Menu
English
РусскийEnglishEspañol

Home and things in Catalan

230 words in Catalan on the topic “home and things”: la casa — house, l'habitatge — housing, l'habitació — room, la cuina — kitchen. 230 words can be played from recordings.

Updated September 1, 2026 · Lingofly

230 words on the topic

  • la casa
    house
    A casa without the article means 'at home'; a la casa — inside the specific building. The ear hears the difference
  • l'habitatge
    housing
    The bookish 'housing in general': ads say habitatges de lloguer — housing for rent. The specific flat is el pis
  • l'habitació
    room
    Do not mix up with l'habitatge, housing as a whole. Habitació doble — a room for two: that is how hotels write it
  • la cuina
    kitchen
    Both the room and the cooking: la cuina catalana — Catalan cuisine. The one who cooks is el cuiner
  • el bany
    bathroom
    Both the bathroom and the bath: prendre un bany — to take a bath. In ads: pis amb dos banys
  • el balcó
    balcony
    With the accent: buhl-KOH. Al balcó hi ha flors — flowers on the balcony, a classic of Catalan streets
  • la planta
    floor (story)
    The same word is 'plant': context divides. Planta baixa — the ground floor, quarta planta — the fourth
  • l'ascensor
    lift
    A relative of French ascenseur. Old houses lack it — sense ascensor is written large and honestly
  • l'escala
    staircase
    Also a 'scale' and a 'scope'. The entrance stairwell is l'escala: 'Escala A' on the plate by the door
  • la taula
    table
    A taula! — to the table! — the call to lunch. Taula rodona — a round table, and negotiations
  • la cadira
    chair
    Catalonia's own word, not the Spanish silla: one of the first markers that Catalan is being spoken
  • el llit
    bed
    One syllable. Anar al llit — to go to bed, literally 'to go to the bed'
  • l'armari
    wardrobe
    A relative of French armoire. Armari de cuina — a kitchen cupboard
  • la finestra
    window
    Finestra oberta — an open window; Catalan streets talk through them
  • la porta
    door
    The flat's door and the car's door. Porta veïnal — the entrance door of the building
  • la clau
    key
    The same word for a door key and a figurative one: «la clau del wifi» — the wifi password. Plural: «claus»
  • el llum
    lamp
    With «el» it is a lamp, with «la» it is light: «la llum del sol» — sunlight. Plural «els llums» — lamps
  • l'aigua calenta
    hot water
    Aigua is feminine but takes l' before the stressed a. No hi ha aigua calenta — the phrase that starts the call to the landlord
  • l'electricitat
    electricity
    In daily life they say it short: la llum — the light. La factura de la llum — the power bill, the most discussed document
  • la brossa
    trash
    Contenidor de brossa — a trash container, brossa orgànica — food waste. The sorting here is strict
  • la neteja
    cleaning
    From netejar, to clean. Persona de la neteja — a cleaner, productes de neteja — cleaning products
  • el rentat
    laundry (washing)
    From rentar, to wash. Rentadora — the washing machine, rentaplats — the dishwasher: one family of roots
  • la vaixella
    dishes
    A collective with one long ll: vaee-SHE-lya. Hence vaixell, a ship: dishes once 'sailed' in sets
  • la tovallola
    towel
    Feminine. Tovalló — of the same family, but it's a napkin, not a towel: close words, different things
  • el sabó
    soap
    With the stressed -ó at the end: suh-BOH. Sabó de Marsella — Marseille soap: it washes everything here
  • el veí
    neighbor
    With the accent: buh-EE. The neighbor woman is la veïna. Veïnat — neighborliness and the neighborhood
  • el propietari
    landlord
    In ads shortened to propiet., the owner. La propietària — the landlady
  • el lloguer
    rent
    lyoo-GER: the ll is ly. Pis de lloguer — a flat to let, preu del lloguer — the rent price: a word from every ad
  • el contracte
    contract
    A relative of contract. Contracte de lloguer — the rental contract: read it to the signature
  • la fiança
    deposit
    Fee-AN-suh. Usually one month of rent: una fiança d'un mes. It comes back if everything is intact
  • la factura
    utility bill
    A bill in general: for light, water, phone. Les factures les paga el propietari — the landlord pays the bills: ask in advance
  • la reforma
    renovation
    Not a reform of the state but a renovation: pis reformat — a renovated flat, it sells for more
  • hi ha soroll
    it's noisy
    Literally 'there is noise': Catalan describes the noise rather than naming it. Soroll de carrer — street noise, excused by cheap rent in ads
  • No funciona.
    it doesn't work
