Vowels
To know how to pronounce vowels in Catalan, is necessary to know the strong syllable of the word. a, i, o change if are in the strong syllable or a weak one.
a
like a in “apple” if in the strong syllable or e in “over” if in a weak syllable
e
like e in “bed” or ea in “bear” if in the strong syllable or e in “over” if in a weak syllable
i
like ee in “bee”
o
like the first component of the diphthong ow in “low” or o in “bond” if in the strong syllable or oo in “hoop” if in a weak syllable
u
like oo in “hoop”
In the case of e and o in a strong syllable, you can only know how it sounds if has the accent sign. è sounds always as e in “bed”, é sounds as ea in “bear”, ò sounds as o in “bond” and ó sounds as the first component of the diphthong ow in “low”.
Consonants
b
like b in “bed”
c
when followed by e or i, like c in “cell”, otherwise like k in “kid”
ç
like c in “cell”
d
like d in “dog”
f
like f in “fine”
g
when followed by e or i, like j in “james”, otherwise like “g” in “go” (in the clusters “gue” and “gui”, the “u” is silent, unless it bears a diaeresis, as in “güe” and “güi”)
gu, gü
like Gu in McGuire or w in “wire”
h
silent
j
like j in “james”
k
like c in “cat”
l
like l in “love”
ll
like lli in “million” (palatized l)
l•l
like l in “love”
m
like m in “mother”
n
like n in “nice”, and like n in “anchor”
ny
like ny in “canyon”
p
like p in “pig”
q
like q in “quiche” (always with a silent “u”)
r
like tt in “butter”; except at the beginning of a word, or after “l” and “n”
r
like r in “row”; at the beginning of a word, or after “l” and “n”
rr
like rr in “mirror”; identical to the sound above
s
like ss in “hiss” except when is between vowels, when it sounds like z in “zone”.
ss
like ss in “hiss”. Always goes between vowels.
t
like t in “top”
v
like b in “bed”
w
like w in “weight” in English words, like b in “bed” in Germanic words
x
like sh in “short”, except if is between two vowels, when sounds like cks in “kicks”
z
like z in “zone”
Basics
Hello (informal).
Hola. (OH-lah). For the formal equivalent of “hola” see good morning, good afternoon, good evening, below.
How are you?
Com estàs? (KOH-m ehss-TAHSS?) (informal); Com està? (KOH-m ehss-TAH?) (formal)
Fine, thank you.
Molt bé, gracies.
What is your name?
Com et dius? (informal); Com es diu? (formal)
My name is ______ .
Em dic ______ .
Nice to meet you.
Molt de gust.
Please.
Si us plau.
Thank you.
Gràcies. OR Mercès.
Youre welcome.
No hi fa res.
Yes.
Sí. (SEE)
No.
No. (NOH)
Excuse me. (getting attention)
Dispensi.
Excuse me. (begging pardon)
Perdoni.
Im sorry.
Em sap greu.
Goodbye
Adéu.
I cant speak Catalan [well].
No parlo [bé] el català.
Do you speak English?
Parles anglès? (informal) OR Que parla anglès?
Is there someone here who speaks English?
Que hi ha algú que parli anglès?
Help!
Ajuda! Auxili!
Good morning.
Bon dia.
Good afternoon.
Bona tarda.
Good evening (when its dark)
Bon vespre.
Good night.
Bona nit.
I dont understand.
No ho entenc.
Where is the toilet?
On és el lavabo?
Problems
Leave me alone.
Deixam en pau!
Dont touch me!
No em toquis! (nom-TOH-kees)
Ill call the police.
Trucaré la policia!
Police!
Policia! (poo-lee-SEE-ah)
Stop! Thief!
Al lladre!
I need help.
Necessito la teva ajuda.
Its an emergency.
És una emergència.
Im lost.
Mhe perdut.
I lost my bag.
He perdut la meva bossa.
I lost my wallet.
He perdut la meva cartera/bitlletera.
Im sick.
Estic malalt. (woman: Estic malalta.)
Ive been injured.
Estic ferit/ferida.
I need a doctor.
Necessito un metge. (nah-sir-see-toom-MEH-djer)
Can I use your phone?
