Abertzale
Encyclopedia
Abertzale in the Basque language
means "patriot
", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist
". It comes from the fusion of aberri(a) ("fatherland", a neologism created by Sabino Arana
) with the suffix -(t)zale (someone who loves, is a friend of, has affection towards, or dedicates him- or herself to something).
Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use in Basque mainly refers to Basque nationalism
, and this is the only specific meaning of this word in Spanish
. The use of the term by members and sympathizers of Herri Batasuna
, and the fact that the followers of the Basque Nationalist Party
(Partido Nacionalista Vasco, PNV) call themselves jeltzales more than abertzales, has brought about a situation where the word is at times associated with that particular leftist
current of Basque nationalism.
The Real Academia Española
(RAE), the prescriptive body
that oversees Spain
's official dictionary
of the Spanish language, recognized officially the adapted word "aberzale" (rather than "abertzale") as a Spanish-language word, with this narrower meaning. However, even in Spanish the original spelling "abertzale" retains greater currency, so the RAE substituted it in the 21st edition of their dictionary.
Several organizations past and present have used this word in their official Basque-language names:
The term izquierda abertzale (abertzale left) is used to refer to parties or organisations which are Basque nationalist, but at the same time, left-wing. This may be marxist, communist, socialist or social-democratic. The term is used to distinguish these organisations from the usual traditionalist or conservative character of the Basque Nationalist Party.
Basque language
Basque is the ancestral language of the Basque people, who inhabit the Basque Country, a region spanning an area in northeastern Spain and southwestern France. It is spoken by 25.7% of Basques in all territories...
means "patriot
Patriotism
Patriotism is a devotion to one's country, excluding differences caused by the dependencies of the term's meaning upon context, geography and philosophy...
", and it is mainly used to mean "Basque nationalist
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
". It comes from the fusion of aberri(a) ("fatherland", a neologism created by Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana
Sabino Arana Goiri, self-styled as Arana ta Goiri'taŕ Sabin, , was a Spanish and Basque writer. He was the founder of the Basque Nationalist Party and father of Basque nationalism....
) with the suffix -(t)zale (someone who loves, is a friend of, has affection towards, or dedicates him- or herself to something).
Although the term is synonym of "patriot", its common use in Basque mainly refers to Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism
Basque nationalism is a political movement advocating for either further political autonomy or, chiefly, full independence of the Basque Country in the wider sense...
, and this is the only specific meaning of this word in Spanish
Spanish language
Spanish , also known as Castilian , is a Romance language in the Ibero-Romance group that evolved from several languages and dialects in central-northern Iberia around the 9th century and gradually spread with the expansion of the Kingdom of Castile into central and southern Iberia during the...
. The use of the term by members and sympathizers of Herri Batasuna
Batasuna
Batasuna was a Basque nationalist political party based mainly in Spain, where it was outlawed in 2003, after a court ruling declared proven that the party was financing ETA with public money. Batasuna is included in the "European Union list of terrorist persons and organizations" as a component...
, and the fact that the followers of the Basque Nationalist Party
Basque Nationalist Party
The Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
(Partido Nacionalista Vasco, PNV) call themselves jeltzales more than abertzales, has brought about a situation where the word is at times associated with that particular leftist
Left-wing politics
In politics, Left, left-wing and leftist generally refer to support for social change to create a more egalitarian society...
current of Basque nationalism.
The Real Academia Española
Real Academia Española
The Royal Spanish Academy is the official royal institution responsible for regulating the Spanish language. It is based in Madrid, Spain, but is affiliated with national language academies in twenty-one other hispanophone nations through the Association of Spanish Language Academies...
(RAE), the prescriptive body
Linguistic prescription
In linguistics, prescription denotes normative practices on such aspects of language use as spelling, grammar, pronunciation, and syntax. It includes judgments on what usages are socially proper and politically correct...
that oversees Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
's official dictionary
Dictionary
A dictionary is a collection of words in one or more specific languages, often listed alphabetically, with usage information, definitions, etymologies, phonetics, pronunciations, and other information; or a book of words in one language with their equivalents in another, also known as a lexicon...
of the Spanish language, recognized officially the adapted word "aberzale" (rather than "abertzale") as a Spanish-language word, with this narrower meaning. However, even in Spanish the original spelling "abertzale" retains greater currency, so the RAE substituted it in the 21st edition of their dictionary.
