Learning Catalan Language

Vowels

To know how to pronounce vowels in Catalan, it is necessary to know the strong syllable of the word. a, i, o change if are in the strong syllable or a weak one.

a
like a in “apple” if in the strong syllable or e in “over” if in a weak syllable

e
like e in “bed” or ea in “bear” if in the strong syllable or e in “over” if in a weak syllable

i
like ee in “bee”

o
like the first component of the diphthong ow in “low” or o in “bond” if in the strong syllable or oo in “hoop” if in a weak syllable

u
like oo in “hoop”

In the case of e and o in a strong syllable, you can only know how it sounds if has the accent sign. è sounds always as e in “bed”, é sounds as ea in “bear”, ò sounds as o in “bond” and ó sounds as the first component of the diphthong ow in “low”.

Consonants

b
like b in “bed”

c
when followed by e or i, like c in “cell”, otherwise like k in “kid”

ç
like c in “cell”

d
like d in “dog”

f
like f in “fine”

g
when followed by e or i, like j in “james”, otherwise like “g” in “go” (in the clusters “gue” and “gui”, the “u” is silent, unless it bears a diaeresis, as in “güe” and “güi”)

gu, gü
like Gu in McGuire or w in “wire”

h
silent

j
like j in “james”

k
like c in “cat”

l
like l in “love”

ll
like lli in “million” (palatized l)

l•l
like l in “love”

m
like m in “mother”

n
like n in “nice”, and like n in “anchor”

ny
like ny in “canyon”

p
like p in “pig”

q
like q in “quiche” (always with a silent “u”)

r
like tt in “butter”; except at the beginning of a word, or after “l” and “n”

r
like r in “row”; at the beginning of a word, or after “l” and “n”

rr
like rr in “mirror”; identical to the sound above

s
like ss in “hiss” except when is between vowels, when it sounds like z in “zone”.

ss
like ss in “hiss”. Always goes between vowels.

t
like t in “top”

v
like b in “bed”

w
like w in “weight” in English words, like b in “bed” in Germanic words

x
like sh in “short”, except if is between two vowels, when sounds like cks in “kicks”

z
like z in “zone”

Basics

Hello (informal).
Hola. (OH-lah). For the formal equivalent of “hola” see good morning, good afternoon, good evening, below.

How are you?
Com estàs? (KOH-m ehss-TAHSS?) (informal); Com està? (KOH-m ehss-TAH?) (formal)

Fine, thank you.
Molt bé, gracies.

What is your name?
Com et dius? (informal); Com es diu? (formal)

My name is ______ .
Em dic ______ .

Nice to meet you.
Molt de gust.

Please.
Si us plau.

Thank you.
Gràcies. OR Mercès.

Youre welcome.
No hi fa res.

Yes.
Sí. (SEE)

No.
No. (NOH)

Excuse me. (getting attention)
Dispensi.

Excuse me. (begging pardon)
Perdoni.

Im sorry.
Em sap greu.

Goodbye
Adéu.

I cant speak Catalan [well].
No parlo [bé] el català.

Do you speak English?
Parles anglès? (informal) OR Que parla anglès?

Is there someone here who speaks English?
Que hi ha algú que parli anglès?

Help!
Ajuda! Auxili!

Good morning.
Bon dia.

Good afternoon.
Bona tarda.

Good evening (when its dark)
Bon vespre.

Good night.
Bona nit.

I dont understand.
No ho entenc.

Where is the toilet?
On és el lavabo?

Problems

Leave me alone.
Deixam en pau!

Dont touch me!
No em toquis! (nom-TOH-kees)

Ill call the police.
Trucaré la policia!

Police!
Policia! (poo-lee-SEE-ah)

Stop! Thief!
Al lladre!

I need help.
Necessito la teva ajuda.

Its an emergency.
És una emergència.

Im lost.
Mhe perdut.

I lost my bag.
He perdut la meva bossa.

I lost my wallet.
He perdut la meva cartera/bitlletera.

Im sick.
Estic malalt. (woman: Estic malalta.)

