Basic words in Catalan

110 words on the topic

• sí

  yes

  Sí with the accent means 'yes'; si without it means 'if'. Only the written mark separates them
• no

  no

  One word for 'no' and for negating the verb: no entenc — 'I don't understand'
• bé

  well

  An adverb: it answers 'how?'. The adjective 'good' is another word, bo — and before a noun it shrinks further: bon dia
• malament

  badly

  The partner of bé. For a bad thing the adjective is dolent: el temps és dolent — the weather is foul
• molt bé

  very well

  Molt is 'very' and stands right before the word it boosts
• més o menys

  so-so

  Literally 'more or less'. The same phrase means 'about': més o menys vint — around twenty
• el metre

  meter (unit)

  An international word, from the Greek "measure". The jump was two meters, not a centimeter more
• el centímetre

  centimeter

  Literally "a hundredth of a meter". The child grew three centimeters in a year
• el quilòmetre

  kilometer

  Literally "a thousand meters": theGreek measure with a Greek prefix. From the town to the beach is five kilometers
• el litre

  liter

  From the Greek litra — a unit of weight, become a measure of volume. Buy a liter of milk, please
• el gram

  gram

  From the Greek gramma — a small weight. Put a hundred grams of sugar in the dough
• el pes

  weight

  The same pes as the fish weighing at the market: what the scales say. The backpack's weight tires my shoulders
• la llargada

  length

  From llarg — long: the length as a thing. The length of the pool is twenty-five meters
• l'amplada

  width

  From ample — wide: the width as a thing, with the same -ada as the length. The corridor's width does not reach a meter
• l'altura

  height (object)

  From alt — high: the height of towers and mountains. About a person they say alçada. The tower's height amazes the tourists
• la fondària

  depth

  From fons — the bottom you know: the depth is "bottom-ness". The children's pool is half a meter deep
• aproximadament

  approximately

  From aproximar — to approach: approximately is "approached to" the truth. Roughly ten thousand people live here
• gairebé

  almost

  A short word with a long career: almost everything. The film has almost finished, come quickly
• en punt

  sharp (on the dot)

  Literally "on the point": exactly at the hour, not a minute off. The meeting starts at ten sharp
• de mitjana

  on average

  Literally "by the middle": la mitjana — the mean. On average snow falls here two days a year
• el doble

  twice as much

  Literally "the double": the double of anything. This flat costs twice as much as ours
• la xifra

  figure (number)

  From the Arabic cifra — and that from Sanskrit: the figures traveled the world. The figure of visitors grows every summer
• el quart

  a quarter (time)

  The same quart as the fourth floor: a quarter of the hour. A quarter of an hour has passed, and he still has not come
• pesar

  to weigh

  From pes — the weight: to weigh is to "weight" a thing. The seller weighs the melon in front of the buyer
• innecessari

  unnecessary

  In- + necessari — the necessary with a negation: the unnecessary. This purchase was unnecessary, I see now
• buit

  empty

  Short and hollow, like its meaning. The fridge is empty, time to go shopping
• el fet

  fact

  From the Latin factum — done: a fact is a "done thing". The fact is the train no longer stops here
• la pregunta

  question

  A relative of the request — preguntar, to ask: a question is what is "asked". I have one: when do you close on Friday?
• important

  important (significant)

  From importar — to carry in: important is what "carries in" weight. Take the important documents and the ID
• positiu

  positive

  From posar — to put: positive is "set for yes". A positive test is good news here, this time
• negatiu

  negative

  From negar — to deny: negative is "set for no". A negative balance for the month explains everything without words
• en comparació amb

  compared with

  Literally "in comparison with": the comparison with a standard. Compared with other years this summer is cool
• igual que

  the same as

  Literally "equal as": igual — the same. I want the same cake as the one from last year's birthday
• l'avantatge

  advantage

  From avant — forward: an advantage is a "forwardness". The advantage of living downtown is walking everywhere
• el desavantatge

  disadvantage

  The advantage with a des-: the "backwardness", the drawback. The drawback of the old flat is felt every winter in the bill
• les conseqüències

  consequences

  From conseqüir — to follow with: consequences "follow with" the deed. The consequences of a fair contract are seen quickly
• tenir en compte

  to take into account

  Literally "to hold in account": el compte — the account. One must take into account that in August the city empties
• el més probable és que

  most likely

  Literally "more probable": the comparative of probable. Most likely we will be late: the train strike
• segurament

  surely

  From segur — sure: surely is "surely-ly". Surely they have gone to bed already: it is past two
• la probabilitat

  probability

  From probable — provable: probability is what can be "proved" likely. The probability of rain rises to ninety percent
• la suposició

  assumption

  The same family as suposar: an assumption is a "placing-under". This is only an assumption, not an accusation
• sembra que

  it seems that

  Literally "it seems that": semblar — to seem. It seems that it will rain today: the birds fly low
• deu ser

  he must be

  Literally "he owes to be": deure — to owe and to must. Where is Pau? He must still be on the train
• no pot ser

  it cannot be

  Literally "it cannot be": the impossibility of the facts. It cannot be that the same grandma won again
• com a mínim

  at least

  Literally "as a minimum": the least that can be said. At least we got home dry
• en qualsevol cas

  in any case

  Literally "in whatever case": qualsevol — any. In any case, we will call the doctor tomorrow
• per si de cas

  just in case

  Literally "in case it should be the case": a triple of caution. Take an umbrella just in case
• si

  if I had (hypothetical)

