The city and its places in Catalan
157 words Catalan words on the topic “the city and its places”: el restaurant — restaurant, la ciutat — city, el carrer — street, la botiga — shop.
157 words on the topic
- el restaurantrestaurantMasculine. As in Spain, people more often go to el bar: morning coffee, lunch and an evening beer all happen there
- la ciutatcityFeminine, like everything in -tat. Stress at the end: seeyoo-TAT. The mid-dot in tranquil·la nearby is that same dot
- el carrerstreetWith two r's: the first is short, between vowels it trills. Addresses abbreviate it: c/ Major, 12
- la botigashopCatalonia's own word: the Spanish tienda is not used here. Botiga de tot — a shop of a little bit of everything
- el mercatmarketThe covered city market is el mercat; the street market on certain days is el mercadillo — a word that arrived from Spanish
- la farmàciapharmacyLook for the green cross on the sign. The night duty one is farmàcia de guàrdia — the list hangs on every door
- el bancbankThe same word means 'bench', as in Spanish. Both come from the Germanic bench: money changers worked behind one
- l'estacióstationBoth the subway station and the train station: l'estació de metro, l'estació de tren. Before a vowel la shrinks to l'
- el semàfortraffic lightThe same Greek root as semaphore: "carrying a sign". Green is verd, red is vermell: the colors of unit two
- la bicicletabicycleIn speech pressed to la bici. Pista de bicicletes — a bike lane: in Valencia there are more of them than car lanes
- la parada d'autobúsbus stopLiterally "the stop of the bus": la parada — from parar, to halt. Taxis wait at the parada de taxis
- l'abonamenttransit passFrom abonar, to pay for: a pass here is a "payer". The same abonament is a pool membership
- la rutarouteA Latin relative. Ruta turística — a tourist route: hundreds are marked here
- el pas de vianantscrosswalkLiterally "the passage of pedestrians": el vianant — the pedestrian. The zebra is striped just the same
- l'embústraffic jamLiterally "a jamming": hi ha embús — there is a jam. Not the Spanish atasco — its own word
- l'aparcamentparking lotFrom aparcar, to park — a verb that arrived from Spanish. Aparcament de cotxes — a car park
- la benzineragas stationFrom benzina, gasoline: a "gas-house", feminine. On the way out of town — every ten kilometers
- el permís de conduirdriving licenceLiterally "a permit to drive": conduir — to drive. The exam is taken reluctantly here, and not on the first try
- el parcparkOne syllable, as in all these languages. The favorite park of Valencians is the old bed of the Turia: nine kilometers of gardens
- la bibliotecalibraryAn international word. Do not mix it up with la llibreria — the bookshop: a false friend
- el museumuseumWith the diphthong eu at the end: moo-ZEH-oo. Entrada gratuita — free entry: the sign at many museums on Sundays
- el teatretheaterA relative of theater with an e instead of an a. The main stage of Valencia is the Teatre Principal, the oldest in the city
- el cinemacinemaNot cine, as in Spanish: the Catalan word is longer. Cinema a l'aire lliure — open-air cinema
- l'esglésiachurchIts own word, not the Latin iglesia: the first letter is e. The church bell tower is el campanar — the silhouette of every town
- l'estadistadiumAn international word. The Valencian Mestalla is one of the oldest stadiums in Spain
- l'ambaixadaembassyA Latin relative. For papers about documents one goes exactly there, to Madrid
- la comissariapolice stationFrom comissari, the commissioner: the station here is a 'commissariat'. Every city has its own Policia Local
- l'ajuntamenttown hallFrom ajuntar, to join: the town hall here is the "joining" of townsfolk. A flag always hangs on the facade — local or Catalan
- la perruqueriahair salonFrom perruquer, the hairdresser. The salon's mistress is la perruquera: gender lives in the ending
- el tall de cabellhaircutLiterally "a cut of hair": el tall — the cut. The request in the chair: només una mica — just a tiny bit
- la bugaderialaundromatFrom bugada, the wash: a "washing house". Self-service ones are bugaderia automàtica
- repararto repairA Latin relative of repair. Reparar el cotxe — to repair the car: a universal verb
- canviarto replaceBoth to change and to replace: canviar de roba — to change clothes. Money is changed with the same verb: canviar diners
- l'einatoolWith the diphthong: EH-yuh. The plural eines — tools: the repairperson's kit is a maletí d'eines
- el martellhammerThe double ll is a soft ly at the end: muh-TEL. Hence martellejar — to hammer without stopping
- quant de temps trigarà?how long will it take?Literally "how much time will it pull?": trigar — to drag out time. The repairperson's answer is short: dos o tres dies
- el tallerworkshopA relative of atelier: a workshop is an atelier. Taller mecànic — a car workshop: the sign at every road
- el claunail (in wall)With el — a nail, with la — the key from unit two: the article decides everything. The partner of el martell from this lesson
- la policiapoliceOne word for the police and a police officer: gender decides. Policia Nacional and Policia Local are two different forces
- el policiapolice officerThe same word as the police, only with el: the man in uniform. The polite address: bon dia, agent!
