LANGUAGE
Catalan (català) and Spanish (more precisely known as castellano, or Castilian) have official-language status in Catalonia. Aranese (aranés), which is a dialect of Gascon, is also an official language in the Val d’Aran.
The recognition of Catalan is the end result of a vigorous regional government campaign that began when the province gained autonomy at the end of the 1970s. Until the Battle of Muret in 1213, Catalan territory extended across southern France, taking in Roussillon and reaching into Provence. Catalan was spoken, or at least understood, throughout these territories and in what is now Catalonia and Andorra. In the couple of hundred years that followed, the Catalans spread their language south into Valencia, west into Aragón and east to the Balearic Islands. The language also reached Sicily and Naples, and the Sardinian town of Alghero is still a partly Catalan-speaking outpost today.
In Barcelona you’ll hear as much Spanish as Catalan, and we’ve provided some Spanish here to get you started (see Click here for some basic Catalan). Your chances of coming across English speakers are also good. Elsewhere in the province, don’t be surprised if you get replies in Catalan to your questions in Spanish. However, you’ll find that most Catalans will happily speak to you in Spanish, especially once they realise you’re a foreigner.
If you want to learn more Spanish than we’ve included here, pick up a copy of Lonely Planet’s comprehensive and user-friendly Spanish phrasebook, or download an iPhone phrasebook through the Apple App store.
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SOCIAL
Meeting People
Hello.
¡Hola!
Goodbye.
¡Adiós!
Please.
Por favor.
Thank you.
(Muchas) Gracias.
Yes.
Sí.
No.
No.
Excuse me.
Perdón.
Sorry!
Perdón./Perdóneme.
Do you speak English?
¿Habla inglés?
Does anyone speak English?
¿Hay alguien que hable inglés?
Do you understand?
¿Me entiende?
Yes, I understand.
Sí, entiendo.
No, I don’t understand.
No, no entiendo.
Pardon? What?
¿Cómo?
Could you please …?
¿Puede … por favor?
| speak more slowly | hablar más despacio |
| repeat that | repetir |
| write it down | escribirlo |
Going Out
What’s there to do in the evenings?
¿Qué se puede hacer por las noches?
What’s on …?
¿Qué hay…?
| locally | en la zona |
| this weekend | este fin de semana |
| today | hoy |
| tonight | esta noche |
Where are the …?
¿Dónde hay …?
| places to eat | lugares para comer |
| nightclubs | discotecas |
| pubs | pubs |
| gay venues | lugares gay |
Is there a local entertainment guide?
¿Hay una guía del ocio de la zona?
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PRACTICAL
Question Words
| Who? | ¿Quién?(sg) |
| ¿Quiénes?(pl) | |
| What? | ¿Qué? |
| Which? | ¿Cuál?(sg) |
| ¿Cuáles?(pl) | |
| When? | ¿Cuándo? |
| Where? | ¿Dónde? |
| How? | ¿Cómo? |
| How much? | ¿Cuánto? |
| How many? | ¿Cuántos? |
| How much is it? | ¿Cuánto cuesta? |
| Why? | ¿Por qué? |
Numbers & Amounts
| 0 | cero |
| 1 | uno/una(m/f) |
| 2 | dos |
| 3 | tres |
| 4 | cuatro |
| 5 | cinco |
| 6 | seis |
| 7 | siete |
| 8 | ocho |
| 9 | nueve |
| 10 | diez |
| 11 | once |
| 12 | doce |
| 13 | trece |
| 14 | catorce |
| 15 | quince |
| 16 | dieciséis |
| 17 | diecisiete |
| 18 | dieciocho |
| 19 | diecinueve |
| 20 | veinte |
| 21 | veintiuno |
| 22 | veintidós |
| 30 | treinta |
| 31 | treinta y uno |
| 40 | cuarenta |
| 50 | cincuenta |
| 60 | sesenta |
| 70 | setenta |
| 80 | ochenta |
| 90 | noventa |
| 100 | cien |
| 1000 | mil |
| 2000 | dos mil |
Days
| Monday | lunes |
| Tuesday | martes |
| Wednesday | miércoles |
| Thursday | jueves |
| Friday | viernes |
| Saturday | sábado |
| Sunday | domingo |
Banking
I’d like to change some money.
Quería cambiar dinero.
I’d like to change a travellers cheque.
Quería cobrar un cheque de viaje.
Where’s the nearest …?