    The universal formula: about the lift, the light, the wifi. Point at the broken thing with a gesture and all is clear
  • S'ha espatllat.
    it broke down
    Literally 'it broke by itself': a reflexive form, the thing breaks 'at its own place'. The adjective is espatllat — broken
  • goteja
    it's leaking
    From gota, a drop: goteja — it drips. El sostre goteja — the ceiling leaks, another call to the landlord
  • Crideu un tècnic.
    call a repairperson
    Cridar is to call, to shout. Tècnic here is a fixer of everything; the landlord usually knows his own
  • Quan vindran?
    when will you come?
    The future of venir, to come: vindran — they will come. The polite way to ask about the repairperson
  • Espereu un moment.
    wait a moment
    Espereu — wait, to several people politely. Valencian says the same; the central norm often says espera
  • Està tot bé.
    it's all fine
    Literally 'everything is found well'. The repairperson says it leaving; you answer perfecte
  • No puc obrir.
    I can't open it
    puc is "I can", from poder; obrir is "to open". Door, window, jar — it works with everything
  • llogar un pis
    to rent a flat
    Llogar — both to rent and to let out: a two-way verb, like hire. El pis — the flat: in Catalan it is both the floor and the flat at once
  • posar el pis en lloguer
    to let a flat
    Literally "to put the flat out for rent": letting here is a "setting out". El propietari — the landlord: he decides
  • el contracte de lloguer
    rental contract
    Two plain words assembled into one: contracte + lloguer. In Spain the minimum is five years: read the term before signing
  • la renda
    rent (payment)
    Feminine: la renda. Both income in taxes and rent in a contract: context divides. La renda puja — the phrase of every year
  • la durada del contracte
    lease term
    From durar, to last: the term here is a "duration". Un any, prorrogable — a year, renewable: the wording from the contract
  • l'agent immobiliari
    real estate agent
    Literally "an agent of real estate": l'immoble — from the Latin "immovable". He usually takes a month's payment for the work
  • la visita del pis
    flat viewing
    Literally "a visit of the flat": viewing here is done by "visit". Book in advance: good flats fly away in a day
  • el pis moblat
    furnished flat
    Literally "a flat furnished": moblat, from moblar — to furnish, and els mobles — the furniture. Walk in and live: a suitcase is the entire decor
  • entrar a viure
    to move in
    Literally "to enter to live": moving in here is an "entering" of the new life. The move-in date stands in the contract — l'entrada
  • deixar el pis
    to move out
    Literally "to leave the flat": moving out here is a "leaving". The landlord is warned in advance — a rule of the contract
  • la mudança
    the move
    A relative of the Spanish mudanza: a move here is a "change" of place. El dia de la mudança — moving day: label the boxes in advance
  • mudar-se
    to move house
    Reflexive, like the Spanish mudarse: one moves 'at one's own place' — em mudo. La mudança is its name
  • el mosso
    mover
    El mosso — a handy lad: a relative of the Spanish mozo, but its own. Movers are also called in full: mosso de mudances
  • el camió
    truck
    Stress on the last syllable: ca-mi-O. Unlike Spanish «camión», there is no final «n»
  • empaquetar
    to pack up
    From el paquet — the package: packing here is "packeting". The boxes are capses: look for the tape in advance
  • desempaquetar
    to unpack
    The same verb with des-: unpacking here is "un-packeting". Its joy is finding the forgotten things
  • l'adreça nova
    new address
    L'adreça — the address, here with a new adjective. The adjective comes after the noun: adreça nova
  • el transport de les coses
    moving of things
    Literally "the transport of things": les coses — the things. Firms charge by boxes and floors: without a lift it is dearer
  • instal·lar-se
    to settle in
    With the mid-dot: to "install oneself", like an appliance on the shelf
  • acostumar-se al lloc nou
    to get used to the new place
    Acostumar-se — to get accustomed, a relative of costume: habit here is 'one's own custom'. One gets used to the place 'at the place', with the preposition a
  • els mobles
    furniture
    Only plural: els mobles. One item is un moble; the shops are simply called Mobles
  • el sofà
    sofa
    Stress on the last syllable: so-FA. People sleep on it and watch TV on it
  • la butaca
    armchair
    Feminine: la butaca. The same word is the theater seat: chosen just as long
  • el prestatge
    shelf