- el lladrethiefThe word of fairy tales: the thief of cartoons is el lladre. The double ll is a soft ly: LYAH-druh
- l'accidentcar crashA relative of incident: un accident de trànsit — a road accident. Sense accidents — without incidents: the phrase of traffic reports
- l'incendifire (blaze)From incendiar, to set alight: historically a fire here is an "arson". The fire brigade number is 112, as in all Europe
- la multafine (ticket)It can arrive by post too: rebre una multa — to receive a fine
- m'han robat el bolsomy bag was stolenLiterally "they stole the bag from me": the construction em + han + participle. The first phrase they teach at the station
- el robatoritheftFrom robar, to steal: a theft here is a "stealing". The report about it is la denúncia from this lesson
- el testimoniwitnessThe same word is the person and the testimony. Tenim un testimoni — we have a witness: the phrase of every detective
- la denúnciapolice reportLiterally "a denunciation". Presentar una denúncia — to file a report: the formula of the station
- l'adreçaaddressWith a ç, an s sound: uh-DREH-suh. In an address first the street, then the number: c/ Major, 12
- la capsaboxKAHP-suh with a short a. A shoebox is capsa de sabates: they are kept on the top shelf for generations here
- el cartermail carrierFrom carta, letters: a "letter-bearer". In Valencia he rides a bicycle, with a yellow bag
- el segellpostage stampThe same word as the seal from unit two: a stamp is the post's seal. They are sold at tobacco kiosks — estancs
- el sobreenvelopeBoth an envelope and the preposition "about": context divides. Posa la carta al sobre — put the letter in the envelope
- el lliuramentdeliveryFrom lliurar, to hand over: a delivery here is a "handing over". Lliurament a casa — home delivery: the line of every shop
- el missatgercourierA relative of message: a courier here is a "messenger". Comes with a phone and asks you to sign on the screen
- enviar un paquetto send a packageLiterally "to send the package": el paquet from unit two. The post is called Correus — not the Spanish Correos: one letter, but its own
- rebre un paquetto receive a packageLiterally "to receive the package": rebre from the messaging lesson. If you are not home, the courier leaves a notice
- el codi postalthe postal codeLiterally "the postal code". The Valencia code begins with 46: the whole province is 46…
- l'encreuamentcrossroadsFrom encreuar — to cross: a crossroads here is a "crossing of roads". The signs warn honestly: encreuament perillós
- la vorerasidewalkFrom la vora — the edge: the sidewalk here is the street's "edge strip". Pujar a la vorera — driving onto the curb: the classic motorist's sin
- l'avingudaavenueFeminine: a wide street with trees in a row. The most famous — l'avinguda Diagonal in Barcelona: it cuts the city on the bias
- el carreróalleyA diminutive of el carrer — the street: an alley here is a "little street". The old town has hundreds, and no car fits in them
- el passeig marítimseafront promenadeLiterally 'the maritime stroll': from passejar-se — to stroll. In the evening everyone goes there: el passeig marítim s'omple al vespre
- el pontbridgeMasculine. Also the bridge-holiday: el pont de desembre — the long weekend that bridges the calendar
- el túneltunnelMasculine, an international word. Efecte túnel — the tunnel effect: said of a goal one cannot see for its closeness
- el fanallamp postA relative of the lighthouse: el far — the lighthouse on the cape, el fanal — its younger brother on every street
- el bancbenchDo not mix it up with el banc — the bank: sit where told, money is not issued there. Seure al banc de la plaça — the Sunday classic
- la papereratrash canFrom el paper — paper: a bin here is a 'paper-house'. Tirar-ho a la paperera — to bin it: said of plans too
- el conductor d'autobúsbus driverEl conductor — both a driver and a conductor of current: a universal word. A woman at the wheel is la conductora
- la parada finalthe last stopLiterally "the final stop": la parada you know from the bus stop. The driver says it shorter: final de trajecte!
- el número de la líniaroute numberLiterally "the number of the line": a route here is a "line", as in the subway. They ask it short: quina línia agafo?
