — harmful animal.
• pan — shoot, bang.
• panpa-panpa — hit continuously.
• pan-par — show-off.
• pan-pin — doll.
• papa — corn or flour bread.
• para-para — slide, glide.
• par-par — gushing out.
• parra-zirri — forced smile.
• part — thrown an object at a short distance.
• peto-peto — pure.
• pil-pill — glub-glub, slowly boiling.
• pin-per — reverse, back.
• pinpilinpauxa — butterfly
• pinpili-panpala — favourite
• pinpirin — elegant
• piran-piran — spend money little by little.
• piri-para — continuous and hectic succession of things.
• pirri — diarrhoea.
• piro-piro — boy's game: throwing a ball.
• pirrita — tumble, rolling down.
• pla-pla — coat (food, with egg and flour).
• plaust — sound of a heavy object falling.
• pli-pla — boom (fireworks).
• porrot — breakdown, failure.
• pottolo — chubby.
• prapapa-prapapa — speak quickly and continuously.
• pu — yuck!
• pulunp — splash.
• punpaka — bouncing.
• pupu — pain, hurt.
• purpur — spill.
• purpurka — slid down a slope.
• purra-purra — in abundance.
• purrust — liquid spill.
• purrut — fart
• purruzt — get annoyed
• puskala-muskala — blow
• puskila-muskila — DIY, small jobs
• putin — kick of a harassed horse
• putz — blow

R

• ringi-ranga — strode.

S

• saka-saka — shove.
• saltsa-maltsa — jumble.
• saplast — thud.
• sapa-sapa — transparent.
• sarasta — great shock
• sartada — sudden action, incision
• sast — inserting one object into another
• sast edo xist — burst; sting.
• satean-satean — frequently
• sauka-sauka — devour.
• sigi-saga — come and go zig-zagging
• sik eta sak — sharply
• siki-saka — non stop.
• siltsi-saltsa — helter-skelter, bolt
• sina-mina — gesture
• sino-mino — ceremonious
• sirrin-sarran — sound of sew
• sits — moth
• sistil — poor in nutrients
• sistrin — rachitic
• siu-siu — mole's noise
• siztun-saztun — sew clumsily
• so — whoa!, voice to stop animals
• sorki-morki — sew clumsily; a rough patch.
• sost — suddenly

T

• tafla-tafla — splish-splash, wade.
• tak — sound of not very audible noises (heartbeat, pocket watch...); touch, tap.
• taka — quick action; sudden stop.
• taka-maka — groping
• taka-taka — toddling, walk slowly, in short and quick steps
• takian-takian — frequently, constantly
• tak-tak — tick-tock, clock sound
• talapats — swish, sound of a liquid moving inside a pitcher
• talast-talast — water shaking in a container
• talat — wet
• talka — bump, hit
• tal-tal — walk from one place to another
• tanga-tanga — sound of drops
• tank eta tink — punctually
• tankart — bucket in boats for bailing out
• tanka-tanka — coin by coin; step by step; drop by drop; rhythmical noise.
• tanpa — sound of falling
• tanpa-tanpa — walk with irregular steps
• tanta — drop
• tantaka — dripping
• tantal — big man
• tapla — little jumps when galloping or trotting
• tarabala — sound of a person falling down into the floor
• trabalako — fall and roll down the floor
• taraska — brazen woman
• taratata — expression of skepticism
• taratulo — drill
• tarranpantan — frying pan
• tarranta — unpleasant sound.
• tarrantantan — sound of a cartwheel moving
• tarrapada — spillage
• tarras — sticky
• tarrat — sound of clothing ripping
• tarra-tarra — drag
• tarrita — in an agitated state; make somebody anger; agitate
• tart — snap (a robe)
• tartaka — knotty wood
• tarteka-marteka — in one's free moments; in intervals.
• tarteka-tarteka — once in a while
• taska-taska — cry profusely
• tast — scorn
• tas-tas — spanking
• tat — suddenly
• tata — sound of scratching
• tatal — stammering
• tatan — youngest child
• tati — offering but not giving
• tauki — nod (sleeping)
• tauki-mauki — hammering
• taunk — hammering sound
• taun-taun — large wave.
• teke-meke — provoking.
• telent-telent — stand doing nothing.
• tenk — halt, stop.
• tente — upright.
• terreil-merreil — rebel, uncontrolled, unbridled.
• terren-terren — stubbornly.
• terrest-merrest — in any way.
• ter-ter — slowly, little by little.
• ter-ter-ter — in a straight line.
• tete — doggy.
• tetele — idiot.
• tetele-metele — without thinking.
• tifli-tafla — beating.
• tiki-taka — little by little, step by step.
• tilingo — worn out.
• tin — clang, metal sound.
• tinki-tanka — gulp
• tinta-minta — small details
• tintin — pulse
• tintirriña — baby's bottle
• tipirri-taparra — run with difficulty
• tipi-tapa — pitter-patter
• tir — cicada's song
• tira-tole — at will
• tira! — c'mon!
• tiribili-tarabala — fall and roll down
• tirin-kintan — tinkling
• tirri — gnashing of teeth
• tirri-tarra — farting
• tirriki-tarraka — lagging, straggling
• tirrin — electric ring
• tirrist-tarrast — plod
• tirrit — say "no" in disgust
• tiruri-tiruriru — sound of flute
• to — hey! (addressing males)
• tonk — get upset stomach from something, overdose on
• topa — toast, cheers
• torro-torroka — leapfrog, children's game
• tou-tou — call for cows
• traka-traka — walk, trot
• trank — slam, bang [door closing]
• trapala-trapala — gallop
• trata — clumsy movement of the spinning top
• trikitixa — dance and music from the Basque Country
• triki-traka — walk rhythmically
• trikun-trakuntza — gipsy con
• tringili-trangala — rattle
• trinka-trinka — press too much
• triska-traskatu — fight tooth and nail
• trisket — doorknocker
• trist — instant
• truskul — man with a malformation who walks clumsily, running into people
• truxala — rain buckets (a lot)
• tuf — yuck! expression of revulsion
• tuju-tuju — cough!
• tululu — a combination of three cards of equal value in the card game 31
• tulut — plug
• tunpa — loud blow
• tunpaka — jump in the air
• turlututu — no way
• turrusta — waterfall, cascade
• tururu — whistle made of plants
• turuta — small bugle
• tut — not a thing