    Not the Spanish estante: its own word. A bookshelf is the same: un prestatge de llibres
  • la catifa
    carpet
    From Arabic qaṭīfa — velvet. Stress: ca-TI-fa. A carpet in Spanish is «alfombra»
  • el mirall
    mirror
    The double ll is a soft ly at the end. From mirar, to look: a mirror here is a "looker"
  • la cortina
    drape
    A relative of the theater curtain. They live in pairs, hence more often plural: les cortines
  • el coixí
    cushion
    With the accent on the í. On the sofa and on the bed — one word
  • la manta
    blanket
    Feminine, like the Spanish manta. Agafar una manta — to cover oneself with a blanket: the verb here is "take"
  • l'aranya
    chandelier
    Literally "the spider": a chandelier with its arms spread like legs. El llustre means shine, not a chandelier
  • la pintura
    paint
    Both paint and painting: from pintar. The color is picked from a carta de colors — a fan of samples
  • pintar les parets
    to paint the walls
    La paret — the wall, in the plural parets. The color goes with the preposition de: pintar de blanc — paint white
  • el paper pintat
    wallpaper
    Literally "painted paper", like the Spanish papel pintado. It is glued on — enganxar
  • la rajola
    tile
    Both ceramic tile and paving stone — one word. Not the Spanish azulejo: its own word
  • el tornavís
    screwdriver
    Literally "turn-screw": tornar + vis. A tool with the instruction in its name — Catalan practicality
  • el trepant
    drill (tool)
    From trepar, to drill: a drill here is a "driller". The neighbors hear it through the walls
  • la canonada
    pipe
    From «canó», tube, barrel. A water pipe is «la canonada d'aigua»
  • la bombeta s'ha fos
    the bulb has blown
    La bombeta — the bulb, and s'ha fos — "has melted": a blowout here is a melting. The same construction as a dead battery
  • la calefacció
    heating
    Feminine. Central heating is «la calefacció central»: all the neighbours pay together
  • fer una reforma
    to do renovations
    La reforma — the renovation: here it is "done", the verb fer. Les obres — the works: at the neighbors they are eternal
  • el comptador
    meter
    From comptar, to count: a meter here is a "counter". There are several in the stairwell: light, water, gas — one each
  • la lectura del comptador
    meter reading
    Literally "the reading of the meter": the readings are "read", not taken. Submit them on time — otherwise they will bill the maximum
  • la factura de l'aigua
    water bill
    La factura — the bill, now with water. L'aigua — the water: same words, a new bill
  • la factura de la llum
    electricity bill
    Electricity here is "light": la llum — light. In winter the bill puja — climbs: the radiators eat more
  • han tallat l'aigua
    the water is cut off
    Literally "they have cut the water": a shut-off here is a "cutting", from tallar — to cut. The construction han + participle: done without you
  • el contenidor
    trash container
    From contenir, to contain: a bin here is a "container". They are multicolored: each color is its own fraction, the sorting is strict here
  • el portal
    apartment entrance
    The same word as the entrance hall: here it is exactly the entrance of the house. El portal és tancat — the intercom door: the code is asked of the neighbors
  • el porter electrònic
    intercom
    Literally "an electronic gatekeeper": el porter — the goalkeeper and the concierge alike. It opens the door from the flat: obre des de casa
  • el soroll dels veïns
    noise from the neighbors
    El soroll — the noise, els veïns — the neighbors. After ten in the evening there is silence here: the house rule
  • les normes de la casa
    house rules
    Literally "the norms of the house": rules here are "norms", as in chemistry. They hang at the entrance: trash sorting, quiet, where bikes stand
  • el forn
    oven
    Masculine. The same forn as at the bakery: forn de pa — the bread oven. Posa el pastís al forn trenta minuts — a phrase for life
  • el microones
    microwave
    Literally "microwaves" — a physicist's word in the kitchen. In speech pressed to el micro: escalfa-ho al micro
  • el ratllador
    grater
    From ratllar — to grate: a grater here is a "grater-er". From the verb also la ratllada — the scratch: the same movement
  • el cullerot
    ladle
    An augmentative of la cullera — the spoon: a ladle here is a "big spoon". Soup is ladled with it, not spooned
  • la tapa
    lid
    To cover with a lid is «tapar». A «tapa» in a bar is also a snack with your wine
  • la taula de tallar
    cutting board
    Literally "a table for cutting": la taula — table, tallar — to cut. Wooden or plastic: de fusta o de plàstic