- l'hora puntarush hourLiterally "the sharp hour": la punta — the peak, the tip. At this time it is better to walk: el metro ve ple
- l'horari d'autobusosbus timetableLiterally "the timetable of the buses": l'horari you know from the class schedule. On holidays it is different: horari de festius
- pagar el bitlletto pay the fareLiterally "to pay for the ticket": el bitllet you bought for the train and the plane. Without a ticket — multa: the difference in price is palpable
- prendre seientto take a seatLiterally "to take the seat": the polite form of "sit". The announcement on the bus begins exactly so: preneu seient, si us plau
- passar la paradato miss one's stopLiterally "to pass the stop": you chatted — and arrived farther. He passat la parada — the phrase familiar to everyone who talks on the phone on the bus
- demanar un taxito call a taxiLiterally "to ask for a taxi": a taxi here is "asked for", like advice. At night — the most sensible word of the evening
- baixar a la següentto get off at the next stopLiterally "to go down at the next": one "goes down" from the bus, not out. Baixi a la següent — said a second before the door
- el barrineighborhoodMasculine, a relative of barrio — neighbors in Latin. El barri Gòtic — the Gothic Quarter: the most famous barri of Barcelona
- el centre de la ciutatcity centerLiterally "the center of the city": el centre — both the center and the middle. Anar al centre — to go downtown: the direction of the day off
- la perifèriaoutskirtsFeminine, a Greek relative — "what lies around". The prices here are more honest: els pisos són més barats
- l'obraconstruction siteFeminine: a construction site here is a "work" — the same obra as a painting in a museum. Obres a la carretera — road works: a sign known to all
- les obres de la carreteraroadworksLiterally "works on the highway": plural, as everywhere. Per obres — "because of works": the official explanation of every detour
- el rètolsignboardMasculine. Rètol de neó — a neon sign: at night the city speaks exactly by them. A road sign is a rètol too
- el lavabo públicpublic restroomEl lavabo — you have asked for it in cafés a hundred times. In the park it closes early: tanca a les nou
- netclean (street)Clean is net, the grandson is also el net: Catalan economizes. Told apart by article and context: una vorera neta — a clean sidewalk
- brutdirtyThe opposite of net. Said of money too: diners bruts — dirty money
- ple de gentcrowdedLiterally "full of people": ple — full, la gent — people. About an empty place they say the reverse: buit de gent
- el pobletvillageA diminutive of el poble: a village here is a "little town". Two hundred residents, one square — and everyone knows everyone
- la capitalcapital (city)An international word: the head city, from the Latin for head. Barcelona is the capital of Catalonia
- el transport públicpublic transportLiterally "public transport": belonging to everyone. In the city I go everywhere by public transport
- el jardí d'infànciakindergartenLiterally "the garden of childhood": the garden where the small ones grow. The children come out at four
- el parc infantilplaygroundLiterally "a children's park": swings, sand and the first disputes. The children play on it on the square
- la font de la plaçafountainThe fountain of the square: the same font as the source of the news. We sat by the fountain
- el cementiricemeteryA Greek relative: the sleeping place. Every November the family visits the cemetery
- el camió de bombersfire truckLiterally "the firemen's truck": the camió you know, the bombers too. It arrives in five minutes
- el servei d'emergènciesemergency serviceThe service of emergencies: 112, like all Europe. Call the emergency service, quickly!