Several organizations past and present have used this word in their official Basque-language names:
- Abertzaleen BatasunaAbertzaleen BatasunaAbertzaleen Batasuna is a Basque political party in France.It is the largest Basque nationalist party of the French Basque Country gathering around 10% of the votes in this territory. Its immediate goal is the establishment of a Pays Basque département out of Pyrénées-Atlantiques...
(Unity of the Abertzales): A political party in the FrenchFranceThe French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
Basque CountryNorthern Basque CountryThe French Basque Country or Northern Basque Country situated within the western part of the French department of the Pyrénées-Atlantiques constitutes the north-eastern part of the Basque Country....
. - Emakume Abertzale Batza (Women's Abertzale Organization), onetime women's section of the PNV, made illegal by the rebel junta in BurgosBurgosBurgos is a city of northern Spain, historic capital of Castile. It is situated at the edge of the central plateau, with about 178,966 inhabitants in the city proper and another 20,000 in its suburbs. It is the capital of the province of Burgos, in the autonomous community of Castile and León...
during the Spanish Civil WarSpanish Civil WarThe Spanish Civil WarAlso known as The Crusade among Nationalists, the Fourth Carlist War among Carlists, and The Rebellion or Uprising among Republicans. was a major conflict fought in Spain from 17 July 1936 to 1 April 1939...
. - Euskal Abertzaletasunaren Museoa (Museum of Basque Nationalism).
- The name Eusko Abertzaleak (Basque Patriots) is used by various parliamentary and town council groups of the Basque Nationalist PartyBasque Nationalist PartyThe Basque National Party is the largest and oldest Basque nationalist party. It is currently the largest political party in the Basque Autonomous Community also with a minor presence in Navarre and a marginal one in the French Basque Country...
. In fact, Eusko AlkartasunaEusko AlkartasunaEusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
was meant to be founded under the name Eusko Abertzaleak, but the Basque Nationalist Party registered this name first. - Eusko Abertzale EkintzaEusko Abertzale EkintzaBasque Nationalist Action is a Basque nationalist party based in Spain. Founded in 1930, it was the first Basque nationalist political party to exist running on a socialist program. On 16 September 2008, the party was outlawed by the Spanish Supreme Court based on ties with ETA...
(Basque Nationalist Action), a Basque nationalist and leftist party. - Ezker Mugimendu Abertzalea (Leftist Abertzale Movement): A political party in the French Basque Country.
- Gazte Abertzaleak (Abertzale Youths): the youth group of the Spanish Basque political party Eusko AlkartasunaEusko AlkartasunaEusko Alkartasuna is a Basque nationalist political party operating in Spain and France. The Basque language name means Basque Solidarity and abbreviated as EA. The party describes itself as a Basque nationalist, democratic, popular, progressive and non-denominational party...
, left of the PNV but not aligned with ETA or Batasuna. - Koordinadora Abertzale Sozialista (Abertzale Socialist Coordinating Council, KAS).
- The names Ezker Abertzalea (Izquierda Abertzale or "Abertzale Left"), Nafarroako Sozialista Abertzaleak (Abertzale Socialist of NavarreNavarreNavarre , officially the Chartered Community of Navarre is an autonomous community in northern Spain, bordering the Basque Country, La Rioja, and Aragon in Spain and Aquitaine in France...
) and Araba, Bizkai eta Gipuzkoako Sozialista Abertzaleak (Abertzale Socialists of ÁlavaÁlavaÁlava is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Álava. Its capital city is Vitoria-Gasteiz which is also the capital of the autonomous community...
, BiscayBiscayBiscay is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country, heir of the ancient Lord of Biscay. Its capital city is Bilbao...
, and GuipuscoaGuipuscoaGipuzkoa is a province of Spain and a historical territory of the Basque Country. Its capital city is Donostia-San Sebastián. It limits with the French department of Pyrénées-Atlantiques at the northeast, with the province and autonomous community of Navarre at east, Biscay at west, Álava at...
) have been used by various parliamentary groups of Herri Batasuna and Euskal Herritarrok in different parliaments.
The term izquierda abertzale (abertzale left) is used to refer to parties or organisations which are Basque nationalist, but at the same time, left-wing. This may be marxist, communist, socialist or social-democratic. The term is used to distinguish these organisations from the usual traditionalist or conservative character of the Basque Nationalist Party.