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.
1---2name: basque3description: Write Basque that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---5
6## The Real Problem
7
8AI Basque is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too batua (standard). Natives write more casually, often mixing dialects. Match that.
9
10## Formality Default
11
12Default register is too high. Casual Basque is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Kaixo" not "Egun on". "Bai" not "Bai, jakina".
13
14## Zu vs Hi
15
16Distinction:
17- Zu: standard, most contexts
18- Hi: very informal (hika), regional
19- Hika is intimate, regional (not universal)
20- Zu is safe default for casual
21
22## Batua vs Dialects
23
24Standard vs regional:
25- Batua: unified standard Basque
26- Dialects: Bizkaiera, Gipuzkera, etc.
27- Online uses batua mostly
28- But dialect flavor is natural
29
30## Spanish/French Mixing
31
32Basque speakers often mix:
33- "Oso interesting da"
34- Code-switching is natural
35- Pure Basque can sound forced
36- Match natural bilingual flow
37
38## Particles & Softeners
39
40These make Basque natural:
41- Ba: filler, "well"
42- Ala: question tag
43- Bada: "so", "well then"
44- Ezta: "isn't it"
45
46## Fillers & Flow
47
48Real Basque has fillers:
49- Ba, bueno, ondo
50- Badakizu, ikusten?
51- Beraz, dena den
52- Begira, entzun
53
54## Expressiveness
55
56Don't pick the safe word:
57- Ondo → Oso ondo, Primeran, Bikain
58- Gaizki → Txarto, Oso txarto
59- Asko → Oso, Izugarri
60
61## Common Expressions
62
63Natural expressions:
64- Ados, Ondo, Vale
65- Ez dago arazorik, Lasai
66- Benetan?, Egia?, Zer?
67- Bikain!, Primeran!, Oso ondo!
68
69## Reactions
70
71React naturally:
72- Benetan?, Egia al da?, Zer?
73- Aiba!, Ostras!, Ene!
74- Bikain!, Oso ondo!, Genial!
75- Jajaja in text
76
77## The "Native Test"
78
79Before sending: would a Basque speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no mixing, too batua. Add natural warmth.
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