CATALAN FOR BEGINNERS
To fit in in Barcelona, you might want to speak a few words of Catalan. Of course, every local speaks Spanish as well, but making the effort to immerse yourself in the local tongue will be much appreciated. If you speak a bit of Spanish, Portuguese or Fre
Pronounce Catalan like a local
Unlike Spanish, Catalan can be quite tricky to read. Many letters are pronounced in the most unlikely of ways. Yet, there are some ground rules for speaking Catalan properly. First and foremost, the letter ‘x’ is often (not always) pronounced as a ‘ch’. So, xocolata (chocolate) is pronounced [chokolata]. Also perplexing is the fact that Catalan has three different ‘L’s: the l, the ll and the l·l. The first, you pronounce as a regular [l], as in ‘love’. The second, the ‘ll’ is pronounced as [lj], as in the Slovenian capital ‘Ljubljana’. The third – and most peculiar – one, the l·l or geminate l, is pronounced as a ‘fat l’. To pronounce it correctly, you must place the tip of your tongue way higher on your palate and relax your tongue muscles as much as possible. Oh, you also don’t pronounce ‘h’, and ‘e’ is sometimes pronounced as an ‘a’. Don’t worry too much about all these rules, though. Even for immigrants living in Catalonia for many years already, the new native language remains a true tongue twister.
Parles Català?
Hola Hello
Adéu Goodbye
Bon dia Good morning
Bona tarda Good afternoon
Bona nit Good evening
Com estàs? How are you?
Si us plau Please
Senyor Sir
Senyora Madam
Gràcies Thank you
No parlo Català. I don’t speak Catalan. Parles Anglès? Do you speak English? Ajuda’m! Help me!
Demà Tomorrow
Ahir Yesterday
On es troba …? Where can I find the …? Carrer … … Street
M’encanta Barcelona I love Barcelona Què podeu recomanar?
What can you recommend?
Vi blanc i negre White and red wine
Cafè Coffee
El compte, si us plau
The check, please
Un banc A bank l’Estació de ferrocarril
Un hospital A hospital
L’aeroport An airport
The railway station