Catalan phrasebook
A Catalan phrasebook arranged by situation, not alphabetically: introductions, cafés, directions. Each has both sides' lines, so you understand not only what to say but what you will be told back.
Conversations by situation
- 💬Meeting peopleA first meeting
- 💬At the caféOrdering in a Barcelona bar
- 💬Asking the wayWe ask the way to the station
- 💬At the marketWe buy fruit at the counter
- 💬Viewing a flatA talk with the landlord about the rent
- 💬At the pharmacyWe ask for something for a cough
- 💬Arranging a walkWeather and weekend plans
- 💬First day at workMeeting a colleague
- 💬Tickets for a flightWe buy a return ticket at the airport desk
- 💬A day at the beachWe arrange a trip to the beach
- 💬In the fitting roomWe choose and try on a shirt at the shop
- 💬Making upWe quarrel and make up with a friend
- 💬Ordering lunchWe came to a restaurant and order
- 💬Calling the service centerWe call support: the phone will not switch on
- 💬A ride on city transportWe ride from the neighborhood to the center by bus
- 💬Signing up for sportsWe come to the sports center to sign up for football
- 💬Holiday greetingsWe call grandma to congratulate her
- 💬A family conversationWe arrange the house cleaning with my brother
- 💬A talk with a studentWe meet a student in her first year
- 💬Opening an accountWe open an account at a bank branch
- 💬A visit to the doctorWe came to the doctor with a sore throat and a fever
- 💬The job interviewWe answer questions at the interview
- 💬The rental agreementWe came to the flat viewing and discuss the rent
- 💬Hotel and carWe check into the hotel and arrange a car rental
- 💬Discussing the newsWe go through the headlines at breakfast
- 💬At the officeWe file papers at the town hall
- 💬A debate about a seriesTwo views of one series
- 💬Planning SaturdayWe agree on the errands for the day off
- 💬Qui és aquell noi?At a birthday we describe an unknown guest
- 💬Una mala setmanaWe support a friend after a failure
- 💬Al mercatWe buy groceries at the market
- 💬Unes sabates gransWe return to the shop shoes of the wrong size
- 💬El rentaplats no engegaWe call a repairperson about the broken dishwasher
- 💬El temps de cap de setmanaWe check the weather forecast before a trip to the mountains
- 💬Com arribar al centre?A tourist asks the way to the city center
- 💬Un curs de catalàWe consult on which course to sign up for
- 💬La meva història de llenguaWe meet: we tell where we come from
- 💬Per telèfon, entre sorollWe ask again on the phone in a noisy place
- 💬A què et dediques?We question an acquaintance about work and the choice of a trade
- 💬Un préstec per a la flecaAt a bank branch we ask for a loan for a small business
- 💬Voluntaris els dissabtesWe sign up as volunteers at a city aid organization
- 💬Fora de la salaWe leave the hall and discuss the film
- 💬Primer dia al gimnàsFirst day at the gym: the coach explains everything
- 💬La mesura abans de comprarAt the furniture shop we take measurements and buy a shelf unit
- 💬A la consulta del metgeWe come to the doctor with a cough and leave with a treatment plan
- 💬L'aniversari de l'àviaWe prepare a family party at grandma's house
- 💬La paret que ens separaNeighbors argue about noise and come to an agreement
- 💬Què farem el cap de setmana?We discuss weekend plans and weigh the chances of good weather
- 💬La taula del balcóAt the shop we choose a balcony table — shape and size
- 💬On és cada cosa?We explain where everything stands in the new house
- 💬Quantes coses calen?We count what is needed for a picnic by the river
- 💬El projecte començatWe tell how the begun business is going
- 💬Veritat o rumor?We argue whether the pool is really closing
- 💬Deu anys al mateix carrerTwo old acquaintances compare how the years went
- 💬El barri verdNeighbors discuss the quarter's ecology
- 💬Visita a la fàbricaA tour of the bicycle factory
- 💬La nit del temporalWe exchange stories about the great storm
- 💬Decidit o tozut?They argue about what their common acquaintance is like
- 💬A taula amb la RosaTwo colleagues lunch at a café by the market
- 💬Fins a la plaça, a poc a pocPassers-by talk in the street of the old town
- 💬A temps o tard?Two friends agree on the time of a meeting
- 💬A la balançaA buyer asks the seller to weigh the groceries at the market
- 💬Què s'ha trencat a casa?Neighbors on the landing discuss what broke in the flat
- 💬Trucada al centre de salutA patient calls the health center to book a doctor's appointment
- 💬A l'oficina de correusA client sends a package at the post office
- 💬El cotxe de lloguerA tourist rents a car at the rental office
- 💬Què cuinem aquest vespre?Sister and brother discuss the menu before dinner at home
- 💬Està en Pau?Marta calls her father at work: her phone has stopped switching on
- 💬Abans del dinar de famíliaOn the eve of the big family lunch the whole clan prepares at grandma's
Phrases that always rescue you
These are learned first not for politeness. They bring back a conversation that has already gone wrong — which makes them more useful than any list of nouns.
Frequently asked
Which Catalan phrases to learn first?
“Hello”, “thank you”, “sorry”, “I don't understand”, “repeat, please”. The first three open a conversation; the last two save it.
Is a phrasebook enough without grammar?
For a short trip — yes. For living in the country — no: memorized phrases do not assemble into new ones, and the other person does not follow your script.