¿Dónde está … más cercano?
| ATM | el cajero automático |
| foreign exchange office | la oficina de cambio |
Do you accept …?
¿Aceptan …?
| credit cards | tarjetas de crédito |
| debit cards | tarjetas de débito |
| travellers cheques | cheques de viaje |
Post
Where’s the post office?
¿ Dónde está la oficina de correos?
I want to send a …
Quería enviar …
| fax | un fax |
| parcel | un paquete |
| postcard | una postal |
I want to buy (a/an) …
Quería comprar …
| envelope | un sobre |
| stamp/stamps | un sello/sellos |
Phones & Mobiles
Where can I find a/an …?
¿Dónde se puede encontrar un …?
I’d like a/an …
Quería un/una …
| adaptor plug | adaptador |
| charger for my | cargador para mi phone teléfono |
| mobile/cell phone | móvil para alquilarfor hire |
| prepaid mobile/ | móvil de prepago cell phone |
| SIM card for | tarjeta SIM para your network su red |
Quería comprar una tarjeta telefónica.
I want to make a …
Quería hacer …
| call (to …) | una llamada (a …) |
| reverse-charge/ | una llamada a cobro |
| collect call | revertido |
Internet
Where’s the local internet cafe?
¿Dónde hay un cibercafé cercano?
I’d like to …
Quería …
| get internet access | usar el Internet |
| check my email | revisar mi correo electrónico |
Transport
What time does the … leave?
¿A qué hora sale el …?
| boat | barco |
| bus | autobús |
| bus (intercity) | autocar |
| plane | avión |
| train | tren |
What time’s the … bus?
¿A qué hora hay el … autocar/autobús?
| first | primer |
| last | último |
| next | próximo |
Is this taxi free?
¿Est á libre este taxi?
Please put the meter on.
Por favor, ponga el taxímetro.
How much is it to …?
¿Cuánto cuesta ir a …?
Please take me (to this address).
Por favor, lléveme (a esta dirección).
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FOOD
| breakfast | desayuno |
| lunch | comida |
| dinner | cena |
| snack | tentempié |
| to eat | comer |
| to drink | beber |
Can you recommend a …?
¿Puede recomendar un …?
| bar | bar |
| cafe | café |
| coffee bar | cafetería |
| restaurant | restaurante |
A table for …, please.
Una mesa para …, por favor.
Is service/cover charge included?
¿Está incluido el servicio en la cuenta?
Do you have a menu in English?
¿Tienen una carta en inglés?
I’m a vegetarian.
Soy vegetariano/a. (m/f)
Do you have any vegetarian dishes?
¿Tienen algún plato vegetariano?
I’m allergic to (peanuts).
Soy alérgico/a a (los cacahuetes). (m/f)
What is today’s special?
¿Cuál es el plato del día?
What would you recommend?
¿Qué recomienda?
What’s the speciality here?
¿Cuál es la especialidad de este restaurante?
I’d like the set lunch, please.
Quería el menú del día, por favor.
The bill, please.
La cuenta, por favor.
I’ll have what they’re having.
Tomaré lo mismo que ellos.
Good health!/Cheers!
¡Salud!
Thank you, that was delicious.
Muchas gracias, estaba buenísimo.
For more detailed information on food and dining out, Click here.
Food Glossary
Here is a brief glossary of some food terms that could come in handy. Items listed below are in Catalan/Spanish where they start with the same letter. Where the two terms start with different letters, or where only the Catalan or the Spanish term is provided, they are listed separately and marked (C) for Catalan or (S) for Spanish. Entries not marked at all take the same form in both languages.