- l'illa de casesblockLiterally 'island of houses': a block is an island — houses all around, streets for water. Feminine: l'illa
- els jardinssmall parkMasculine plural: a small park here is 'gardens' — els jardins. One garden is el jardí, you knew it
- la torretowerFeminine: TOH-rruh, an international word. La torre de l'església — the church tower: you can see it from everywhere
- l'extraradisuburbMasculine, literally 'outside the radius': beyond the ring of the center. The apostrophe is obligatory
- la vilatownFeminine: VEE-luh — a town smaller than a city. El poblet is the village, you knew it: size is what divides them
- el passavolantspasser-byMasculine, literally 'one who flies past': someone who was walking and walked on. It does not change by gender
- el vianantpedestrianMasculine, Latin 'to walk': vee-uh-NANT. Carrer de vianants — a pedestrian street: the sign is on every corner
- l'ensenyasignFeminine, with the apostrophe: un-SEN-nyuh — Latin 'mark'. L'ensenya del bar — the bar's sign: it is how you find the place
- la papereralitter binFeminine, from el paper, paper: a 'paper-keeper'. You know the word — this is it on the street, by the bench
- el fanalstreetlampMasculine: fuh-NAL — a word from the oil lamps of old times. In the evening they all light up at once
- la gespalawnFeminine: ZHES-puh — grass you do not walk on. No trepitjar la gespa — keep off the lawn: the sign says so
- la jardineraflower bedFeminine, from el jardí, the garden: a 'little garden' — a box of flowers by the curb
- el porxoporchMasculine: POR-shoo — a roof on posts over the entrance. Rain is no threat under it
- el graóstepMasculine: groo-OH — Latin 'a stride'. Els graons — the steps: a staircase is counted by them
- el númerohouse numberMasculine: noo-MEH-roo — the digits on the door. El número 12 — house twelve
- el nom del carrerstreet nameLiterally 'the name of the street': a name, honestly — el nom. It hangs on the corner on a plate
- el palpoleMasculine, a short word: pal. Signs and lamps both hang on it: el pal holds
- el casc anticold townLiterally 'the old helmet': the city's core, like a helmet on the head. Inside: narrow lanes and gothic stone
- el bloc de pisosapartment blockLiterally 'a block of flats': a high-rise with mailboxes in the lobby. Un pis — a flat: you knew it
- el silencisilenceMasculine: see-LEN-see, an international word. Silenci, si us plau — quieter, please: they say it in the library
- l'estació d'autobusosbus stationFeminine, literally 'the station of buses': long and honest. You knew l'autobús — this is its house
- l'embarcadorpierMasculine, with the apostrophe: um-bar-kuh-DOH — Latin 'one who seats into the boat'. Boards over the water
- l'oficina de canvicurrency exchangeLiterally 'an office of exchange'. El canvi is both change and exchange: you know both senses
- el zoozooMasculine, short: zoo — as everywhere. The full name is el jardí zoològic: too long, people say zoo
- el circcircusMasculine: seerk — the big top on the square and the art in one word. The clown will tell you himself
- el parc de bombersfire stationLiterally 'the park of the firemen': a park, like a parking lot for trucks. Els bombers — the fire brigade: you knew it
- el túnel de rentatcar washLiterally 'a tunnel of washing': the car drives in dirty and comes out clean
- l'agència de viatgestravel agencyFeminine, with the apostrophe, literally 'an agency of journeys'. El viatge — the journey: you knew it
- el carrer principalmain streetLiterally 'the principal street': first in importance. The shops and the buses live on it
- la taquillaticket officeFeminine: tuh-KEE-nyuh — a little window with a grate. El bitllet — the ticket: you knew it; the office sells it
- el comptethe bill (hotel)You said the bill, please, in the café; the hotel bill is the same el compte, only with nights and a minibar. Asked at the desk at check-out
- la sortida de l'hotelcheck-outHonestly "the exit from the hotel": la sortida you knew as the departures area. Usually until twelve: then the bill grows
- el número de plantafloor numberHonestly "the number of the floor": la planta you knew as a floor. The fifth without a lift is a sport
- el llit supletoriextra bedLiterally "a spare bed": el llit you knew, supletori — spare. It arrives as the third guest and stands in the middle of the room
- l'habitació tranquil·laa quiet roomLiterally "a calm room": with the mid-dot in tranquil·la. Asked when the room faces the road: que no es senti el carrer
- l'entrada anticipadaearly check-inLiterally "an early entry": l'entrada you knew as check-in. You land at eight in the morning — and dream of exactly this
- no molesteudo not disturbLiterally "do not disturb": the sign hung on the outside of the door. A shield-word against cleaning and calls
- el maleterhotel porterYou knew the car trunk; the porter is the same el maleter: the hotel man who carries the suitcases up. One euro for a heavy suitcase — and he is happy
- el matalàsmattressmoo-tuh-LAHS — what one sleeps on; firm or soft, the dispute of the century. About the springs hidden inside one learns at night
- el serveiserviceYou knew the service as a chore; here it is how the hotel or bar takes care of you. El servei és inclòs — service is included in the price
- el número d'esperaqueue ticketHonestly "the number of waiting": a paper from the machine in the waiting room. El tres — and you watch the screen like a lottery
- la finestretaservice windowA "little window": la finestreta — a diminutive of la finestra, you knew it. Papers are passed through it, and voices are raised