TT

• tta — yuck! (expression of disgust)
• ttaka-ttaka — taking baby steps
• ttakun-ttakun — sound of txalaparta
• ttara-ttara — drag little by little
• ttattik — expression used when somebody is deceived
• ttatto — get off
• tteke-meke — provoking
• tteke-tteke — slowly and peacefully
• ttinttin — handbell sound
• ttinttinrrin — liquor
• ttipi-ttapa — small step by step
• ttitt — get dressed
• ttok-ttok-ttok — small person looking around for something
• ttoporro — deformed animal
• ttotta — eau-de-vie;
• ttu — spit
• ttuki-ttuki — objection
• ttulun-ttulun — take it easily
• ttun-ttun — Basque instrument from Soule, psaltery
• ttunttur — Basque mardi-gras characters in Ituren and Zubieta (joaldunak)
• ttuntturro — carnival hat, worn by joaldunak
• ttur-ttur — shit of sheep

TX

• txa — stop tapping
• txago — keep upright (of children)
• txainpa — woman's cry
• txak — short step
• txangot — sultry, stuffy weather
• txanpa — fast rowing regatas
• txanpan — rock the boats on the waves
• txanpon — coin
• txantol — wooden cat, tap for barrels
• txantxa — joke
• txantxulin — reckless
• txapar — small person
• txaplast — play ducks and drakes
• txapla-txapla — splash about barefoot
• txarakal — empty nut
• txart — swipe
• txart-txart — punish
• txatan-txatan — every step
• txeia — call for women
• txetxe — small child
• txi — roast
• txikili-txakala — walk slowly but with a firm step
• txikli-txoklo — clog
• txiko — call for young donkeys
• txil — cry, say uncle
• txilin-txilinera — throw nuts one by one
• txil-txil — simmer, slowly boil
• txin — coin, money
• txint — not a word
• txin-txin — clinking of coins
• txintxirri — rattle
• txintxo — good, loyal
• txio — chirp, tweet
• txipli-txapla — splash about
• txiri — shaving
• txirikonkila — carry a baby astride
• txirki-mirki — to be crossed with somebody
• txirlo — skittle
• txirri-mirri — insecure person, busybody
• txirrin — bell, buzzer, ring
• txirrist — slide
• txirrista — slide, tobbogan, sled
• txirtxilatu — explode, tear to pieces
• txir-txir — frying crackle
• txirula — flute
• txiska — trample
• txiska-miskaka — look for sweets
• txistu — Basque flute
• txita — chick
• txil-txil — willy, wee-wee
• txitxiri-bitxiri — bits and pieces, trinket
• txitxirri-patxarra — informality
• txiz — wee, pee
• txo! — call for attention, addressing boys
• txonbo — dive, dipping one's head in the water
• txongil — drinking jug with spout and handle (see botijo)
• txontxongilo — puppet
• txora-txora — drive mad
• txort — fuck, screw
• txost — in card game, answer to txist
• txotx — expression used in sagardotegis when a barrel is to be opened
• txu — spit
• txun-txun — small drum
• txurrun — curl up
• txurrut — sip
• txurrute-murrute — pub crawl
• txut — ouch!
• txutxu-mutxuka — whispering, saying secrets

