nagusi

Nagusi is a Basque noun meaning the person in charge, master, owner, or boss. The term is used to designate the head of a household, a landowner, an employer, or the person who holds authority within a group or organization. It is a native Basque word and remains common in Basque-speaking areas, with usage extending from traditional contexts to contemporary settings.

In traditional Basque society, the nagusi was the person who held primary authority over a household or estate, managed resources, and represented the family or community in local matters. The role carried social and economic leadership and often involved mediation and decision-making within the community. The relationship between the nagusi and dependents or tenants could be central to local social structure.

In modern Basque, the term continues to denote the person in charge in various settings, such as workplaces, associations, festivals, or family enterprises. While it can carry a formal or respectful tone, it is not restricted to a specific rank and may be used descriptively to identify who leads a group at a given time.

Plural form of nagusi is nagusiak. The word also appears in Basque literature and folklore to depict hosts, leaders, or figures of authority in social or ceremonial contexts.

See also: Basque language, social roles in Basque culture.