Euskal

Euskal is an adjective in the Basque language meaning “Basque” or “of the Basque Country.” It is used to describe people, culture, language, or places associated with the Basque people. The term appears in phrases such as Euskal Herria (the Basque Country) and Euskal Kultura (Basque culture). The Basque language itself is called Euskara, not Euskal, and Euskal is not a language name but a descriptor of Basque origin or affiliation.

The concept of Euskal Herria denotes the Basque homeland, traditionally understood to span territories across the Basque Autonomous Community in Spain (Álava, Gipuzkoa, Bizkaia) and the Northern Basque Country in France (Lapurdi, Nafarroa Beherea, Zubialdea), as well as the broader Basque diaspora. In cultural and political contexts, Euskal is used to emphasize Basque identity, heritage, and sovereignty within those regions and communities.

Euskal as a term serves to distinguish Basque-related topics from broader Iberian or French contexts. It complements the language-focused distinction with cultural, geographic, and identity dimensions. In most modern uses, Euskara remains the standard name for the Basque language, while Euskal functions as the adjectival form that marks Basque origin or affiliation in a wide range of expressions.

See also: Basque language (Euskara), Basque people, Euskadi.