Puc utilitzar el seu telèfon?
Numbers
1
u/una (Male/Female) (OON/OO-nah)
2
dos/dues (Male/Female) (DOHS/DOO-ges)
3
tres (TRREHS)
4
quatre (KWA-trer)
5
cinc (SEENK)
6
sis(SEES)
7
set (SET)
8
vuit
9
nou
10
deu (DEOO)
11
onze
12
dotze
13
tretze
14
catorze (kaTORzer)
15
quinze (KEENzer)
16
setze (SETzer)
17
disset (deeSSET)
18
divuit
19
dinou
20
vint
21
vint-i-u
22
vint-i-dos
23
vint-i-tres
30
trenta
31
trenta-u
40
quaranta
50
cinquanta
60
seixanta
70
setanta
80
vuitanta
90
noranta
100
cent (SENT)
200
dos-cents
300
tres-cents
1000
mil (MEEL)
2000
dos mil
1,000,000
un milió
1,000,000,000
mil milions
1,000,000,000,000
un bilió
number _____ (train, bus, etc.)
número _____
half
mig (MEECH)
less
menys
Time
now
ara (AR-ah)
later
després
before
abans
morning
matí
afternoon
tarda
evening
vespre
night
nit
Clock
Note: Catalan expresses time informally using a scheme based on quarters of hour:
un quart de X = (X-1) hour + 15 minutes, or 45 minutes before X hour
dos quarts de X = (X-1) hour + 30 minutes, or 30 minutes before X hour
tres quarts de X = (X-1) hour + 45 minutes, or 15 minutes before X hour
the X hour
les X
the X hour in the early morning/morning/midday/afternoon/evening/night
les X de la matinada /matí/migdia/tarda/vespre/nit
one oclock AM
la una de la matinada (literally the one in the early morning)
two oclock AM
les dues de la matinada
noon
migdia (literally half day)
one oclock PM
la una de la tarda
two oclock PM
les dues de la tarda
midnight
mitjanit
Duration
_____ minute(s)
_____ minut(s)
_____ hour(s)
_____ hors(hores)
_____ day(s)
_____ dia(dies)
_____ week(s)
_____ setmana(setmanes)
_____ month(s)
_____ mes(mesos)
_____ year(s)
_____ any(s)
Days
today
avui (a-BOOY)
yesterday
ahir
tomorrow
demà
this week
aquesta setmana
last week
la setmana passada
next week
la setmana que ve
Sunday
Diumenge
Monday
Dilluns
Tuesday
Dimarts
Wednesday
Dimecres
Thursday
Dijous
Friday
Divendres
Saturday
Dissabte
Months
January
Gener
February
Febrer
March
Març
April
Abril
May
Maig
June
Juny
July
Juliol
August
Agost
September
Setembre
October
Octubre
November
Novembre
December
Desembre
Writing
June 13th of 2004
tretze (13) de juny de 2004
COLOR
black
negre
white
blanc
gray
gris
red
vermell
blue
blau
yellow
groc
green
verd
orange
taronja
purple
lila
Brown
Transportation
Bus and train
How much is a ticket to _____?
Quant val el bitllet per anar a _____?
A single ticket to _____, please.
Un bitllet senzill a _____, si us plau.
A return ticket to _____, please.
Un bitllet danada i tornada a ____, si us plau.
Where does this train/bus go?
A on va, aquest tren/autobus?
Where is the train/bus to _____?
On és el tren/autobus que va a _____?
Does this train/bus stop in _____?
Aquest tren/autobus para a _____?
When does the train/bus for _____ leave?
Quan marxa, el tren/autobus que va a _____?
When will this train/bus arrive in _____?
Quan arribarà aquest tren/autobus a _____?
Directions
How do I get to _____ ?
Com puc arribar _____ ?
…the train station?
…a lestació de tren?
…the bus station?
…a lestació dautobusos?
…the airport?
…a laeroport?
…downtown?
…al centre?
…the youth hostel?
…a lalberg de joventut?
…the _____ hotel?
…a lhotel _____?
…the American/Canadian/Australian/British consulate?
…al consulat dEstats Units/Canadà/Austràlia/Regne Unit?