  • el davantal
    apron
    From davant — the front: an apron here is a 'front-er'. Put on before cooking: em poso el davantal abans de cuinar
  • les estovalles
    tablecloth
    Its own word, plural-only and feminine: les estovalles — like scissors. The white one — estovalles blanques — is for holidays
  • la batedora
    blender
    From batre — to beat: a blender here is a "beater". The immersion one is batedora de mà: a blender-hand
  • el recipient
    food container
    It means «container», not the English «recipient». Last night’s leftovers live in it till tomorrow
  • la pinta
    comb
    Feminine. To comb your hair is «pentinar-se»: the morning starts with both
  • la maquineta d'afaitar
    razor
    Literally "a little machine for shaving": afaitar — to shave. The electric one is elèctrica: the same word, only a longer wire
  • el xampú
    shampoo
    Written with the stress on the ú, a word of Indian origin. On the bottle look for per cabells tenyits — for dyed hair
  • les tisores
    scissors
    Only plural: two blades — two tisores. They cut everything: paper, fabric and — carefully — hair
  • l'agulla
    needle
    Feminine. The same word is the compass needle and the syringe needle: thin and sharp are named alike here
  • el fil
    thread
    Masculine. Hence el fil de notícies — the news feed: both the feed and the thread stretch. The color is specified after: fil negre
  • llençar
    to throw away
    With two l's: llençar is to throw away, while llançar with one is to throw a ball. The difference is in spelling, the meaning — in the bin
  • guardar
    to keep
    As in guardar diners — to save money: to keep here is to "guard". Things are kept in boxes: en una capsa
  • la rentadora
    washing machine
    From rentar — to wash: the machine here is a "washer". The program is el programa — the same word as the TV show's
  • el rentaplats
    dishwasher
    Literally "a dish-washer": from rentar els plats, to wash the dishes. The quarrel about who unloads it is eternal
  • el congelador
    freezer
    From congelar — to freeze. It lives on top of or under la nevera
  • el ventilador
    electric fan
    From vent — the wind: a fan here is a "winder". In summer it is in every house: fa calor: poso el ventilador
  • l'estufa
    heater
    Feminine. The winter partner of the fan: ventilador in summer, estufa in winter. La calefacció — the heating of the whole house
  • l'eixugador
    hair dryer
    From eixugar — to wipe dry: a dryer here is a 'drier'. The full name is l'eixugador de cabell: the hair comes in the set
  • la regleta
    power strip
    Literally "a little ruler": from regla, the ruler — long and with divisions. There are never enough outlets in a house — hence the regleta
  • l'interruptor
    light switch
    From «interrompre», to interrupt. Click — and «la llum» is gone
  • el cargol
    screw
    One word — both a screw and a snail: both "twist" in a spiral. Screws live in the toolbox, but you can meet both
  • la clau anglesa
    wrench
    Literally «English key». «La clau» is the same word as a door key
  • els alicates
    pliers
    Only plural — like scissors: two teeth go in a pair. They cut wires and hold nuts: tallen el cable
  • la cinta aïllant
    insulating tape
    Literally "an insulating tape": aïllar — to isolate, a relative of the island. Black, sticky, and holds everything it should not hold
  • la cola
    glue
    Feminine, though short like a drop. It glues everything: paper, a cup and — by the tube's promise — even metal
  • la cinta adhesiva
    tape (adhesive)
    Literally "an adhesive tape": adhesiu — sticky, a relative of adhesion. The sister of insulating tape, but transparent and less criminal
  • la corda
    rope
    Feminine, from the Latin chorda — the string: a rope here is a "thicker string". Tied and knotted: lligar
  • enganxar
    to stick on
    From el ganxo — the hook: to stick here is to 'hook on'. Everything sticks: a sticker, tape and a person who will not leave
  • enroscar
    to screw in (twist)
    From la rosca — the thread: to screw here is to 'thread into'. Screws are twisted, lids too: enrosca el cargol fins al final
  • mesurar
    to measure
    A measure is «la mesura». The golden rule of DIY: «primer mesura, després compra»
  • reparar amb les pròpies mans
    to fix with my own hands
    Literally "to repair with own hands": pròpies — one's own. The compliment to a maker: ho fa tot amb les pròpies mans
  • empènyer
    to push
    To push away from oneself: the door, the cart, the argument. To open this door one must push
  • estirar
    to stretch