  The hypothetical if, with the subjunctive after it: a conditional world. If I had free time, I would learn a third language
• sempre que

  provided that

  Literally "always that": a condition dressed as a promise. I will leave this with you provided that you are back by ten
• fins i tot si

  even if

  The intensifier fins i tot plus the if: even in that case. Even if it rains, the party will be on the square
• en aquest cas

  in that case

  Literally "in this case": el cas — the case you know. If the train is gone, in that case we will go by car
• si no

  otherwise

  Literally "if not": the other branch of the if. Careful with the paella, otherwise it will burn
• llavors

  then (in that case)

  The same llavors as "since then": here it is the "then" of logic. If it rains, then we will lunch indoors
• per tal que

  so that

  Literally "for the purpose that": the purpose with a clause after. We study so that the children have a better future
• com si

  as if

  Literally "as if": comparison with the subjunctive after. He rents the flat as if he were going to live in it for twenty years
• en lloc de

  instead of (action)

  Literally "in the place of": one action in the place of another. Instead of complaining, you cook for a week
• en general

  mostly

  Literally "in general": the whole rather than the part. Mostly we give Saturdays to the family
• per regla general

  as a rule

  Literally "by the general rule": la regla — the rule. As a rule, Catalan trains arrive on time
• quasi tothom

  almost everyone

  Literally "almost all-the-world": gairebé + tothom. Almost everyone came out to the street to celebrate the victory
• l'excepció

  exception

  A Latin relative: what is "taken out" of the rule. Every rule has its own exception, and this one is mine
• etcètera

  and so on

  The Latin "and the others": the universal tail of lists. The list lacks sugar, oil, flour and so on
• a diferència de

  unlike

  Literally "in difference from": the comparison with a person. Unlike his brother, he runs up the stairs
• excepte

  except

  A Latin relative — "taken out": the one set aside. Everyone signed the agreement except the younger uncle
• no del tot

  not quite

  Literally "not of the whole": almost, but with a remainder. That is not quite exact: I saw her from afar
• més o menys

  more or less

  Literally "more or less": the balance phrase. How is the repair going? More or less: the kitchen already breathes
• amb dificultat

  with difficulty

  Literally "with difficulty": the honest adverb of effort. With difficulty, but we finished the wardrobe before dark
• val la pena provar-ho

  it is worth a try

  Literally "it is worth the pain to try": valer la pena — to be worth the pain. It is worth a try: the teacher is charming
• calia

  you should have seen

  The imperfect of caler — it was necessary: said of what had to be seen. You should have seen grandma's face when she opened the door!
• el millor de tot

  the best of all

  Literally "the best of everything": the superlative of the day. The best of all was the silence after the holiday
• el pitjor de tot

  the worst of all

  From pitjor — worse: the worst of everything. The worst of all is that nobody warned anybody
• el més aviat possible

  as soon as possible

  Literally "as early as possible": the sooner the better, compressed. Call as soon as possible: the places fly away
• en va

  in vain

  Literally "in vain-ness": the effort that found nothing. He ran in vain: the bus had already left
• sortir-se'n

  to manage

  Literally "to get out of it": sortir-se'n — to come out of the affair. Alone, with two children and a move, he still managed
• l'intent

  attempt

  From intentar — to attempt: an attempt is an "intent" set in motion. On the third attempt the key turned
• és a dir

  that is to say

  Literally "it is to say": the reformulation marker. He will come on Tuesday, that is to say the day after tomorrow
• resulta que

  it turned out that

  Literally "it results that": the fact revealed. It turned out that the neighbor had known it for days
• com a resultat

  as a result

  Literally "as a result": the consequence drawn. As a result of the rain the fair moves indoors
• du a

  leads to

  From dur — to carry: to lead to is to "carry to". Every evening before the screen leads to worse sleep
• gràcies a

  thanks to

  Literally "thanks to": the cause welcomed. Thanks to the Friday rain the garden woke up
• a la primera

  on the first try

  Literally "at the first": the first attempt, implied. I did not pass the exam on the first try, nor the second
• o

  or

  One letter: 'or' here is simply o. Choices line up as you expect: café o te? — coffee or tea?
• també

  too, also

  Stands before the verb: jo també estudio — I study too. One word covers both 'too' and 'also'
• només

  only

  Només tinc deu euros — I've only got ten euros. One word for 'only' and 'just', stress at the end
• ja

  already

  'Already' and a short 'yes, done' in one: ja. Ja he dinat — I've already had lunch: it works with the past too
• encara