Where are there a lot of…
On hi ha molts…
…hotels?
…hotels?
…restaurants?
…restaurants?
…bars?
…bars?
…sites to see?
…llocs per visitar?
Can you show me on the map?
Pots indicar-me al mapa?
street
carrer
Turn left.
Tomba a lesquerra.
Turn right.
Tomba a la dreta.
left
esquerra
right
dreta
straight ahead
endavant
towards the _____
cap a _____
past the _____
després de _____
before the _____
abans de _____
Watch for the _____.
Vigila el/la/els/les _____.
intersection
intersecció
north
nord
south
sud
east
est
west
oest
uphill
cap amunt
downhill
cap avall
Taxi
Taxi!
Taxi! (TAHK-see)
Take me to _____, please.
Portam a _____, si us plau.
How much does it cost to get to _____?
Quant costa anar a _____?
Take me there, please.
Portam allà, si us plau.
LOdging
Do you have any rooms available?
Teniu alguna habitació disponible?
How much is a room for one person/two people?
Quant costa una habitació per una/dues persona/persones?
Does the room come with…
Lhabitació té…
…bedsheets?
…llençols?
…a bathroom?
…lavabo?
…a telephone?
…telèfon?
…a TV?
…televisió?
May I see the room first?
Puc veure lhabitació, abans?
Do you have anything quieter?
No hi ha res més silenciós?
…bigger?
…més gran?
…cleaner?
…més net?
…cheaper?
…més barat?
OK, Ill take it.
Dacord, lagafo.
I will stay for _____ night(s).
Em quedaré _____ nit(s).
Can you suggest another hotel?
Em podeu suggerir un altre hotel?
Do you have a safe lockers?
Teniu caixa de seguretat?
Is breakfast/supper included?
Lesmorzar/ el sopar estan inclosos?
What time is breakfast/supper?
Quan sesmorza/se sopa?
Please clean my room.
Si us plau, netegeu la meva habitació.
Can you wake me at _____?
Em podeu llevar a les _____?
I want to check out.
Vull marxar.
Money
Do you accept American/Australian/Canadian dollars?
Accepteu dòlars americans/australians/canadencs?
Do you accept British pounds?
Accepteu lliures esterlines?
Do you accept credit cards?
Accepteu targes de crèdit?
Can you change money for me?
Pot canviar-me diners?
Where can I get money changed?
On puc canviar diners?
Can you change a travelers check for me?
Pot canviar-me xecs de viatge? (Pot can bee AR ma – sheks de vee AT dje)
Where can I get a travelers check changed?
On puc canviar xecs de viatge?
What is the exchange rate?
Quin és el canvi?
Where is an automatic teller machine (ATM)?
On hi ha un caixer automàtic?
Eating
A table for one person/two people, please.
Una taula per una persona/dues persones, si us plau.
Can I look at the menu, please?
Puc veure el menú, si us plau?
Can I look in the kitchen?
Puc veure la cuina?
Is there a house specialty?
Teniu cap especialitat de la casa?
Is there a local specialty?
Tenui cap plat típic?
Im a vegetarian.
Sóc vegetarià.
I dont eat pork.
No menjo porc.
I dont eat beef.
No menjo vedella.
I only eat kosher food.
Només menjo menjar kosher.
Can you make it “lite”, please? (less oil/butter/lard)
Pots fer-mho més lleuger, si us plau? (amb menys oli/mantega/llard)
fixed-price meal
menú de la casa (mer-NOO-der-ler-KAH-zer)
a la carte
a la carta
breakfast
esmorzar
lunch
dinar
tea (meal)
tè
supper
sopar
I want _____.
Vull _____.
I want a dish containing _____.
Vull un plat que tingui _____.
chicken
pollastre
beef
vedella
fish
peix
ham
pernil
sausage
salsitxes
cheese
formatge
eggs
ous
salad
amanida
(fresh) vegetables
verdura (fresca)
(fresh) fruit
fruita (fresca)
bread
pa
toast
torrades
noodles
fideus
rice
arròs
beans
mongetes
May I have a glass of _____?
Em pots dur un got de _____?
May I have a cup of _____?
Em pots dur una tassa de _____?