Ive been injured.
Estic ferit/ferida.

I need a doctor.
Necessito un metge. (nah-sir-see-toom-MEH-djer)

Can I use your phone?
Puc utilitzar el seu telèfon?

Numbers

1
u/una (Male/Female) (OON/OO-nah)

2
dos/dues (Male/Female) (DOHS/DOO-ges)

3
tres (TRREHS)

4
quatre (KWA-trer)

5
cinc (SEENK)

6
sis(SEES)

7
set (SET)

8
vuit

9
nou

10
deu (DEOO)

11
onze

12
dotze

13
tretze

14
catorze (kaTORzer)

15
quinze (KEENzer)

16
setze (SETzer)

17
disset (deeSSET)

18
divuit

19
dinou

20
vint

21
vint-i-u

22
vint-i-dos

23
vint-i-tres

30
trenta

31
trenta-u

40
quaranta

50
cinquanta

60
seixanta

70
setanta

80
vuitanta

90
noranta

100
cent (SENT)

200
dos-cents

300
tres-cents

1000
mil (MEEL)

2000
dos mil

1,000,000
un milió

1,000,000,000
mil milions

1,000,000,000,000
un bilió

number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
número _____

half
mig (MEECH)

less
menys

Time

now
ara (AR-ah)

later
després

before
abans

morning
matí

afternoon
tarda

evening
vespre

night
nit

Clock

Note: Catalan expresses time informally using a scheme based on quarters of hour:

un quart de X = (X-1) hour + 15 minutes, or 45 minutes before X hour
dos quarts de X = (X-1) hour + 30 minutes, or 30 minutes before X hour
tres quarts de X = (X-1) hour + 45 minutes, or 15 minutes before X hour

the X hour
les X

the X hour in the early morning/morning/midday/afternoon/evening/night
les X de la matinada /matí/migdia/tarda/vespre/nit

one oclock AM
la una de la matinada (literally the one in the early morning)

two oclock AM
les dues de la matinada

noon
migdia (literally half day)

one oclock PM
la una de la tarda

two oclock PM
les dues de la tarda

midnight
mitjanit

Duration

_____ minute(s)
_____ minut(s)

_____ hour(s)
_____ hors(hores)

_____ day(s)
_____ dia(dies)

_____ week(s)
_____ setmana(setmanes)

_____ month(s)
_____ mes(mesos)

_____ year(s)
_____ any(s)

Days

today
avui (a-BOOY)

yesterday
ahir

tomorrow
demà

this week
aquesta setmana

last week
la setmana passada

next week
la setmana que ve

Sunday
Diumenge

Monday
Dilluns

Tuesday
Dimarts

Wednesday
Dimecres

Thursday
Dijous

Friday
Divendres

Saturday
Dissabte

Months

January
Gener

February
Febrer

March
Març

April
Abril

May
Maig

June
Juny

July
Juliol

August
Agost

September
Setembre

October
Octubre

November
Novembre

December
Desembre

Writing

June 13th of 2004
tretze (13) de juny de 2004

COLOR

black
negre

white
blanc

gray
gris

red
vermell

blue
blau

yellow
groc

green
verd

orange
taronja

purple
lila

Brown

Transportation

Bus and train

How much is a ticket to _____?
Quant val el bitllet per anar a _____?

A single ticket to _____, please.
Un bitllet senzill a _____, si us plau.

A return ticket to _____, please.
Un bitllet danada i tornada a ____, si us plau.

Where does this train/bus go?
A on va, aquest tren/autobus?

Where is the train/bus to _____?
On és el tren/autobus que va a _____?

Does this train/bus stop in _____?
Aquest tren/autobus para a _____?

When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
Quan marxa, el tren/autobus que va a _____?

When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
Quan arribarà aquest tren/autobus a _____?

Directions

How do I get to _____ ?
Com puc arribar _____ ?

…the train station?
…a lestació de tren?

…the bus station?
…a lestació dautobusos?

…the airport?
…a laeroport?

…downtown?
…al centre?

…the youth hostel?
…a lalberg de joventut?

