Catalan food and drink words
Catalan food is a big reason to visit. Here's how to read the menu and order without pointing.
📱 Learning Spanish too? My app's free to start.
Try my app free 📱On the menu
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| la carta | the menu | luh KAR-tuh |
| el menú del dia | the set lunch menu | ul muh-NOO dul DEE-uh |
| primer plat | starter / first course | pree-MEH PLAT |
| segon plat | main / second course | suh-GON PLAT |
| postres | pudding / dessert | POS-trus |
| la beguda | the drink | luh buh-GOO-duh |
| pa | bread | pah |
Dishes to try
| Català | What it is | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| pa amb tomàquet | Bread rubbed with tomato, olive oil and salt. Comes with everything. | pam too-MAH-kut |
| escalivada | Roasted peppers, aubergine and onion | us-kuh-lee-BAH-thuh |
| esqueixada | Salt cod salad | us-kuh-SHAH-thuh |
| botifarra | Catalan sausage, often with white beans (amb mongetes) | boo-tee-FAH-ruh |
| fuet | Thin dry sausage, like a skinny salami | foo-ET |
| calçots | Big spring onions, grilled black and dipped in romesco sauce (winter to spring) | kal-SOTS |
| fideuà | Like paella, but made with short noodles | fee-theh-oo-AH |
| arròs negre | Black rice, cooked with squid ink | uh-ROSS NEH-gruh |
| crema catalana | Custard with a burnt sugar top | KREH-muh kuh-tuh-LAH-nuh |
| mel i mató | Fresh soft cheese with honey | MEL ee muh-TOH |
| panellets | Little marzipan cakes with pine nuts, made for 1 November | puh-nuh-YETS |
In Mallorca look out for ensaïmada (a spiral pastry dusted with sugar, "un-suh-ee-MAH-thuh"), sobrassada (soft spreadable sausage, "soo-bruh-SAH-thuh") and pa amb oli (bread with oil and toppings).
Drinks
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| aigua amb gas / sense gas | sparkling / still water | EYE-gwuh um GAS / SEN-zuh GAS |
| un cafè amb llet | a white coffee | oon kuh-FEH um YET |
| un tallat | a small coffee with a dash of milk | oon tuh-YAT |
| una canya | a small draught beer | OO-nuh KAH-nyuh |
| vi negre / blanc / rosat | red / white / rosé wine | bee NEH-gruh / BLANG / roo-ZAT |
| cava | Catalan sparkling wine | KAH-buh |
| un suc de taronja | an orange juice | oon SOOK duh tuh-RON-juh |
| orxata | tiger nut milk (a Valencian favourite) | oor-CHAH-tuh |
Ordering
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Voldria... | I'd like... | bool-DREE-uh |
| Per a mi... | For me... | pur uh MEE |
| Sense ceba, si us plau | Without onion, please | SEN-zuh SEH-buh |
| Està boníssim! | It's delicious! | us-TAH boo-NEE-seem |
| El compte, si us plau | The bill, please | ul KOM-tuh |
| Bon profit! | Enjoy your meal! | bon proo-FEET |
More bar and restaurant phrases on the useful phrases page. Learn the words with the food pack on the flashcards, or get the printable Catalan food and drink flashcards.
Keep going: Useful phrases · Numbers, days and months · Catalan culture · All the free Catalan guides, flashcards and games.
Learning Spanish too? 📱
One subscription gets you my full video course, in the right order, in an app you carry everywhere. Plus loads of fun games.
Start free on the app 🚀Free to start. Spain Spanish, taught by Sam.
Questions people ask
What is the most famous Catalan food?
Pa amb tomàquet (bread with tomato) is on every table. Crema catalana, botifarra and calçots are big favourites too.
How do you order a coffee in Catalan?
Un cafè amb llet, si us plau for a white coffee, un tallat for a small one with a dash of milk, or un cafè sol for an espresso.
What does bon profit mean?
Enjoy your meal. It's the Catalan version of bon appétit.
What is a menú del dia?
A set lunch on weekdays with a starter, main, pudding or coffee, bread and a drink for one price.
Learning Spanish too? 📱 My app teaches Spain Spanish with games and quizzes. Free to start.
Try the app