TZ

• tzintz — mucus
• tzipi-tzapa — baby crawl
• tzir-tzil — loose thread; unimportant thing or person
• tzonbor — log (tree)
• tzurruntzuntzun — rickety rickety
• tzur-tzur — laugh sarcastically

U

• ufa — puff, expression of sadness
• uka-muka — doubt
• ulu — howl
• um — expression of distrust
• urku-murku — be up to no good
• urra-urra — call for hens
• urrutaka-urrutaka — by bargaining
• usa — whoa! (stop oxen)
• utx — expression of pain and surprise
• utz — flatulence
• ux — call to move away hens
• uzkur-muzkur — idle

X

• xa — whoa! (oxen)
• xafla — slap
• xafla-xafla — hit rhythmically
• xaha-xaha — get undressed and wash the clothes
• xapi — away! (for cats)
• xarrast — scratch
• xarrata — mice squeak
• xast — do something quickly
• xehe-mehe — incidentally, in detail
• xiliparta-xalaparta — making a racket, a row
• ximur-xamur — wrinkle a bit
• xingar — pork, pig's flesh
• xingola-mingola — zigzag
• xinta-minta — whimpering, whining
• xintxar — mist
• xiribiri — violin
• xiriko-miriko — tempting
• xiri-miri — drizzle
• xirimola — hurricane
• xirin — diarrhea
• xirmi-xarma — spell, charm
• xirriki-xarraka — plod
• xirrit — dripping
• xirrizta — cry of pain
• xirro-marro — shepherd's game with six pebbles
• xirti-xarta — whipping
• xirto — pun, play of words
• xirurika — whoosh
• xist — quickly; instant
• xiu-xiu — sound of squirrels
• xista-mista — flash of lightning
• xixtrin — despicable
• xoko-moko — hidden places
• xotuz-xotuz — insisting
• xumli-xumla — abracadabra
• xurrut — sip, swig
• xurru-xurru — drink constantly

