#basque:translation

[guillemelgat]

I thought this song, a collaboration between Basque band Bulego and Spanish musician Ede, was really pretty, and the words are also very poetic. They switch between Spanish and Basque in very interesting ways, but the whole thing comes together quite well. If you speak Spanish and/or Basque you can watch the process they went through to make the song here, and give a better explanation than I could of what it's about, but roughly it speaks to the fact that even past experiences that we regret make up an important part of who we are now, so as much as we might want to get rid of them we can't.

Si lo hubiera sabido antes If I had known before que todo este ruido escondía mi nombre That all this noise was hiding my name

Isiltasun honen atzean gorde dira Behind all this silence are being kept nire izenaren oihartzun guztiak All the echoes of my name

Quizás escondiendo las manos Maybe hiding my hands quizás rebajando la voz Maybe lowering my voice quizás resistiendo el impulso Maybe resisting the impulse o quizás incluso si no Or maybe even if not podría apagar esta culpa I could turn off this guilt pero sin todo este dolor But without all this pain

[ ERREPIKA / ESTRIBILLO: Ez nintzen ni izango I wouldn’t be me Esa no sería yo That wouldn’t be me Dudan hutsune honek bete ez banindu. If the hollowness that I have didn’t fill me Esa no sería yo That wouldn’t be me ez nintzen ni izango I wouldn’t be me hoy la culpa deja hueco a la luz Today guilt leaves a space for the light ]

Lorez apaindu ditut I’ve embellished with flowers isiltasun honen erpin guztiak All the spikes of this silence En este pecho tan lleno In this full bosom ya no cabe el silencio que me pides guardar There’s no room left for the silence that you asked me to keep

Agian ausartu banintz Maybe if I had dared to agian egin banu Maybe if I had done it agian ahots horrekin Maybe with that voice ezingo nuen lortu I wouldn’t have been able to erru hau itzali eta Turn off this guilt and min hau berriz ez sentitu Not feel this pain again

[ERREPIKA / ESTRIBILLO ]

[guillemelgat]

I just found this song and I thought it was really cute so I thought I would share it! I feel like it’s good enough to deserve more attention and I hope it gets it <3

Gaurko eguna besteen berdina izango da Today will be the same as the others Mundua aldatzeko gogorik gabe Without the desire to change the world Monotonia huts honetan gaude murgilduta We’re submerged in this empty monotony Bizirauten saiatzen Trying to survive

Hainbeste ahots egin behar duguna esaten So many voices saying what we have to do Ixildu nahi ditut une batez I want to quiet them for a moment Ohera joan irudimenak egin dezan jolas Go to bed so your imagination can play Ametsetan bakarrikan gera aske Only in dreams are we free

[ ERREPIKA: Amestu dezagun We can dream Egunez By day Askatu gaitezen We can free ourselves Amestu dezagun We can dream Gauez By night Esnatu gaitezen We can wake ourselves ]

Ez ditut maindireak kendu nahi I don’t want to get out of the sheets Esnatzean aurkituko dudanaren beldur Fear of what I’ll find when I wake up Oheko babesa askoz nahiago dut I much prefer the shelter of my bed Esna jaso baititut hainbat gezur Because I’ve woken up to so many lies

Txikitatikan bideratu gaituzte haitzulora Since we were little, they’ve guided us into the cave Amets guztik lapurtu dizkigute They’ve stolen all our dreams Ohera joan irudimenak egin dezan jolas Go to bed so your imagination can play Ametsetan bakarrikan gera aske Only in dreams are we free

[ ERREPIKA ]

Ametsetan bakarrik gera aske Only in dreams are we free Galdu dezagun burua We can let our minds go Joan gaitezen Hogwartsetik Narniara We can travel from Hogwarts to Narnia Ahaztu dezagun mundu hau We can forget this world

[ ERREPIKA ]

[guillemelgat]

Oques Grasses and Zetak just released a song together, and since it’s in Catalan and Basque I felt like I was legally obligated to try my hand at translating it. Let me know if you spot any corrections!