    To pull, to stretch out: the arms, the rubber, the truth. Stretch your arms up and count to ten
  • la dutxa
    shower
    From the Catalan via the Arabic: the falling spray. After training I take a cold shower
  • el despertador
    alarm clock
    From despertar — to wake: the clock that wakes you. It rings at seven every morning
  • el termòmetre
    thermometer
    Literally "the heat-measurer": thermo + meter. We take the child's temperature with it
  • la torradora
    toaster
    From torrar — to toast: the machine that toasts. It smells of warm bread in the mornings
  • la màquina de cosir
    sewing machine
    Literally "a machine of sewing": cosir — to sew. Grandma mends all the clothes with it
  • decorar la casa
    to decorate the house
    From decorar — to adorn: the house is decorated for the feast. The children do it with drawings and lights
  • l'estrena de la casa
    housewarming
    The estrena of the premiere — a first use: here of a house. For it everyone brought bread and salt
  • treure's les sabates
    to take off one's shoes
    Literally "to take out the shoes": treure — to take out. A sign hangs on the house door: shoes off
  • la fonamentació
    foundation
    From fonament — the bottom, the base: the foundation is the "groundwork". The foundation of this house reaches the rock
  • l'acabat
    finish (surface)
    From acabar — to finish: the finish is the "finished" surface. The kitchen finish is light wood, without gloss
  • obrir
    to open
    oo-BREE. Obre la finestra, fa calor — open the window, it's hot. About books and shops too: la botiga obre a les nou
  • tancar
    to close
    tun-KAH. Tanca l'aixeta — turn off the tap; la botiga tanca a les vuit — the shop closes at eight
  • tancar amb clau
    to lock
    Honestly "to close with a key": tancar amb clau. Tanca amb clau la porta del traster — lock the storeroom door
  • obrir amb clau
    to unlock
    Honestly "to open with a key": obrir amb clau. Obrir amb clau el pany vell costa — unlocking the old lock is a job
  • encendre la llum
    to turn on the light
    To turn on the light is to "light" it: encendre. The same verb lights matches and the stove
  • apagar la llum
    to turn off the light
    To turn off the light is to "extinguish" it: apagar. It also puts out fires: a strong word
  • prémer
    to press
    PREH-mer. Prem el botó verd — press the green button. It also means to wring: laundry between the palms is premer too
  • girar el pom
    to turn the knob
    zhee-RAH ul POM: girar — to turn; el pom — the round knob of a door
  • picar
    to knock
    pee-KAH. Algú pica a la porta — someone is knocking. It also means "to chop": carn picada, minced meat
  • tocar el timbre
    to ring the doorbell
    too-KAH ul TEEM-bruh: a doorbell is touched — tocar. Trucar means to knock on a door or to phone
  • tallar amb tisores
    to cut with scissors
    tuh-LYAH um tee-ZOH-ruhs. Tallar — to cut; les tisores — scissors, always plural
  • pegar
    to glue
    puh-GAH. Pego l'etiqueta a la caixa — I glue the label onto the box. Enganxar is the same deed with another verb
  • cosir
    to sew
    koo-SEE. Cosiré la funda de coixí a mà — I will sew the pillowcase by hand. Needle and thread are the whole science of this verb
  • teixir
    to knit
    tuh-SHEE. La iaia teix una manta a l'hivern — grandma knits a blanket in winter: loop by loop
  • arreglar
    to fix
    uh-rruh-GLAH — to set right. Arreglar la nevera — to fix the fridge; fixed is arreglat
  • estavellar
    to shatter
    To break to pieces: he estavellat el got — I shattered the glass; now it is trencat, broken
  • ratllar
    to scratch
    rruh-LYAH. El gat ha ratllat la taula nova — the cat scratched the new table. It also means "to grate": ratllar formatge
  • tacar
    to stain
    tuh-KAH. El vi ha tacat l'estora blanca — the wine stained the white rug. The stain is la taca: verb and thing of one family
  • netejar
    to clean
    nuh-tuh-ZHAH. Netejo la taula abans de dinar — I wipe the table before lunch; the cleaning is la neteja
  • treure la pols
    to dust
    Honestly "to take out the dust": treure la pols. La pols is dust and powder: context divides
  • fer la bugada
    to do the laundry
    Literally "to make the wash": fer la bugada. La bugada is both the washing and the pile of washed things
  • assecar
    to dry
    us-suh-KAH. Assecaré els plats amb un drap net — I will dry the dishes with a clean rag; dry is sec
  • passar la planxa
    to do the ironing
    Literally "to pass the iron": passar la planxa. La planxa is the iron: the same root as planxar, to iron
  • fregar el terra
    to mop the floor
