Essential Catalan phrases

The words that make your first weeks in Barcelona smoother — with pronunciation you can actually say.

Greetings

Hola / Bon dia
OH-la / bon DEE-a
Hi / good morning (Catalan). Spanish 'hola/buenos días' works everywhere too.
Com estàs?
kom uhs-TAS
How are you? (Catalan).
Gràcies / De res
GRAH-syuhs / duh res
Thank you / you're welcome (Catalan).
Si us plau
see-oos-PLOW
Please (Catalan).
Adéu
uh-DEW
Goodbye (Catalan).

Daily life

Quant val?
kwan BAL
How much is it? (Catalan).
On és el lavabo?
on es el luh-VAH-boo
Where's the toilet? (Catalan).

Food

El compte, si us plau
el KOMP-tuh see-oos-PLOW
The bill, please (Catalan).
Boníssim!
boo-NEE-seem
Delicious! (Catalan; 'bo' = good).

Social

Parla anglès?
PAR-luh ung-GLES
Do you speak English? (Catalan).
Tot bé
tot BEH
All good / no worries (Catalan).

Emergency

Ajuda! / Socors!
uh-JOO-duh / soo-KORS
Help! (Catalan) — for emergencies.

Actually learn to speak Barcelona’s language

Globe Quest drills these with spaced repetition and a patient AI tutor you can practice with by voice — a few minutes a day. Free to start.