Garestia da muxu bat orain A kiss is costly now
 Gorde bagenitu, dohan zirenean If only we were to save them, when they were free 
Orain “maite zaitut” gehiagotan elkarri esatea Now saying “I love you” more often,
 Normala izango dela, hitz eman Promise that it’ll become normal


Del cim del riu es sent que creix a poc a poc la pluja From the high point of the river the rain can be heard slowly growing
 Si ens enganxa pujant contracorrent ja ens ho farem If it catches us going upstream against the current we’ll figure it out
 Del plor de tantes ànimes que s'han sentit perdudes From the tears of so many souls who’ve felt lost
 Creix la llum del fons i esquerda el cel The light in the background grows and tears apart the sky

[ TORNADA / ERREPIKA
: Hitz eman Promise 
Momentu hau, betiko oroitzea To always remember this moment
 En la nostàlgia del record In the nostalgia of the memory
 Hi ha un dеmà, hi haurà sort There’s a tomorrow, there will be good fortune 
Hitz eman Promise ]



Urrun orain zure besarkadak Your hugs are far away now 
Elkarrеkin geundenean, enituen gorde I didn’t save them when we were together
 Som a temps d'escoltar la remor de dins We’re in time to hear the rumor from within
 Sempre corrents es va fent fosc i no es veu el camí Always running, it gets darker and the road can’t be seen


Hitz eman! Udaberri bat berria benetan Promise! A spring that’s truly new
 Euriak idatzi du zeruan, hitz eman! The rain has written it in the sky, promise!
 La primavera dels teus ulls a l'infinit The spring in your eyes continuing forever
 Si et tremolen els genolls és que ets aquí If your knees tremble it’s because you’re here


[ TORNADA / ERREPIKA ]


[guillemelgat]

This came out a couple months ago, but it’s a really good song. The video is also very thought-provoking, and I feel like it has an interesting message. All in all, the whole thing is about embracing change and one’s own flaws, and I like the fact that it’s neither completely positive nor completely negative, but somewhere in between – just like all of us.

Atea itxita La porta tancada The door, closed Leihotik begira Mirant per la finestra Looking out the window Gorriak ezpainak Els llavis, vermells Lips, red Ilea urdina Els cabells, grisos Hair, grey Malko txiki bat Una llàgrima petita A small tear Zu gogoratzean A recordar-te While remembering you Irribarre handia Un somriure gran A big smile Zoriontasuna Felicitat Happiness

Oker ibiliko naiz M’equivocaré I will be wrong Baina dena aldatu da Però tot ha canviat But everything’s changed Oraingo geroa El futur d’ara The future now Ez da izaten zena No és el que era Isn’t what it used to be Aldakorra naiz Soc variable I’m changeable Agian buruarina Potser de cap calent Maybe hot-headed Hotz eta beroa une berean Fred i calent(a) alhora Cold and warm at the same time

[ ERREPIKA: Kea bezala airean Com fum a l’aire Like smoke in the air Hegan nabil gauean Vaig volant a la nit I go flying in the night Dantza luze batean En un ball llarg In a long dance Miazkatuz haizea Llepant el vent Licking the wind ]

Horrela bada bizitza Si la vida és així If life is like this Hartuko dut beti den moduan La prendré de la manera de sempre I’ll take it the way it always is Horrela bada bizitza Si la vida és així If life is like this Beti aurrera egin beharko da Hauré de tirar sempre endavant I’ll have to always push forward Aldakorra naiz Soc variable I’m changeable Agian buruarina Potser de cap calent Maybe hot-headed Zuri eta beltza une berean Blanc i negre/a alhora White and black at the same time

[ ERREPIKA ]

[guillemelgat]

This was one of the first songs I tried translating from Basque, and probably one of the most ambitious, but it’s a classic so I had to. Since winter is now actually (possibly?) leaving, I figured now would be a good time to post it. This version is with the Basque Symphony Orchestra, and also features Ainhoa Moiua interpreting the song in Spanish sign language (LSE). My translation didn’t do it justice and could probably use corrections, but hopefully you all enjoy the song!