    froo-GAHR ul TEH-rruh: fregar is to scrub. Frego el terra del bany cada divendres — I mop the bathroom floor every Friday
  • ventilar
    to air out
    ven-tee-LAH. Obro la finestra per ventilar l'habitació — I open the window to air the room. Fresh air is aire fresc
  • regar les flors
    to water the flowers
    rruh-GAHR lus FLOSS. Rega — he waters: rego, regs, rega. The watering can is el regador, the same family
  • plantar
    to plant
    pun-TAH. Plantaré un tomàquet a l'hort — I will plant a tomato in the vegetable garden: what they say in spring
  • cavar
    to dig
    kuh-VAH. El gos cava un forat al jardí — the dog digs a hole in the garden: for bones, of course
  • reescriure
    to rewrite
    Literally "to write again". He reescrit la carta sense faltes — I rewrote the letter without mistakes
  • teclejar
    to type
    tuh-kluh-ZHAH — to rattle the keys: from la tecla, the key. Typed with two fingers or ten
  • la sala d'estar
    living room
    Feminine: literally "the room for being" — the one with the sofa. El menjador is the dining room
  • el rebedor
    entryway
    rruh-buh-DOH — literally 'the receiving room': where guests are received. Coats and keys live here
  • el passadís
    hallway
    poo-ssu-DEES — "a passing": el passadís. El passadís és estret i llarg — the hallway is narrow and long
  • el traster
    storeroom
    troos-TEH — the cupboard for what one is loath to throw away. Boxes to the ceiling: the classic
  • el llindar
    threshold
    lyeen-DAH: the double ll gives a soft ly. Aneu amb compte amb el llindar — mind the threshold: people trip over it
  • la maneta
    door handle
    muh-NEH-tuh — feminine, the 'little hand', from la mà. El picaporta is the door knocker, not the handle
  • el pany
    lock
    PAHN. Al pany nou li cal una clau nova — the new lock needs a new key
  • el timbre
    doorbell
    Both the school bell and the doorbell are el timbre. Algú ha tocat el timbre dues vegades
  • l'ampit de la finestra
    windowsill
    l'ampit de la finestra. The cat counts it its own armchair
  • la cortineta
    curtain
    koor-tee-NEH-tuh — a little curtain: la cortineta. La cortina is the big drape; the kitchen lives in the diminutive
  • la bombeta
    light bulb
    boom-BEH-tuh — a "little bomb" of light, feminine: la bombeta. Aquesta bombeta dura molt — this bulb lasts long
  • la llanterna
    flashlight
    lyahn-TEHR-nuh: la llanterna. La llanterna vella ja no encén — the old flashlight does not light anymore
  • el llum de capçal
    night light
    Named domestically: el llum de capçal — the lamp at the head of the bed. Capçal — the headboard
  • l'aixeta
    tap
    eye-SHEH-tuh, feminine. Tanca l'aixeta! — turn off the tap: a phrase from every kitchen
  • la pica
    sink
    PEE-kuh — the kitchen sink. A la pica hi ha plats bruts — there are dirty dishes in the sink
  • la banyera
    bathtub
    buh-NYEH-ruh — from el bany, the bath. Omplen la banyera d'aigua calenta
  • el vàter
    toilet
    VAH-ter: el vàter — an international word, like the object itself. The family way to say it is la tassa — "the cup"
  • la mànega
    hose
    MAH-nuh-guh: la mànega. Amb la mànega rego el jardí — with the hose I water the garden: in summer there is no way without it
  • els llumins
    matches
    lyoo-MEENS — always plural: els llumins. No juguis amb els llumins! — do not play with matches!
  • l'encenedor
    lighter
    un-suh-noo-DOH — "the lighter". He perdut l'encenedor: prenc un llumí
  • la fregona
    mop
    fruh-GOH-nuh: from fregar — to scrub, to mop. Passo la fregona pel terra de la cuina — I run the mop over the kitchen floor
  • el drap
    rag
    Both a rag and a household towel. Mulla el drap abans de fregar — wet the rag before scrubbing
  • l'escombra
    broom
    us-KOM-bruh: l'escombra. L'escombra nova és de plàstic — the new broom is plastic; to sweep is escombrar
  • la pala
    dustpan
    PAH-luh — a little shovel, the broom's partner. Recullo el paper trencat amb la pala — I gather the torn paper with the dustpan
  • la pols
    dust
    Both powder and dust are la pols: aquesta habitació està plena de pols — the room is full of dust
  • la brutícia
    dirt
    broo-TEE-see-uh: la brutícia — from brut, dirty. La brutícia del carrer entra amb les sabates
  • el detergent
    detergent
    doo-ter-ZHEN, an international word. He posat detergent a la bugada — I put detergent in the wash
  • passar l'aspirador
    to vacuum
    Literally "to pass the vacuum": passar l'aspirador. El terra — the floor: what gets vacuumed, like what gets mopped
  • escombrar el terra
    to sweep the floor