Z

• za-za-za — speak fast
• zadura-badura — mishmash, jumble
• zafla — loud splash (water, mud)
• zaiki-paiki — shove
• zak — suddenly
• zaka-zaka — gulp down
• zalamala — tangle
• zalamandrana — ugly and scruffy woman
• zalantza-malantza — indecision
• zaldiko-maldiko — ride, merry-go-round, carousel
• zalko-zalko — astride
• zanbro — stinging, burning sensation
• zanga-zanga — drink clumsily
• zanpo — walk with the legs open
• zantzo — cheer, martial song
• zaparrada — downpour
• zapart — clash, clatter
• zapa-zapa — walk without stopping
• zaplast — sudden blow, shot
• zapotz — spigot, tap
• zaputz — insociable
• zarabanda — teeter-tooter
• zaraza — rain profusely
• zarko-marko — old crock
• zarra — walk on one's backside
• zarrantzantzan — cling-clang, metal things dragged
• zart — snap, break of a heavy object (metal, cristal)
• zar-zar — heavy rain
• zasta-zasta — pecking
• zauka-mauka — truly
• zausk — impression
• zaust — fit in easily
• zaxt — ravenously
• zehar-mehar — in both directions
• zeharo-meharo — completely
• zehats-mehatz — in great detail
• zelba-zelba — fresh
• zibli-zabla — double smack
• zikin-mikin — dirty
• zikirri-bakarra — fun-loving, busybody and clumpsy person
• zik-zak — spark
• zil — navel; umbilical cord
• zilin — weak
• zilintz — handbell
• zilin-zin-zin — not to know that to do
• zilio — scream
• zilipolot — shake a liquid in a container
• zilo-milo — holes and scratches
• ziltzi-maltza — mess
• zimel — wilted, shriveled, parched
• zimiko — sting, peck; pinch
• zimintx — hoop
• zimitz — bed bug
• zimur — wrinkle
• zin — oath, wow, promise
• zinbili-zanbula — tumbling, toppling
• zinbriki — tiny, teeny-weeny
• zinbunbuka — parade with small drums
• zinburrin — whistle, made of straw or branch bark
• zinburrun — alboka, single-reed woodwind instrument
• zinga-zinga — drink in gulps
• zingil — skinny
• zingilipurka — get drunk
• zingorro-mangorroka — stumbling, teetering
• zingo-zango — water tank
• zingulu-zangulu — shuffle
• zingun-zingun — with insistence
• zinguzango — crossbeam holding the bellow's at the blacksmith's
• zinka-minka — in earnest, putting a lot of effort
• zinki — seriously
• zinkulin-minkulin — in a finicky, squeamish way
• zinku-minku — whining
• zinkurin-minkurin — complaint, groan
• zinpiti-zanpata — fall down suddenly
• zinpi-zanpa — constantly punching
• zinpurdikatu — hang by the hands and moving legs and back
• zintz — blow one's nose; make a child blow his nose
• zintzarri — cowbell
• zintzo — honest, loyal
• zinzilo — gawky
• zipa — old small coin
• zipert egin — burst with spite
• ziperta — a tap, touch in the skull
• zipirri-zaparra — trudge, plod; blotch; wallop
• zipirt-zapart — throw punches left, right and centre
• zipi-zapa — wolfing down; pell-mell, helter-skelter
• zipla — exclamation of winning; dig, cutting remark
• zipli-zapla — slap
• zipot — belly
• zipri — lively
• zipriztin — splash
• zipunpa — rocket
• zira-bira — somersault
• zirgit egin — shudder
• zirika-mirika — pushing one's way through
• zirika-maraka — be busy with petty things
• zirikot — whey water
• ziri-mara — soft and continuous movement
• ziri-miri — drizzle
• zirimirola — whirlwind, twister
• zirin — guano, diarrhoea
• zirin-zirin — slide down a slope (as a game)
• ziripot — Basque Mardi Gras character in Lantz
• ziri-zara — glide; wriggle along
• zirki-miriki — get annoyed
• zirkin — propel
• zirkin-zarkin — walk from one place to another
• zirla — clam
• zirla-zarla — shoe's noise when walking clumsily
• zirra — profusion
• zirrazarra — sneeze
• zirri-marra — act without thinking
• zirriki-zarraka — scribble
• zirrimirri — Basque mythological character from Oiartzun
• zirrinta — dawn; ray, beam
• zirrin-zarran — drag a heavy object; expression used in card game mus when you get as many points as hamarrekos
• zirri-parra — work carelessly
• zirrist — slide; gushing out water
• zirris-zarras — sound of saw
• zirritaka — sound of red-hot-metal in contact with water
• zirri-zorro — heavy breathing; snore
• zirrizta — match a ball with a leather glove
• zirt edo zart — decisively; resolutely
• zirtako — snap
• zortziprikatu — beat a ball
• zirun-zarun — word used in Mus card game
• zirurika — spinning very fast
• ziski-naska — tangle, mess
• zist — escape, disappear suddenly
• zistu — speed, energy
• zitar — roasted
• zits — bare-legged
• zitzi — food; meat
• ziuli zaula — quick smacks
• zizipaza — lisp
• zizka-mizka — hors d'oeuvres
• zizki-mizki — trinket, detail
• zizo — blabbing
• zizpa — rifle
• zizt — sound made by an incision, a puncture
• zizti-zazta — sting several times
• ziztu — speed, quickness
• zoko-moko — nook, fold
• zonzon — idiot
• zoro-moro — to do something any old how
• zorran — gush out
• zorrotz — sharp; strict, severe
• zotin — hiccup
• zotz — expression used when refusing flatly
• zuist — quick and gliding movement
• zuku-zuku — suck, drink a liquid
• zunp — explosion, boom
• zunt — shut, locked
• zupust — insert something somewhere suddenly
• zurru eta purru — suck in, munch, crunch
• zurruburru — disagreement, quarrel
• zurrukutun — bread and cod soup
• zurrumurru — rumour; whisper
• zurrunbilo — whirlpool
• zurrunburrunka — confused, in disorder
• zurrunga — snore
• zurruntza — set somebody's teeth on edge
• zurrupita — big shower
• zurruputun — cod soup served in cider houses for sailors
• zurrut — absorbing, sipping
• zurrut eta purrut — in between sips
• zurru-zurru — in gulps
• zurt — to be alert
• zut — up!, straight
• zuzi — torch
• zuzumuzu — whispering

See also

• Ideophone
• Onomatopoeia
• Japanese sound symbolism
• Cross-linguistic onomatopoeias
• Trikiti
• Txalaparta
• Euskara
• Basque alphabet

References

• Ibarretxe-Antuñano, I. 2006. Hizkuntzaren Bihotzean - Euskal Onomatopeien Hiztegia. Donostia: Gaiak.
• Ibarretxe-Antuñano, I. 2012. Análisis lingüístico de las onomatopeyas vascas [1]. Oihenart. Cuadernos de Lengua y Literatura 27: 129–176.
• Ibarretxe-Antuñano, I. 2017. Basque ideophones from a typological perspective [2]. The Canadian Journal of Linguistics / Revue canadienne de linguistique 62.2: 1-21.

External links

• Sareko Euskal Gramtika. Sinbolismo fonetiko bidez sortutako hitzak
• Buber's Basque Page