Elurrak joan direnean nire mendien artean When the snow disappears from my mountains Eguzkia teloian atzekaldean da The sun is on a cloth backdrop Ateratzeko beldur da, beldur eszenikoa It's afraid to come out, it has stage fright Aspaldi antzeztu ez duen obra honetan In this play that it hasn’t performed in a long time

Izpi txiki txikiren bat agertuz doa gaurkoan Today, a tiny, tiny ray comes approaching Poztasun handi batek besarkatzen nau A great happiness embraces me Mesedez ozen esan negua joan egin dela Please say loudly and clearly that winter has gone Nire arima hotzak ez du sinizten eta Because my cold soul does not believe it

Laztandu nazazu orain, ur urdinen artean Kiss me now, between blue waters Orain lainorik ez da, aurpegi biluziak Now there are no clouds, bare faces Ta larrua jotzean garrasirik ozenena, And having sex, the loudest cry Gordin amaigabea, negua joan da ta Unending rawness, because winter has gone

Jaio berrien antzera taupaden beharra dut orain Like a newborn, I need a heartbeat now Belarriekin ikusteko nire begiek entzuten ez dutena In order to see with my ears what my eyes do not hear Mesedez ozen esan negua joan egin dela Please say loudly and clearly that winter has gone Izara guztiak erre ditut eta Because I’ve burned all the bedsheets

Laztandu nazazu orain, ur urdinen artean Kiss me now, between blue waters Orain lainorik ez da, aurpegi biluziak Now there are no clouds, covered faces Ta larrua jotzean garrasirik ozenena, And having sex, the loudest cry Gordin amaigabea, negua joan da ta Unending rawness, because winter has gone

Soinu bakar bakarra zure bularraldean A single sound in your chest Negua joan da ta Because winter has gone Borobildu zaizkit ertzak zure ondoan I am surrounded by shores, by your side Izpi lasaigarri bat A ray of relief Negua joan da ta, negua joan da ta Because winter has gone, winter has gone

[guillemelgat]

I know I’m a day late, but here’s my annual song for International Women’s Day! This time it’s by the Basque band Huntza, led by Josune Arakistan (accordion and voice) and Uxue Amonarriz Zubiondo (tambourine and voice), who are the two amazing musicians appearing at the beginning of the video. It also features the band Tremenda Jauría, who are from Madrid and make lots of amazing feminist music in genres that traditionally haven’t been very welcoming to women. I really like this song (and also Huntza, but you probably know that already), and I hope y’all enjoy it too!

Tradizioak traizionatzean, Betraying traditions ileak puntan jartzean, Putting hairs on end erratzak utzi ta mikrofonoak hartzean, Leaving behind brooms and taking up microphones hegan egitean… ez digute esango! Flying… they won’t tell us...

[ ERREPIKA: Zer egin, nola esan, nola egin (e)ta zer izan. What to do, how to talk, how to do things, and how to be Zer egin, nola esan, nola egin, (e)ta zer izan… What to do, how to talk, how to do things, and how to be ]

Nacimos preparadas, We were born ready más fuertes en manada. Stronger in a pack Se acabó tu juego: Your game is up ya no tenemos miedo! We’re not scared anymore

Entre hechizos y runas Between spells and runes organizadas verás a las hijas del agua. You’ll see the daughters of water organized Entre sombras y lunas, su poder. Between shadows and moons, their power

[ ERREPIKA ]

Como una enredadera que te atrapa aunque no quieras, Like a vine that traps you even though you don’t want it to cumbia, reggaeton, auto-tune y carretera. Cumbia, reggaeton, auto-tune, and highway Como una enredadera que te atrapa aunque no quieras, Like a vine that traps you even though you don’t want it to seguimos salvajes, rompiendo barreras! we’ll continue wildly, breaking down barriers

Siguiendo los pasos que otras andaron, Following the steps that others took codo con codo, micrófono en mano; arm in arm, microphone in hand abriendo caminos, tejiendo alegrías, opening paths, weaving joys aquí estamos, sí, here we are, yes con fuerza, con power. with strength, with power