…the _____ hotel?
…a lhotel _____?

…the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
…al consulat dEstats Units/Canadà/Austràlia/Regne Unit?

Where are there a lot of…
On hi ha molts…

…hotels?
…hotels?

…restaurants?
…restaurants?

…bars?
…bars?

…sites to see?
…llocs per visitar?

Can you show me on the map?
Pots indicar-me al mapa?

street
carrer

Turn left.
Tomba a lesquerra.

Turn right.
Tomba a la dreta.

left
esquerra

right
dreta

straight ahead
endavant

towards the _____
cap a _____

past the _____
després de _____

before the _____
abans de _____

Watch for the _____.
Vigila el/la/els/les _____.

intersection
intersecció

north
nord

south
sud

east
est

west
oest

uphill
cap amunt

downhill
cap avall

Taxi

Taxi!
Taxi! (TAHK-see)

Take me to _____, please.
Portam a _____, si us plau.

How much does it cost to get to _____?
Quant costa anar a _____?

Take me there, please.
Portam allà, si us plau.

LOdging

Do you have any rooms available?
Teniu alguna habitació disponible?

How much is a room for one person/two people?
Quant costa una habitació per una/dues persona/persones?

Does the room come with…
Lhabitació té…

…bedsheets?
…llençols?

…a bathroom?
…lavabo?

…a telephone?
…telèfon?

…a TV?
…televisió?

May I see the room first?
Puc veure lhabitació, abans?

Do you have anything quieter?
No hi ha res més silenciós?

…bigger?
…més gran?

…cleaner?
…més net?

…cheaper?
…més barat?

OK, Ill take it.
Dacord, lagafo.

I will stay for _____ night(s).
Em quedaré _____ nit(s).

Can you suggest another hotel?
Em podeu suggerir un altre hotel?

Do you have a safe lockers?
Teniu caixa de seguretat?

Is breakfast/supper included?
Lesmorzar/ el sopar estan inclosos?

What time is breakfast/supper?
Quan sesmorza/se sopa?

Please clean my room.
Si us plau, netegeu la meva habitació.

Can you wake me at _____?
Em podeu llevar a les _____?

I want to check out.
Vull marxar.

Money

Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
Accepteu dòlars americans/australians/canadencs?

Do you accept British pounds?
Accepteu lliures esterlines?

Do you accept credit cards?
Accepteu targes de crèdit?

Can you change money for me?
Pot canviar-me diners?

Where can I get money changed?
On puc canviar diners?

Can you change a travelers check for me?
Pot canviar-me xecs de viatge? (Pot can bee AR ma – sheks de vee AT dje)

Where can I get a travelers check changed?
On puc canviar xecs de viatge?

What is the exchange rate?
Quin és el canvi?

Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
On hi ha un caixer automàtic?

Eating

A table for one person/two people, please.
Una taula per una persona/dues persones, si us plau.

Can I look at the menu, please?
Puc veure el menú, si us plau?

Can I look in the kitchen?
Puc veure la cuina?

Is there a house specialty?
Teniu cap especialitat de la casa?

Is there a local specialty?
Tenui cap plat típic?

Im a vegetarian.
Sóc vegetarià.

I dont eat pork.
No menjo porc.

I dont eat beef.
No menjo vedella.

I only eat kosher food.
Només menjo menjar kosher.

Can you make it “lite”, please? (less oil/butter/lard)
Pots fer-mho més lleuger, si us plau? (amb menys oli/mantega/llard)

fixed-price meal
menú de la casa (mer-NOO-der-ler-KAH-zer)

a la carte
a la carta

breakfast
esmorzar

lunch
dinar

tea (meal)
tè

supper
sopar

I want _____.
Vull _____.

I want a dish containing _____.
Vull un plat que tingui _____.

chicken
pollastre

beef
vedella

fish
peix

ham
pernil

sausage
salsitxes

cheese
formatge

eggs
ous

salad
amanida

(fresh) vegetables
verdura (fresca)

(fresh) fruit
fruita (fresca)

bread
pa

toast
torrades

noodles
fideus

rice
arròs

beans
mongetes

May I have a glass of _____?
Em pots dur un got de _____?