- la recepcióreception deskYou knew the hotel reception; the front desk is the same la recepció: at the clinic, the firm, the consulate. The one who decides whether you are admitted sits there
- el visitantvisitorThe one who comes on a visit; about a woman — la visitant. A relative of la visita, the visit
- la consultaa consultationYou knew the doctor's consultation; here it is the talk with a specialist and their opinion. It can be medical, legal and free — the last is the best loved
- el pagament anticipatprepaymentHonestly "a payment made in advance": el pagament you knew, anticipat — done ahead. It is asked where one guards one's time
- urgentneeding attention right now, without delayNeeded now, not after lunch; it does not change by gender or number. The engine word of queues: és urgent jumps the line
- sense cita prèviawithout an appointmentHonestly "without a prior appointment": la cita you knew from the doctor. This is how one goes to the clinic in the morning and to the hairdresser on Thursday
- amb cita prèviaby appointmentHonestly "with a prior appointment": the pair of sense cita prèvia. Documents, tests and interviews — only so
- el temps més properthe nearest timeHonestly "the nearest time": proper you knew as close. Al temps més proper is the answer when there is no exact date yet
- la reparació del mòbilphone repairHonestly "the repair of the mobile": la reparació you met in repairs. The repairperson names the price in five minutes
- la manicuramanicuremoo-nee-KOO-ruh — both the procedure and the salon: anar a la manicura. Booked on Saturdays, a week ahead
- el massatgemassagemoo-SAH-tzhuh — the double s holds the short vowel. After it the back says gràcies, and the wallet does not
- la reserva en líniaonline bookingHonestly "a booking in the line": la reserva you knew as a booking. You pick the day and hour without leaving the pijama
- el preu del serveiprice of the serviceHonestly "the price of the service": el preu you knew as the fare. Ask before, wonder less after
- l'autoescoladriving schoolA school with a steering wheel instead of notebooks. The green sign on the street — and forever someone's first exam
- la classe de conducciódriving lessonHonestly "the lesson of driving": conduir you knew as to drive a car. In every city there is an instructor who says tranquil twenty times an hour
- l'escombriairestreet sweeperLiterally "the sweep-man": from escombrar, to sweep, you knew it. In the morning he knows more about the city than the news
- el músic de carrerstreet musicianHonestly "the musician of the street": el músic you knew, el carrer too. His stage is the sidewalk, his hall is the whole day
- la llogadora de cotxescar rentalLiterally "the hirer of cars": from llogar, to hire, you knew it in the rental. They look at you, at the card and at the gasoline
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.
- Conec un restaurant bo i baratI know a good, inexpensive restaurant
- Girona és una ciutat tranquil·laGirona is a quiet city
- Visc al carrer Major, a sobre de la farmàciaI live on Carrer Major, above the pharmacy
- La botiga de l'angle obre els diumengesThe shop on the corner opens on Sundays
- Els dissabtes vaig al mercat a comprar fruitaOn Saturdays I go to the market for fruit
- Hi ha una farmàcia per aquí a prop?Is there a pharmacy near here?
What is worth knowing about these words
el restaurant — restaurant. Masculine. As in Spain, people more often go to el bar: morning coffee, lunch and an evening beer all happen there
la ciutat — city. Feminine, like everything in -tat. Stress at the end: seeyoo-TAT. The mid-dot in tranquil·la nearby is that same dot
el carrer — street. With two r's: the first is short, between vowels it trills. Addresses abbreviate it: c/ Major, 12
la botiga — shop. Catalonia's own word: the Spanish tienda is not used here. Botiga de tot — a shop of a little bit of everything
Test yourself
Recalling a spelling from meaning is harder than recognizing a familiar word — and therefore more useful.
- How do you say “restaurant” in Catalan?
Masculine. As in Spain, people more often go to el bar: morning coffee, lunch and an evening beer all happen there
- How do you say “station” in Catalan?
Both the subway station and the train station: l'estació de metro, l'estació de tren. Before a vowel la shrinks to l'
- How do you say “traffic jam” in Catalan?
Literally "a jamming": hi ha embús — there is a jam. Not the Spanish atasco — its own word
- How do you say “theater” in Catalan?
A relative of theater with an e instead of an a. The main stage of Valencia is the Teatre Principal, the oldest in the city
- How do you say “hair salon” in Catalan?
From perruquer, the hairdresser. The salon's mistress is la perruquera: gender lives in the ending
How to learn the set instead of just reading it
Street, square, pharmacy, bank. An address is built out of these, and an address is something you have to both say and understand.
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 timesAdesope, 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 timesMawson & 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.
Frequently asked
How do you say “restaurant” in Catalan?
«el restaurant». Masculine. As in Spain, people more often go to el bar: morning coffee, lunch and an evening beer all happen there. It is one of 157 words in the set “the city and its places” — the rest are in the table above.
How many street and place words do you need to start?
A dozen is enough. The set of 157 words on this page covers nearly every everyday case on the topic — but it is best taken a few at a time, not all at once.