| aceite (S) | oil |
| aigua/agua | water |
| alcachofa (S) | artichoke |
| ametlla/almendra | almond |
| anyell | lamb |
| arròs/arroz | rice |
| bacallà/bacalao | salted cod |
| bogavante (S) | a type of lobster |
| boquerons/boquerones | white anchovies in vinegar |
| botifarra | Catalan pork sausage |
| cafè amb llet/café con leche | coffee with milk |
| caldereta | a seafood stew |
| carxofa(C) | artichoke |
| cava | Catalan champagne |
| ceba/cebolla | onion |
| cervesa/cerveza | beer |
| chupito (S)/xupito (C) | a shot (small glass of spirits) |
| cordero (S) | lamb |
| costella/chuleta | cutlet |
| cranc/cangrejo or centollo | crab |
| formatge(C) | cheese |
| gambes/gambas | prawns |
| gelat(C) | ice cream |
| helado (S) | ice cream |
| huevos (S) | eggs |
| llagosta/langosta | lobster |
| llamàntol(C) | a type of lobster |
| llenties/lentejas | lentils |
| menjador (C) | dining room, restaurant |
| menú del día (S) | fixed-price meal |
| montaditos (S) | canapés |
| nueva cocina española | new Spanish cuisine |
| oli(C) | oil |
| ous(C) | eggs |
| paella (S) | rice, seafood and meat dish |
| patates braves/patatas bravas | potato chunks in a slightly spicy tomato sauce |
| pebre/pimienta | pepper |
| peix/pescado | fish |
| queso (S) | cheese |
| rap/rape | monkfish |
| ratafia(C) | a local, high-octane liquor |
| ternera (S) | beef |
| torrada/tostada | open toasted sandwich |
| trucha (S) | trout |
| truita (C) | omelette/tortilla, trout |
| vedella(C) | beef |
| vi/vino | wine |
| xai(C) | lamb |
A LITTLE BIT OF CATALà
These Catalan words and phrases might win you a few smiles and perhaps help you make some new friends.
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EMERGENCIES
Help!
¡Socorro!
It’s an emergency!
¡Es una emergencia!
Could you help me, please?
¿Me puede ayudar, por favor?
Where’s the police station?
¿Dónde está la comisaría?
Where are the toilets?
¿Dónde están los servicios?
Call …!
¡Llame a …!
| an ambulance | una ambulancia |
| a doctor | un médico |
| the police | la policía |
Return to beginning of chapter
Health
Where’s the nearest …?
¿Dónde está … más cercano/a?
| (night) chemist | la farmacia (de guardia) |
| doctor | el médico |
| hospital | el hospital |
I need a doctor (who speaks English).
Necesito un doctor (que hable inglés).
I have (a/an) …
Tengo …
| diarrhoea | diarrea |
| fever | fiebre |
| headache | dolor de cabeza |
| pain | dolor |
GLOSSARY
Items listed below are in Catalan/Spanish (Castilian) where they start with the same letter. Where the two terms start with different letters, or where only the Catalan or the Spanish term is provided, they are listed separately and marked (C) for Catalan or (S) for Spanish. If an entry is not marked at all, it is because it takes the same form in both languages.
ajuntament/ayuntamiento – town hall
artesonado (S) – Mudéjar wooden ceiling with interlaced beams leaving a pattern of spaces for decoration
avinguda (C) – avenue
Barcelonin (C) – inhabitant/native of Barcelona
Barcino – Roman name for Barcelona
barri/barrio – neighbourhood, quarter of Barcelona
caganer (C) – crapper, a character that appears in Catalan nativity scenes
Call (C) – Jewish quarter in medieval Barcelona
capella/capilla – chapel
carrer/calle – street
casa – house
castellers (C) – human-castle builders
cercanías (S) – local trains serving Barcelona’s airport, suburbs and some outlying towns
comte/conde – count
església (C) – church
farmàcia/farmacia – pharmacy
festa/fiesta – festival, public holiday or party
FGC (C) – Ferrocarrils de la Generalitat de Catalunya; local trains operating alongside the Metro in Barcelona
fundació/fundació – foundation
garum – a spicy sauce made from fish entrails, found throughout the Roman Empire
gegants – huge figures paraded at festes
Generalitat (C) – Catalan regional government
guiri – foreigner (somewhat pejorative)
hostal – commercial establishment providing one- to three-star accommodation
iglesia (S) – church
IVA – impost sobre el valor afegit/impuesto sobre el valor añadido, or value-added tax
masia – Catalan country farmhouse
mercat/mercado – market
Modernisme (C) – the turn-of-the-19th-century artistic style, influenced by Art Nouveau, whose leading practitioner was Antoni Gaudí
Modernista – an exponent of Modernisme
Mudéjar (S) – a Muslim living under Christian rule in medieval Spain; also refers to their decorative style of architecture
palau (C) – palace
passatge (C) – laneway
pensió/pensión – commercial establishment providing one- to three-star accommodation
plaça/plaza – plaza
platja/playa – beach
Renaixença – Rebirth of interest in Catalan literature, culture and language in the second half of the 19th century
rodalies (C) – see cercanías
saló (C) – hall
sardana – traditional Catalan folk dance
s/n (S) – sin número (without number)
tablao – restaurant where flamenco is performed
teatre – theatre
terrassa/terazza – terrace; often means a café or bar’s outdoor tables
turista – second class; economy class