20 Essential Catalan Phrases
20 Essential Catalan Phrases You’ll Need in Barcelona
Even if you have a decent grasp of Spanish, you’ll want to add these Catalan phrases to your repertoire to really impress in Barcelona.
One of the four official languages of Spain, Catalan is spoken in various dialects across Catalunya, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. Given the geographic origin of Catalan, which occupies a large Mediterranean area and a portion of the Iberian peninsula that rubs shoulders with France, the language shares many similar words with other romantic languages, including Italian, French and Portuguese. Here are 20 essential Catalan phrases that will help you get around the city and make friends with the locals when visiting Barcelona.
Greetings and pleasantries
Bon dia (bon dee-ah) / Hello
The official greeting in Catalan is bon dia – though note that this is not the most common salutation but is still largely appreciated. If you can’t quite remember the phrase, more often than not, a simple hola will suffice and go a long way when it comes to getting off on the right foot with the local people.
Merci (mehr-see) / Thank you
The official Catalan word for ‘thank you’ is graciès (grah-see-ahs), but here in Barcelona, you’ll also hear people saying merci. Catalan has a lot in common with French – just look at the huge border Catalunya shares with France – and in this case, the words are identical.
De res (deh res) / You’re welcome
Another shared phrase, de res is linked to de rien in French. The phrase translates as ‘of nothing’, which is also the same meaning of de nada in Spanish. Saying de res after purchasing something in Barcelona will really show off your courteous side.
Adéu (ah-deh-ou) / Goodbye
You can say adios to using adios. In Barcelona, it doesn’t matter whether people are speaking Spanish (Castellano) or Catalan because when it comes to saying goodbye, everybody here says adéu.
Si us plau (see oos plow) / Please
Another expression that shows similarities with French is si us plau, which means ‘if you please’ and is often pronounced nearly as one word: syousplow. The French version of this phrase would be, of course, s’il vous plaît, which is often seen in English as part of the acronym RSVP.
Useful phrases and idioms
Fem un café? (fem un kah-feh) / Let’s have a coffee
A very common way for Catalans to ask someone to grab a coffee is to say fem un café? Alternatively, you can use fotem un café to ask someone to coffee if you do not know them very well or if the relationship is more business than casual. First thing in the morning, after lunch or as a quick fix when you get home from a long day at the office, the Catalans love a good coffee.
Salut i força al canut! (sah-loot ee for-sah al kah-noot) / To health and money (cheers)
This phrase is the traditional way to say ‘cheers’ in Catalunya before drinking your alcoholic poison of choice. If a Catalan tells you salut i força al canut, they are not just wishing you good health (salut being the same as salud in Spanish) but also calling for greater força (‘strength’) to come to your wallet. The origin of this phrase can be traced back to the Middle Ages when Catalans used a canut, a type of leather money bag for holding coins.
Has begut oli (ahs beh-goot oh-lee) / You have drunk oil
When someone has really messed something up, when their plans have been foiled or when things just didn’t pan out, you can tell them has begut oli. Meaning ‘you have drunk oil’, this expression is usually used by Catalans to tell someone ‘you have failed.’ It serves to describe a sense of grave disappointment.
Déu n’hi do! (day-oo nee-doh) / Wow!
One of the most curious Catalan expressions, déu n’hi do is used almost exclusively in Catalunya, although few people know its precise origin. Meaning something along the lines of ‘God gave it’, the phrase is actually used to express amazement and can be translated as ‘wow’ or ‘amazing’.
S’ha acabat el bròquil (sah a-cah-bat el broh-queel) / The gig is up
If you hear a person tell you s’ha acabat el bròquil (meaning ‘there’s no more broccoli’), it’s got nothing to do with your diet. Instead, they’re more likely to be calling someone out on their deceptive mischief, as it is used as an expression to say something similar to English idioms ‘the gig is up’ or ‘the show is over’.
Aneu a escampar la boira (a-neigh-oo ah es-camp-ar la boy-rah) / Go escape the fog (leave me alone)
A clear sign that someone has had enough of your company, aneu a escampar la boira means ‘go escape the fog’, but can better be understood as ‘leave me alone.’ There are no two ways about it – if a Catalan does not want to have anything more to do with someone else, then this is what you’ll hear.
Quatre gats (kwat-reh gats) / Four cats
Translated as ‘four cats’, quatre gats is a common way of saying there are ‘few people’, as in ‘there were only four cats at the party last night’. It’s also the name of a famous café in Barcelona – a popular hang-out among members of the city’s 20th-century literary and artistic society, similar to Le Chat Noir in Paris.
At the restaurant / Bar
Bon profit! (bon pro-feet) / Bon appetit!
