Are you fluent Spanish speaker but you still have some trouble in understanding some signs or a first interaction with someone local that you just meet? That’s because in Barcelona, many people speaks Catalan, and we want to help you to break that barrier. If you want to learn the basics: just keep reading!
Greetings
- Hi! – Hola! [o l a]
- Good morning! – Bon dia! [b o n̪ d j a]
- Welcome – Benvingut [b e m b i nˠ g u d]
- How are you? – Com estàs? [k o m e s t a s]
- Nice to meet you – Encantat (m) / Encantada (f) de conèixer-te [ẽ nˠ k a n̪ t a d ð̞ e k o n e i̯ k s e ɾ – t e]
- Thank you – Gràcies / Merci! [g ɾ a θ j e s] / [m e ɾ θ i]
- Please – Si us plau [s j u s p l a u̯]
- Sorry – Perdó / Ho sento [p e ɾ ð̞ o] / [o s e n̪ t o]
- Excuse me – Perdona / Disculpa [p e ɾ ð̞ o n a] / [d i s k u l p a]
Shop & Restaurant
- How much is it? – Quant val? [k w a n̪ d β̞ a l]
- Do you have… (a product or dish)? – Teniu … ? [t e n j u]
- Can I have the bill, please? – Em portaràs el compte, si us plau? [ẽ m p o ɾ t a ɾ a s e l k o m b t e s i u s p l a u̯]
- Can I pay with cash? – Puc pagar amb efectiu? [p u g p a ɣ̞ a ɾ a m b e f e g t j u]
- Do you accept credit card? – Accepteu targeta de credit? [a g θ e b t e u̯ t a ɾ x e t a ð̞ e k ɾ e ð̞ i d]
- Do you have vegan/vegetarian options? – Teniu opcions vegans/vegetarianes? [t e n i w o b θ j o n s̮ β̞ e ɣ̞ a n s̮ / β̞ e x e t a ɾ j a ne s]
- What do you recommend? – Què em recomanes? [k e m r e k o m ã n e s]
Directions
- Exit – Sortida [s o ɾ t i ð̞ a]
- Entrance- Entrada [ẽ n̪ t ɾ a ð̞ a]
- Right & Left – Dreta i esquerra [d ɾ e t a i e s k e r a]
- Pull & Push – Estirar i empènyer [e s t i ɾ a ɾ i e m p e nʲ ͡ɟʝ e ɾ]
- Direction – Direcció [d i ɾ e g θ j o]
- Next Stop – Próxima parada / estació [p ɾ o k s i m a p a ɾ a ð̞ a /e s t a θ j o]
- Take care! – Vigileu! [b i x i l e u̯]
Now, you can already start a conversation with a Catalan speaker and keep on learning this language. Do you know more? Tell us in the comments below what other useful slang do you know!
Maragda Falip:
Junior Social Media Specialist
