Catalan (català) is spoken by around 10 million people in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Andorra and French Roussillon. A fully fledged Romance language (not a dialect of Spanish), it has its own literature, academy and thousand-year history. With this kit, you have the bare essentials for Barcelona, Valencia, Palma or Andorra.
Catalan (català) is a Western Romance language spoken by around 10 million people across Catalonia, the Valencian Community, the Balearic Islands, Andorra (where it is the official language), part of Aragon (Franja) and French Roussillon (Northern Catalonia). Often wrongly described as a dialect of Spanish, it is in fact a fully fledged language, closer to Occitan than to Castilian, with its own thousand-year literature (Ramon Llull in the 13th century), academy (Institut d'Estudis Catalans, IEC), normative dictionary (DIEC2) and public media (TV3). Catalan phonology stands out for its open and closed vowels marked in spelling (è/é, ò/ó), its neutral schwa /ə/ in unstressed positions (central variety), and its specific sounds such as /ʎ/ (ll), /ɲ/ (ny) and /ʃ/ (ix). Travelling in Catalan-speaking lands means discovering Barcelona and Gaudí's Sagrada Família, the Gothic Quarter, Montjuïc, but also Valencia and its City of Arts, the beaches of Mallorca and Menorca, the perched villages of the Costa Brava, the wines of the Penedès and cava sparkling wine. This kit gathers the bare essentials to handle an arrival at El Prat in Barcelona, a metro or train ride, an order at a bodega or braseria, a medical emergency and a smooth departure. You will find greetings adapted to the formal Catalan address (vostè), phrases to find your way, key words for eating and sleeping, plus cultural tips to distinguish Catalan, Valencian and Balearic. Memorise these expressions before leaving and you will gain confidence and the respect of the locals.
Here is how these phrases play out in real life. Each scene sets the stage and gathers the useful expressions.
You land at El Prat airport in Barcelona in the early evening. An agent meets your gaze, you greet him in Catalan rather than Spanish, thank him and ask for directions to the taxis.
The taxi driver loads your suitcase and asks for your destination. You give him the hotel address, you want to check the price before leaving, then warmly thank him on arrival.
You enter a bodega in the Gothic Quarter in the early evening. The waiter seats you and hands you the menu. You order coffee, a glass of water, then ask for the bill and warmly say thank you.
You feel sick after a meal and you need help. You ask where the nearest hospital is, you explain that you do not speak Catalan and apologise for the situation.
On the morning of departure, you want to catch a taxi to the airport. You greet the hotel staff one last time, warmly thank them and take your leave saying see you tomorrow or goodbye.
What you need to know before travelling to a catalan-speaking country.
Speaking Catalan in Catalonia is appreciated as a sign of respect. If you start with Bon dia or Hola rather than Buenos dias, the reception changes immediately. Locals often switch to Spanish to make things easier, but they remember the effort.
Catalan uses vostè (formal singular address) with the verb in the third person singular. This is the institutional form Targumi prefers. Vosaltres means you in the informal plural, vostès in the formal plural.
Catalan cuisine is generous: pa amb tomaquet (bread rubbed with tomato), escalivada, grilled calçots with romesco sauce, fideua, crema catalana. Meal times are shifted: lunch around 2pm, dinner rarely before 9pm.
April 23, Sant Jordi day (patron saint of Catalonia), streets fill with roses and books: a tradition of giving a rose to a loved woman and receiving a book in return. This festival is the cultural soul of Catalonia.
Valencian (in Valencia) and Balearic (in the Balearic Islands) are varieties of Catalan, with their own lexical particularities. Do not tell a Valencian they speak Catalan: politically it is sensitive. Linguistically, it is the same language.
Castells (human towers) are a spectacular Catalan tradition on the UNESCO intangible heritage list. Tarragona, Vilafranca and other towns hold impressive competitions. Attend one if you can: it is unforgettable.
Restaurant tipping is not compulsory in Catalonia but rounding up the bill is appreciated. In tapas bars, pay at the counter on the way out. The siesta is less common than the cliche suggests, especially in Barcelona.
Mentioning Antoni Gaudí (architect of the Sagrada Família), Salvador Dalí, Joan Miró, Pau Casals or writers such as Mercè Rodoreda opens conversations. Catalan cultural pride is intense and legitimate.
Preview. The full glossary (30 words) and all the phrases are in the PDF.
Sí
SEE
Yes
No
NO
No
Gràcies
GRA-syes
Thank you
Si us plau
see-oos-PLAW
Please
De res
de RES
You're welcome
Aigua
AY-gwe
Water
Pa
PA
Bread
Llet
LYET
Milk
Carn
KARN
Meat
Peix
PESH
Fish
A hundred words, thirty key phrases, as a printable PDF. Instant download, also sent by e-mail.
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Every translation is cross-checked against at least two concordant sources among the references below.
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