May I have a cup of _____?
Em pots dur una tassa de _____?

May I have a bottle of _____?
Em pots dur una ampolla de _____?

coffee
café

tea (drink)
te

juice
suc de fruita

(bubbly) water
aigua amb gas

water
aigua mineral sense gas

beer
cervesa (ser-BEH-zer) OR birra (informal)

red/white wine
vi negre/blanc (BEE NEH-gra/BLANK)

May I have some _____?
Podries durm-me una mica de _____?

salt
sal (SAHL)

black pepper
pebre

butter
mantega

Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
Perdoni?

Im finished.
Ja he acabat.

It was delicious.
Estava deliciós.

Please clear the plates.
Pots endur-te els plats.

The check, please.
El compte, si us plau.

Bars

Do you serve alcohol?
Teniu alcohol?

Is there table service?
Hi ha servei de taules?

A beer/two beers, please.
Una cervesa/dues cerveses, si us plau.

A glass of red/white wine, please.
Un got de vi negre/blanc, si us plau.

A pint, please.
Una pinta de cervesa, si us plau. Note: in the Catalan-speaking Spain it is better to ask for a quinto (20 cl), a mitjana (33 cl) or a canya (tap beer).

A bottle, please.
Una ampolla, si us plau.

_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
_____ amb _____, si us plau.

whiskey
whiskey

vodka
vodka

rum
rom

water
aigua (I-gah)

tonic water
tònica

orange juice
suc de taronja

Coke (soda)
coca-cola (KOH-ka-KOH-la)

Do you have any bar snacks?
Teniu alguna cosa per picar?

One more, please.
Un altre, si us plau.

Another round, please.
Una altra ronda, si us plau.

When is closing time?
A quina hora tanqueu?

Shopping

Do you have this in my size?
Teniu això en la meva talla?

How much is this?
Quant costa això?

Thats too expensive.
És massa car.

Would you take _____?
Agafaries _____?

expensive
car

cheap
barat

I cant afford it.
No puc pagar-ho.

I dont want it.
No ho vull.

Youre cheating me.
Mestàs timant.

Im not interested.
No hi estic interessat.

OK, Ill take it.
Dacord, mel quedo.

Can I have a bag?
Em pots donar una bossa?

Do you ship (overseas)?
Feu enviaments (a lestranger)?

I need…
Necssito…

…toothpaste.
…pasta de dents.

…a toothbrush.
…raspallde dents.

…soap.
…sabó.

…shampoo.
…xampú.

…pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
…calmant.

…cold medicine.
…medicina per el refredat.

…stomach medicine.
…medicina per lestómac.

…a razor.
…una fulla dafeitar.

…an umbrella.
…un paraigües.

…sunblock lotion.
…crema protectora pel sol.

…a postcard.
…una postal.

…postage stamps.
…segells.

…batteries.
…piles.

…writing paper.
…paper per escriure.

…a pen.
…un bolígraf.

…English-language books.
.. llibres en anglès.

…English-language magazines.
…revistes en anglès.

…an English-language newspaper.
…diari en anglès.

…an English-Catalan dictionary.
…diccionari anglès-català.

Driving

I want to rent a car.
Vull llogar un cotxe.

Can I get insurance?
Puc obtenir una assegurança?

stop (on a street sign)
para

one way
un sentit

yield
cedeix el pas

no parking
no aparcar

speed limit
límit de velocitat

gas (petrol) station
benzinera

petrol
benzina

Diesel

Authority

I havent done anything wrong.
No he fet res de dolent.

It was a misunderstanding.
Ha estat un malentès.

Where are you taking me?
On em porteu?

Am I under arrest?
Estic arrestat?

I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
Sóc un ciutadà Americà/Australià/Britànic/Canadenc.

I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
Vull parlar amb lambaixada/el consulat Americà/Australià/Britànic/Canadenc.

I want to talk to a lawyer.
Vull parlar amb un advocat.

Can I just pay a fine now?
Puc simplement pagar una multa ara?