hitz egin

== Basque == === Etymology === From hitz (“word”) +‎ egin (“to do”). === Pronunciation === IPA(key): (Navarro-Lapurdian) /hit͡s̻ eɡin/ [hit͡s̻ e.ɣ̞ĩn] IPA(key): (Southern) /it͡s̻ eɡin/ [it͡s̻ e.ɣ̞ĩn] Hyphenation: hitz e‧gin === Verb === hitz egin du (imperfect participle hitz egiten, future participle hitz egingo or hitz eginen, short form hitz egin, verbal noun hitz egite) to speak, to talk Synonyms: mintzatu, berba egin, solas egin [with instrumental] to speak a language Euskaraz hitz egin dezaket. ― I can speak Basque. [with instrumental] to talk about something Zure lagunaz hitz egin nahi dut. ― I want to talk about your friend. ==== Usage notes ==== In the sense "to speak a language" the absolutive case can also be used, but it is much rarer. When using an adjective to describe the language, the innessive case is used instead: Frantses dotorean hitz egiten du. ― He speaks excellent French. === Further reading === “hitz egin”, in Euskaltzaindiaren Hiztegia [Dictionary of the Basque Academy] (in Basque), Euskaltzaindia [Royal Academy of the Basque Language] “hitz egin”, in Orotariko Euskal Hiztegia [General Basque Dictionary], Euskaltzaindia, 1987–2005