Wishing fellow diners a good meal is second nature here. Catalans often wish a friendly bon profit to anyone who is eating – even strangers. Everyone deserves a good meal, and this is something that is equally acknowledged and celebrated in a foodie culture like that of Barcelona.
Puc veure el menú? (pook vor al men-oo) / Can I see the menu?
While Spanish is widely spoken, and Catalan isn’t expected to be spoken by foreigners visiting Barcelona, using a few phrases when dining in Catalan-owned establishments would be met with great respect – and utter surprise. During the week, many Catalan bar-restaurant combos serve a worker’s lunch menu or menú del día, which is a good value for money and usually includes three courses and a drink.
El comte, si us plau (el com-teh see oos plow) / Check, please
Now it is time to combine some phrases you have already learned above. By asking nicely for el comte, or ‘the count’, visitors can call the waiter for the bill, which is similar to both Spanish and French. Alternatively, since service can be notoriously slow in Barcelona, you can also make a gesture that you wish to sign a bill, signalling the waiter to close your check.
At the market
Què és això? (kay es ay-shoh) / What is this?
Once again, while most people at the markets in Barcelona will speak Spanish, being able to ask about different products will be useful because all labelling is in Catalan. This includes meats, vegetables and fruits – and they often do not bear any similarity in writing to Spanish. Of course, you could always guess, but it is better to ask.
Quant costa això? (kwant coh-sta ay-shoh) / How much does this cost?
At the market, many items are sold by weight, so you’ll need to be specific when asking about their cost. In many cases, the price shown is for 100 grams (3.5 ounces), and the stall owner will weigh vegetables, meat and fish without any problem so long as they haven’t been cut to order.
Making friends
Parla anglès? (par-lah ang-less)? / Do you speak English?
While most people speak Spanish, you never want to assume they speak English. Asking them politely in Catalan if they can speak English is one way not only to find out but also make friends. Catalans love to hear foreigners try out their language, even if it’s just a simple sentence. That being said, a lot of people speak at least a few words of English in the city, especially the younger generations and those working with tourists.
T’agradaria beure alguna cosa? (tah-grah-dah-ree-ah beh-ur al-goo-nah coh-sah) / Would you like a drink?
Catalans love their fiesta. Local people here love relaxing over a cool drink even more. Having a drink with friends is a common pastime in Barcelona, and you’ll find that the terraces of bars and restaurants fill up quickly during any time of the year, afternoon or night.
Essentials
Esquerra i dret (es-keh-rah ee dreht) / Left and right
You’ll see these directional words used on certain maps across Barcelona, where most street signs are in Catalan (even the word ‘street’ is carrer here, not calle, as in Spanish). For example, the area between Sants and Sant Antoni is called the Nova esquerra de l’Eixample or the ‘New left of the extension’. This district is also known as L’Eixample, which means ‘the extension’ and refers to the extension of Barcelona in the 19th century.
Numbers:
U /un (m) (oon) / una (f) (oon-a) / 1
Dos (m) (dos) / dues (f) (dou-ass)/ 2
Tres (tres) / 3
Quatre (kwa-treh) / 4
Cinc (sink) / 5
Sis (sees) / 6
Set (set) / 7
Vuit (vweet) / 8
Nou (noh) / 9
Deu (deh-oo) / 10
Recordings and corrections provided by Sergi Mesonero
The essential Catalan phrases you need in Catalonia
Even if you speak Spanish, if you're living in Catalonia,
it's a good idea to learn some Catalan too. Here are some basic phrases you
need to get by.
While
everyone in the bigger Catalan cities such as Barcelona or Tarragona will speak
Spanish, it’s a good idea to learn some Catalan too.
Not
only is this sure to win you some brownie points with the locals, but it will
enrich your experience of living in the region and allow you to make new
friends. This is particularly true when travelling to the smaller towns and
villages in rural Catalonia too.
Greetings
Greetings
are a great way to start out practicing your Catalan. Your neighbours will be
delighted and appreciate greetings in their local language. Because the phrases
are short, they’re easy to remember and don’t invite long answers that you
won’t be able to understand.
Bon dia –
Good day
This
phrase is used all the time in Catalonia, even more so than ‘Hola’. You would
use it for greeting someone anytime up until the afternoon, after which you
would say 'Bona tarda'.
Encantat! Molt de gust! – Pleased to meet you.
Com
estás? – How are you?
Bona nit –
Good night
Greetings in Catalan. Image: Andrea Piacquadio/Pexels
Being polite
Another
very easy way to slip in some Catalan here and there is to use it in small
polite phrases. Even if you don’t know the Catalan for the whole phrase, you
could easily add please or thank you on the end.