    Honestly "to sweep the floor": escombrar el terra — from l'escombra, the broom. First sweep, then mop
  • posar ordre
    to tidy up
    Literally "to put order". Cada vespre posem ordre a la sala — every evening we tidy the room
  • el rellotge de paret
    wall clock
    Honestly "the clock of the wall". El rellotge de paret marca les sis — the wall clock shows six
  • l'estora
    rug
    us-TOH-ruh, feminine. Al costat del llit hi ha una estora tova — a soft rug by the bed
  • el cobertor
    blanket
    koo-boor-TOH — masculine, a light cover that lives on the sofa; la cobertora is a pot lid. Amb el cobertor als genolls — with the blanket on the knees
  • la funda de coixí
    pillowcase
    Honestly "the cover of the pillow": la funda de coixí. La funda — a cover: pillowcase, case, book jacket — one word
  • el cobrellit
    bedspread
    koo-bruh-LYEET — literally 'the bed-covering'. It goes on top of everything: the bed looks dressed at once
  • el ganxo
    hook
    GAHN-shoo: el ganxo. Penja l'abric al ganxo — hang the coat on the hook: there are many in the entryway
  • el marc de fotos
    photo frame
    Literally "a frame of photos": el marc de fotos. El marc de fotos nou ja penja al menjador
  • el gerro
    vase
    ZHEH-rru: el gerro — both a vase and a jug: context divides. Hi ha flors fresques al gerro
  • el test
    flower pot
    Both a test and a flower pot are el test: a Latin word that has lived two lives. He posat el gerd a un test més gran
  • el bagul
    chest
    boo-GOOL: el bagul — an old chest with a lid that opens upward. Al bagul guardo les mantes d'hivern
  • eixugar
    to wipe dry
    ay-shoo-GAH. Eixuga la taula amb un drap sec — wipe the table with a dry rag. It also means to dry: where you wiped, it is dry
  • trepar
    to drill
    truh-PAH — the drill here is el trepant. Cal trepar la paret per penjar el marc
  • clavar un clau
    to hammer in a nail
    La clau is the key; a nail is the same clau: the hammer blow divides them
  • cargolar
    to screw in
    kar-goo-LAHR — to tighten with a screw: from el cargol, the screw. Cargola bé els cargols de la cadira trencada
  • muntar un moble
    to assemble furniture
    Literally "to mount the furniture": muntar un moble. Instructions, a screwdriver, three hours: the Saturday classic
  • desmuntar
    to disassemble
    The same muntar with des-: to un-mount. Everything can be assembled and disassembled again
  • omplir
    to fill
    oom-PLEE. Ompliré la pica d'aigua calenta — I will fill the sink with hot water. About forms too: omplir el document
  • pegar amb cinta
    to tape shut
    Literally "to glue with tape": la cinta adhesiva is tape. The box is taped — and all is in order
  • aclarir
    to rinse
    Both "to clarify" and "to rinse": aclarir la roba. The same thought: remove the excess, murky or foggy
  • fer el llit
    to make the bed
    Literally "to make the bed": fer el llit. Fes el llit abans de sortir — make the bed before going out: the morning habit
  • s'ha anat la llum
    the power is out
    Literally 'the light has gone away': s'ha anat la llum — from anar-se'n, to go away. The light comes back by itself: ha tornat la llum
  • l'aixeta perd aigua
    the tap leaks
    Literally 'the tap loses water': l'aixeta perd aigua. One could not say it more honestly: the water drips, the tap keeps quiet
  • el radiador no escalfa
    the radiator doesn't heat
    Said honestly: el radiador no escalfa. Fa fred a casa — it's cold at home: usually this very reason
  • l'endoll no funciona
    the outlet doesn't work
    Said honestly: l'endoll no funciona. L'endoll is both the outlet and the plug: you stick it in — and it does not work
  • la porta no es tanca
    the door won't close
    Said honestly: la porta no es tanca — 'it does not close itself'. The cause is almost always below: the hinges
  • engreixar les frontisses
    to oil the hinges
    Literally "to fatten the hinges": engreixar les frontisses. Engreixar also means to fatten up: creaky hinges ask for food too
  • canviar el pany
    to change the lock
    Honestly "to swap the lock": canviar el pany. Canviar el pany és més barat que canviar la porta
  • posar una bombeta nova
    to put in a new bulb
    Literally "to put a new bulb": posar una bombeta nova — bombeta is feminine, so una and nova. Switch down, bulb up — and there is light again
  • reparar la cadira
    to repair the chair
    ruh-puh-RAH luh koo-DEE-ruh: reparar — to repair. Reparar la cadira trencada és feina de dissabte
  • gotejar
    to drip
    goo-tuh-ZHAHR. L'aixeta goteja tota la nit — the tap dripped all night. Each drop is una gota: the verb grew out of it