Siguiendo los pasos que otras andaron, Following the steps that others took codo con codo, micrófono en mano; arm in arm, microphone in hand abriendo caminos, tejiendo alegrías, opening paths, weaving joys aquí estamos, sí, here we are, yes con fuerza, con power, con todo el descaro! with strength, with power, with all our nerve

[ ERREPIKA (X2) ]

[guillemelgat]

Advanced Learner Challenge (Basque): Day 28

[ original post with full list of challenges / other posts by me for this challenge ]

Today’s Challenge: Look up children’s games (such as word games) and songs. If you can, find someone to play them with you.

I found one lullaby in Basque which I thought was really pretty, so I thought I’d try to translate it? I’m really tired so I probably shouldn’t be listening to lullabies or I’ll fall asleep, but whatever, this is beautiful and I love it.

Also here’s a really pretty version by La Oreja de Van Gogh, who are amazing.

Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta Aita guria Gasteizen da Our father is in Vitoria Ama mandoan hartuta Our mother taken on a mule Aita guria Gasteizen da Our father is in Vitoria Ama mandoan hartuta Our mother taken on a mule Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta

Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta Aita guria abiatu da Our father has set out Vitoriako ferira To the fair in Vitoria Aita guria abiatu da Our father has set out Vitoriako ferira To the fair in Vitoria Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta

Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta Aita guriak diru asko du Our father has lots of money ama bidean salduta Our mother, sold along the way Aita guriak diru asko du Our father has lots of money ama bidean salduta Our mother, sold along the way Loa, loa txuntxurrun berde Sleep, sleep, txuntxurun berde Loa, loa masusta Sleep, sleep, masusta

[guillemelgat]

In celebration of the first snow, a new Huntza song, and the fact that my Basque is getting better, here is a translation of “Elurretan” into English and Catalan (please pardon my inability to speak it)! 

Elurretan kantari dabiltza A la neu, cantant, caminen In the snow, singing, are marigorringo eta kilkerrak. marietes i grills. ladybugs and crickets. Margotu dituzte Han pintat They have painted mendietako paretak. les parets de les muntanyes. the walls of mountains.

Elurretan kantari dabiltza A la neu, cantant, caminen In the snow, singing, are marigorringo eta kilkerrak. marietes i grills. ladybugs and crickets. Margotu dituzte Han pintat They have painted bihotzetako paretak. les parets dels cors. the walls of hearts.

Amets hegalariak, (e)ta txori kantariak Somnis voladors, i ocells cantant, Dreams that fly, and singing birds luma gogorrak (e)ta hauskorrak harriak. plomes durs i pedres fràgils. tough feathers and fragile stones Bizipozak neguak orbelez janzten ditu Les alegries de viure vesteixen l’hivern amb fulles The joys of life dress the winter in leaves nahiz (e)ta guri biluzik iruditu. tot i que ens sembla nu. although to us it seems naked.

Elurretan kantari dabiltza A la neu, cantant, caminen In the snow, singing, are marigorringo eta kilkerrak. marietes i grills ladybugs and crickets. Margotu dituzte Han pintat They have painted mendietako paretak. les parets de les muntanyes. the walls of mountains.

Elurretan kantari dabiltza A la neu, cantant, caminen In the snow, singing, are marigorringo eta kilkerrak. marietes i grills ladybugs and crickets. Margotu dituzte Han pintat They have painted bihotzetako paretak. les parets dels cors. the walls of hearts.

Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds… Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds… Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds… Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds… Gailurrean, lumazko lainoen artean, gailurrean! Al cim, entre núvols de plomes, al cim! At the summit, between clouds of feathers, on the summit! Gailurrean, lumazko lainoen artean, gailurrean! Al cim, entre núvols de plomes, al cim! At the summit, between clouds of feathers, on the summit! Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds… Lainoetan, lainoetan, lainoetan, hegoetan… Als núvols, als núvols, als núvols, als vents... In the clouds, in the clouds, in the clouds, in the winds…