May I have a bottle of _____?
Em pots dur una ampolla de _____?
coffee
café
tea (drink)
te
juice
suc de fruita
(bubbly) water
aigua amb gas
water
aigua mineral sense gas
beer
cervesa (ser-BEH-zer) OR birra (informal)
red/white wine
vi negre/blanc (BEE NEH-gra/BLANK)
May I have some _____?
Podries durm-me una mica de _____?
salt
sal (SAHL)
black pepper
pebre
butter
mantega
Excuse me, waiter? (getting attention of server)
Perdoni?
Im finished.
Ja he acabat.
It was delicious.
Estava deliciós.
Please clear the plates.
Pots endur-te els plats.
The check, please.
El compte, si us plau.
Bars
Do you serve alcohol?
Teniu alcohol?
Is there table service?
Hi ha servei de taules?
A beer/two beers, please.
Una cervesa/dues cerveses, si us plau.
A glass of red/white wine, please.
Un got de vi negre/blanc, si us plau.
A pint, please.
Una pinta de cervesa, si us plau. Note: in the Catalan-speaking Spain it is better to ask for a quinto (20 cl), a mitjana (33 cl) or a canya (tap beer).
A bottle, please.
Una ampolla, si us plau.
_____ (hard liquor) and _____ (mixer), please.
_____ amb _____, si us plau.
whiskey
whiskey
vodka
vodka
rum
rom
water
aigua (I-gah)
tonic water
tònica
orange juice
suc de taronja
Coke (soda)
coca-cola (KOH-ka-KOH-la)
Do you have any bar snacks?
Teniu alguna cosa per picar?
One more, please.
Un altre, si us plau.
Another round, please.
Una altra ronda, si us plau.
When is closing time?
A quina hora tanqueu?
Shopping
Do you have this in my size?
Teniu això en la meva talla?
How much is this?
Quant costa això?
Thats too expensive.
És massa car.
Would you take _____?
Agafaries _____?
expensive
car
cheap
barat
I cant afford it.
No puc pagar-ho.
I dont want it.
No ho vull.
Youre cheating me.
Mestàs timant.
Im not interested.
No hi estic interessat.
OK, Ill take it.
Dacord, mel quedo.
Can I have a bag?
Em pots donar una bossa?
Do you ship (overseas)?
Feu enviaments (a lestranger)?
I need…
Necssito…
…toothpaste.
…pasta de dents.
…a toothbrush.
…raspallde dents.
…soap.
…sabó.
…shampoo.
…xampú.
…pain reliever. (e.g., aspirin or ibuprofen)
…calmant.
…cold medicine.
…medicina per el refredat.
…stomach medicine.
…medicina per lestómac.
…a razor.
…una fulla dafeitar.
…an umbrella.
…un paraigües.
…sunblock lotion.
…crema protectora pel sol.
…a postcard.
…una postal.
…postage stamps.
…segells.
…batteries.
…piles.
…writing paper.
…paper per escriure.
…a pen.
…un bolígraf.
…English-language books.
.. llibres en anglès.
…English-language magazines.
…revistes en anglès.
…an English-language newspaper.
…diari en anglès.
…an English-Catalan dictionary.
…diccionari anglès-català.
Driving
I want to rent a car.
Vull llogar un cotxe.
Can I get insurance?
Puc obtenir una assegurança?
stop (on a street sign)
para
one way
un sentit
yield
cedeix el pas
no parking
no aparcar
speed limit
límit de velocitat
gas (petrol) station
benzinera
petrol
benzina
Diesel
Authority
I havent done anything wrong.
No he fet res de dolent.
It was a misunderstanding.
Ha estat un malentès.
Where are you taking me?
On em porteu?
Am I under arrest?
Estic arrestat?
I am an American/Australian/British/Canadian citizen.
Sóc un ciutadà Americà/Australià/Britànic/Canadenc.
I want to talk to the American/Australian/British/Canadian embassy/consulate.
Vull parlar amb lambaixada/el consulat Americà/Australià/Britànic/Canadenc.
I want to talk to a lawyer.
Vull parlar amb un advocat.
Can I just pay a fine now?
Puc simplement pagar una multa ara?