Download the word set (CSV) · Open the printable sheet

The CSV contains spelling, reading guides, translations and links to word pages. Use the browser menu to save the printable sheet as a PDF.

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.

What is worth knowing about these words

la casa — house. A casa without the article means 'at home'; a la casa — inside the specific building. The ear hears the difference.

l'habitatge — housing. The bookish 'housing in general': ads say habitatges de lloguer — housing for rent. The specific flat is el pis.

l'habitació — room. Do not mix up with l'habitatge, housing as a whole. Habitació doble — a room for two: that is how hotels write it.

la cuina — kitchen. Both the room and the cooking: la cuina catalana — Catalan cuisine. The one who cooks is el cuiner.

Test yourself

First by ear — the way you will meet the word in conversation. Click the speaker and pick the translation.

  1. What is this word?

  2. What is this word?

  3. What is this word?

  4. What is this word?

  5. What is this word?

Now the other way around: recall the spelling from the meaning. That is harder, and therefore more useful.

  1. How do you say “house” in Catalan?

  2. How do you say “lift” in Catalan?

  3. How do you say “door” in Catalan?

  4. How do you say “laundry (washing)” in Catalan?

  5. How do you say “contract” in Catalan?

How to learn the set instead of just reading it

Room, key, water, electricity. You will need them on your first day in a rented flat.

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.

Frequently asked

How do you say “house” in Catalan?

«la casa». A casa without the article means 'at home'; a la casa — inside the specific building. The ear hears the difference. It is one of 230 words in the set “home and things” — the rest are in the table above.

How many household words do you need to start?

The whole set on this page is 230 words, but there is no need to start with all of it: the words you will need in the next few days are enough. Take them a few at a time — five to seven new ones per session.

Is there audio?

Yes, 230 words on this page can be played — click the speaker next to the word. The sound works on any phone, and nothing needs to be installed.

Next

Open the materialOpen the material