Si us plau –
Please
Moltes gràcies – Thank you very much
De res – You’re welcome
Saying thank you in Catalan. Image: Ka Young Seo / Pixabay
Eating out
When
you’re a bit more confident with your Catalan, eating out is the perfect time
to put it all into practice. You don’t have to keep the conversation going a
long time and there are particular useful phrases that you can
memorise.
Teniu una taula per dos? – Do you have a table for two?
La carta, si us plau – The menu please
El comte, si us plau – The bill please
No puc menjar… – I can’t eat…
This one may be useful if there’s something that you’re allergic to or can’t
eat, such as gluten or dairy for example.
Eating out. Image: Ji-yeon Yun / Pixabay
Shopping
Like
eating out, shopping is another perfect chance to put your Catalan out in the
real world.
Quant costa això? – How much does that cost?
Tens un altre color? – Do you have a different colour?
Tens una talla més gran/petita? – Do you have a bigger/smaller size?
Pots ajudar-me? – Can you help me?
8 essential Catalan phrases you can’t visit Barcelona without knowing
Do you want to learn basic Catalan phrases for your next trip to Barcelona? You may be thinking that you can just get by with Spanish or English, but if you really want to impress and get to know the locals, these essential Catalan words and phrases will go a long way.
Why not use your time at home over the next few weeks to brush up your language skills in one of Spain’s official languages and add some of these useful phrases to your repertoire.
Whether you’re greeting a friend, ordering food or buying souvenirs, we’ve definitely got you covered. Preparats (ready)?
Basic Catalan phrases to use in your next trip
Bon dia (bon dee-ah) / Bona tarda (bon-ah tard-ah)
Good morning / Good afternoon
When strolling along the streets of Barcelona, you’ll definitely hear this phrase used again and again. Put a smile on any local’s face with this common greeting (used more than “hola”). Remember, the afternoon starts around lunchtime and lasts all the way until just before dinnertime – which is around 10 pm – so don’t be surprised if someone greets you with “bona tarda” at 8 pm!
Si us plau (see oos plow) & Merci (mehr-see)
Please & thank you
If you’ve visited Barcelona several times and are familiar with the Catalan language, you’ll know has some similarities with the French language. These two phrases will go a long way during your stay, so please use them abundantly.
With “merci”, remember to put emphasis on the first syllable “mer–”as opposed to on the final syllable, like in French.
Note: “merci” is used a lot more than “gràcies” but please take into account is is colloquial.
De res (deh res)
You’re welcome
If it makes it a little easier to remember, you can literally translate this phrase as “of nothing”. What’s more it’s just like the French (de rien) and Spanish (de nada).
Adéu (ah-deh-ou)
Goodbye
Whether your waving farewell to your new Catalan friends or simply saying goodbye to the owners of your new favourite restaurant, be sure to do so with a friendly and heartfelt “adéu”.
Bon profit! (bon pro-feet)
Bon appetit!
The Catalans are a very courteous bunch, so don’t be surprised if you get total strangers declaring “bon profit” as you tuck into your meal at a local restaurant.
Quant costa – ? (kwant coh-sta)
How much is –?
The chances are during your stay at some point you’ll be buying souvenirs, tickets for the museum or a little treat for yourself. Use this phrase and simply add whatever it is you’re asking for or point and say “això” (ay-shoh), which means “this”.
El compte, si us plau (el com-teh see oos plow)
The bill, please.
Show off your language skills and impress your friends by asking for the bill in Catalan at the end of your meal. If you really want to blend in with the locals, try switching this phrase for “Em cobres” (um cub-ras), which literally means “charge me” and is used much more frequently by Catalans.
Parles anglès? (par-las ang-less)?
Do you speak English?
Whilst the majority of locals speak very good English, this polite question is sure to make you many a new friend in the city. Not only will they be impressed with your Catalan skills, they’ll be grateful you are trying to learn their language.
While we’ve got you covered for the basics, we encourage you to download a learning app or grab a dusty phrase book from your shelf and get studying for your next trip to Barcelona!
See you soon! Ens veiem aviat!
Some more bites
P.S. Below is a small list of other some additional vocabulary and Catalan phrases we’re sure will come in useful!
| CATALAN | ENGLISH |
| Bona nit | Good night |
| Perdó | Sorry |
| Esmorzar | Breakfast |
| Dinar | Lunch |
| Sopar | Dinner |
| Esquerra | Left |
| Dreta | Right |
| Obert | Open |
| Carrer | Street |
| Plaça | Square |
We hope you liked these brief guide of basic Catalan Phrases! Ens veiem in Barcelona aviat! (See you soon in Barcelona) 🙂
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