Catalan for beginners: where to start
Never said a word of Catalan? Good, this is the page for you. Here's what to learn first, in the order that makes it easiest.
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Try my app free 📱Step 1: get the sounds right
Catalan is mostly spelt how it sounds, once you know a few rules. The big ones:
- ll is like the "lli" in "million": llet (milk)
- ny is like the "ny" in "canyon": Catalunya
- x is usually "sh": xocolata (chocolate)
- An a or e with no stress goes soft, like the "a" in "sofa"
There's more on the Catalan pronunciation page, but that's enough to get going.
Step 2: say hello
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Hola | Hello | OH-luh |
| Bon dia | Good morning | bon DEE-uh |
| Adéu | Bye | uh-DEH-oo |
| Si us plau | Please | see oos PLOW |
| Gràcies | Thank you | GRAH-see-us |
More on the Catalan greetings page.
Step 3: learn 20 words you'll use every day
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| sí / no | yes / no | see / noh |
| d'acord | OK | duh-KOR |
| perdó | sorry | pur-DOH |
| aigua | water | EYE-gwuh |
| cafè | coffee | kuh-FEH |
| pa | bread | pah |
| avui | today | uh-BOO-ee |
| demà | tomorrow | duh-MAH |
| ara | now | AH-ruh |
| aquí | here | uh-KEE |
| molt | very / a lot | mol |
| bé | well / good | beh |
| on? | where? | on |
| quant? | how much? | kwan |
| obert | open | oo-BERT |
| tancat | closed | tun-KAT |
| la platja | the beach | luh PLAD-juh |
| el carrer | the street | ul kuh-REH |
| la plaça | the square | luh PLAH-suh |
| el lavabo | the toilet | ul luh-BAH-boo |
Step 4: a handful of phrases
| Català | English | Say it like |
|---|---|---|
| Com estàs? | How are you? | kom us-TAHS |
| Em dic... | My name is... | um DEEK |
| No ho entenc | I don't understand | noh oo un-TENK |
| Parla anglès? | Do you speak English? | PAR-luh un-GLESS |
| Quant costa? | How much is it? | kwan KOS-tuh |
| El compte, si us plau | The bill, please | ul KOM-tuh, see oos PLOW |
Want more? The useful Catalan phrases page has them sorted by situation.
Step 5: little and often
Five minutes a day beats an hour on a Sunday. Flip a few flashcards, play a quick game, and say the words out loud. Out loud is the bit people skip, and it's the bit that makes it stick.
A simple 7 day plan
| Day | Do this |
|---|---|
| 1 | Read the sounds above and say them out loud |
| 2 | Learn the 5 greetings |
| 3 | Learn 10 of the everyday words |
| 4 | The other 10 words |
| 5 | Numbers 1 to 10 (numbers page) |
| 6 | The 6 phrases in step 4 |
| 7 | Play the match-up game and see what you remember |
Know some Spanish already?
Handy, but don't just add Spanish endings and hope. Lots of everyday words are completely different (taula is table, not mesa). The Catalan vs Spanish page shows the traps.
Keep going: Greetings · Food and drink words · Catalan vs Spanish · All the free Catalan guides, flashcards and games.
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Questions people ask
Is Catalan hard to learn?
Not for English speakers, no. It uses the same alphabet, the spelling follows rules, and you'll recognise plenty of words. The sounds take a bit of practice, that's all.
Do I need to learn Spanish first?
No. You can start Catalan from scratch. If you already know some Spanish it helps, but watch out for the words that are completely different.
Will people in Barcelona speak Catalan to me?
Most people in Barcelona speak Spanish too, and plenty speak English. But a few words of Catalan go down really well, especially in shops and bars.
How long does it take to learn the basics?
If you do a few minutes a day, you'll have greetings, please and thank you and a handful of phrases sorted within a week or two.
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