  still

  One word for 'still' and 'yet': encara. With no it means 'not yet': encara no sé
• massa

  too

  'Too' and 'too much' in one word: massa. Massa car — too expensive: you know the adjective already
• una mica

  a little

  Literally 'one bit'. Una mica més — a little more: the easy way to ask for it
• plegats

  together

  Literally 'folded up': togetherness for people. Anem plegats — let's go together; about objects people say junts
• no es pot

  it's not allowed

  Literally 'it is not possible': the impersonal no es pot. Aquí no es pot aparcar — no parking here
• cal

  must

  An impersonal 'must': cal + infinitive — cal beure aigua. One word instead of three, and it never changes form
• per tal de

  in order to

  Literally 'for the purpose of': purpose + infinitive. Before a vowel it shrinks: per tal d'arribar
• si

  if

  Si without the accent is 'if': si plou, ens quedem a casa. With the accent, sí is 'yes' — one stroke decides
• mentre que

  while

  You know mentre: this is the reinforced mentre que — MEN-truh kuh. Often about contrast: mentre que ell dorm, ella treballa
• ja que

  seeing that

  Literally 'already that': a cause everyone accepts. Ja que ets aquí, seu — since you're here, sit down
• només cal que

  as long as

  Literally 'it only takes that' + subjunctive: només cal que vinguis — if only you would come
• així que

  so

  Literally 'thus that': the natural consequence. Plou, així que quedem a casa — a bridge between two facts
• entre

  between

  You have met entre brave: entre llàgrimes — through tears. Entre tu i jo — between you and me: two people, one preposition
• uns

  about (roughly)

  The plural of un: uns + number means 'about' — uns deu anys, about ten years. Feminine words take unes: unes hores
• en comptes de

  instead of

  Literally 'in the count instead': a choice through replacement. En comptes de pa, arròs — rice instead of bread
• contra

  against

  International and versatile: contra la pluja — against the rain. It works in arguments and in football alike
• sense

  without

  Short and reliable: sense sucre, si us plau — without sugar. You will say it in every café
• per a

  for

  Per a is 'for whom': un regal per a tu — a present for you. Plain per is 'for what purpose': a subtle but living difference
• sobre

  about (concerning)

  Sobre does double duty: 'on the table' and 'about the sea'. The word order tells the meanings apart
• després de

  after

  You know després, 'then': with de it becomes 'after' — després de dinar. No apostrophe, but the de is obligatory
• durant

  during

  'During' and 'for (a span)' in one: durant la festa, durant dos dies. You have met it in time spans already
• a causa de

  because of

  Literally 'by the cause of'. Before an article it contracts: a causa del tren — because of the train
• al voltant de

  around

  Literally 'at the turn': la volta is 'a turn'. Al voltant de la taula — around the table
• a través de

  through

  Literally 'across, crosswise': through a wall, a window, the news. A través de la finestra — through the window
• des de dins

  from the inside

  Literally 'from the inside'. A dins — inside: its sibling from the basics
• pels voltants

  nearby

  Literally 'by the turns': in the surroundings. Viure pels voltants — to live nearby

How it sounds in a sentence

A word list is a blank. Conversation is made of sentences, and these are the ones the words fit into most often.

• Sí, clar que puc

  Yes, of course I can
• No, gràcies, ja he dinat

  No thanks, I've already had lunch
• Estic bé, gràcies

  I'm doing well, thank you
• Aquesta nit he dormit malament

  I slept badly last night
• Tot molt bé, gràcies per preguntar

  All very well, thanks for asking
• Què tal l'examen? — Més o menys

  How was the exam? — So-so

What is worth knowing about these words

sí — yes. Sí with the accent means 'yes'; si without it means 'if'. Only the written mark separates them

no — no. One word for 'no' and for negating the verb: no entenc — 'I don't understand'

bé — well. An adverb: it answers 'how?'. The adjective 'good' is another word, bo — and before a noun it shrinks further: bon dia

malament — badly. The partner of bé. For a bad thing the adjective is dolent: el temps és dolent — the weather is foul

Test yourself

Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Yes, no, good, bad, very. The small change of a language — and no sentence assembles without it.

A list is read in a minute and forgotten in a day. What works: hide the translation, try to recall, get it wrong — and come back to the same words tomorrow.

• Recalling beats re-reading. Covering the translation and trying to remember it does more than reading it ten more times.checked many times
  Adesope, Trevisan & Sundararajan, 2017, Review of Educational Research 87(3) · 188 experiments, 272 comparisons. g = 0.61; against plain re-reading 0.51, against passive review 0.93.
• This holds not only in experiments but in ordinary classrooms, with real students.checked many times
  Mawson & Kang, 2025, Behavioral Sciences 15(6):771 · 22 studies, d = 0.54 (confidence interval 0.31–0.77). The authors warn that individual studies disagree widely.

Next

• All topics of the Catalan language3960 words by topic and letter
• Greetings and goodbyes8 words
• Numbers and counting56 words
• Food and drink241 words
• At a café and a restaurant18 words
• Shopping and money85 words