Knowing the local language is a huge advantage when relocating abroad. Although many people speak English in Barcelona and even if you can speak Spanish fairly well, you’ll definitely want to add these Catalan words and phrases to your vocabulary to really impress the locals in Barcelona.
Catalans view their culture, their heritage and especially their language, as entirely unique to that of the rest of Spain. Here are some essential Catalan words and phrases that will help you in your day-to-day life in Barcelona.
14 Catalan words for expats in Spain
Catalàn vs. Castellano
In Barcelona, 98% of the population speaks Castilian Spanish (Castellano). Around 50-60% of Barcelona’s total population speaks Catalàn.
As the region of Catalonia has two official languages, you’ll find that signs and other important public information are always provided in both languages.
Food & drinks
1. Menú del día
In Spain, the ‘menú del día’ (menu of the day) is offered at restaurants during the midday meal (la comida). Enjoying the menú del día is the most economical way to eat in Spain as you can usually get a three course meal between €10-15.
2. Una caña
One phrase you will hear often when living in Spain is ‘una caña’. This refers to a small draft beer—usually around 200 ml. One reason for its popularity, is that the smaller size means the beer stays cooler in the summer.
3. Cava vs. Champagne
Cava is the sparkling wine of Spain, most notably, of the state of Catalonia. It is quickly making a name for itself as a serious rival to the world famous French Champagne. Cava is also very much an everyday drink and most restaurants and bars will serve it by the glass (copa de cava).
Traditions
4. La Mercè
Every year at the end of September, Barcelona holds its largest street party (La Mercè Festival). The festival lasts for around 5 days, with thousands of people taking to the streets of Barcelona to see the events, parades and fire runs (Correfoc).
5. Castellers
The tradition of building human towers in Catalonia, more commonly known as ‘Castellers’, has existed for over 200 years. The Castellers perform their tower building during the main parts of larger festivals, such as La Mercè.
6. Calçotada
Calçotadas are traditional Catalan barbecues take place from January to April. No calçotada is complete without the typical sweet, grilled spring onions known as ‘calçots’.
Government organisations
7. Generalitat de Catalunya
The Generalitat (Government of Catalonia) is the system that is responsible for organising Catalonia’s self-government. Everything regarding information, procedures and services in Catalonia can be found on their website.
8. Mossos d'Esquadra & Guàrdia Urbana vs. Policía Nacional & Guardia Civil
- The Mossos d’Esquadra are the official police force of Catalonia. They combat crime and terrorism, and also help to keep order during demonstrations and protests in Barcelona.
- The Guàrdia Urbana are the municipal police force for the city of Barcelona. They supervise the daily life of the citizens, ensuring their safety and general well-being. They also regulate traffic and issue fines if necessary.
- The Policía Nacional is the official national police force of the Spanish Government. They handle criminal investigation, judicial, terrorism and immigration matters.
- The Guardia Civil the military police force of the Spanish Government. They monitor borders, airports, roads, the coastline and other important places, objects or persons.
9. La Agencia Tributaria
The Agencia Tributaria (Tax Agency), is the revenue service of Spain and is responsible for the effective application of the national tax and customs systems.
Greetings & pleasantries
10. Hola/Bon Dia (Hello)
The official greeting in Catalan is ‘Bon dia’. If you can’t quite remember the phrase, a simple ‘Hola’ is the best way to greet people in Barcelona.
11. Adéu (Goodbye)
In Barcelona, it doesn’t matter whether people are speaking Spanish (Castellano) or Catalan because when it comes to saying goodbye, it’s the norm to say ‘adéu’.
12. Merci/Gràcies/Gracias (Thank you)
Catalan people have adopted the French word ‘merci’ to say thanks. If this French word doesn’t appeal to you, there are other words that can be used for thanking people in Barcelona, for example ‘gràcies’ in Catalan and ‘gracias’ in Spanish!
Other Catalan words
13. La Senyera & L'Estelada
As you walk around Barcelona, you’ll see three different Catalan flags hanging from balconies and official buildings:
- La Senyera – four red stripes on a yellow background.
- L’Estelada – an added white star on a blue background.
- L’Estelada Vermella – an added red star.
La Senyera is the official flag of Catalonia, Aragón, the Balearic Islands and Valencia. L’Estelada is an unofficial flag and is generally waved by supporters of Catalonia’s independence from Spain. The difference between the two types of L’Estelada is their political stance, L’Estelada was adopted by Nationalists and L’Estelada Vermella was adopted by leftist groups to symbolise a socialist independence movement of all Catalan-speaking areas.
14. Barcelona, Barna, BCN, Barça, Barca
The common abbreviation for Barcelona by locals is ‘Barna’. Another common abbreviation is ‘BCN’, which is also the airport code of the Barcelona-El Prat Airport. The abbreviation ‘Barça’ applies only to the football team (FC Barcelona). The term ‘Barca’ actually means ‘a small boat’ in Spanish.
One final word you may see or hear a lot as an expat in Spain is the word ‘Guiri’. This is a colloquial Spanish word used to describe foreign tourists, particularly from countries in Northern and Western Europe.
diccionario catala frances
4 April 2022 at 11:58nos funciono bastante.
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6 May 2022 at 20:14I go to see each day a few web pages and sites to read posts, but this weblog presents quality based content.
Niall
18 October 2023 at 10:23Great article, thank you. However, on e correction, it is wrong to say 'Catalans adopted the French word Merci'. That is a word derived from the Catalan Mercés, which used to mean thank you. Presumably they come from the same root long ago but it is as much a Catalan word as French.
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