Greetings and politeness in Catalan
Hello, please, thank you, sorry: the ten openers everything else builds on. Play the ten Catalan words against the clock, with a note on how locals really use each one after every answer. All ten are written out below.
All 11 Catalan phrases in this lesson
- HolaO-la
- Hello
- Bon diabon DEE-a
- Good morning
- Bon vesprebon VES-pra
- Good evening
- Adéua-DAY-oo
- Goodbye
- Ens veiemuhns buh-YEM
- See you
- Si us plausee oos PLOW
- Please
- GràciesGRA-see-es
- Thank you
- De resde RES
- You're welcome
- Ho sentooo SEN-to
- Sorry
- Perdoniper-DO-ni
- Excuse me
- Encantat de conèixer-teen-kan-TAT de ko-NAY-sher-ta
- Nice to meet you
The universal Catalan greeting, used at any time of day. Catalans will genuinely appreciate you using this instead of the Spanish hola, even though they sound identical. It signals respect for the local culture.
Used from morning until around midday. The "d" in "dia" is soft, almost like a "th" sound in Valencian Catalan. It doubles as a polite opener when entering a shop or bakery.
Said arriving anywhere after about eight. Earlier in the evening, "bona tarda" (BO-na TAR-da), good afternoon.
The classic Catalan farewell. The accent signals where the stress falls. You will also hear "fins aviat" (see you soon) and "fins demà" (see you tomorrow) as warmer alternatives among acquaintances.
Literally "we see each other", the goodbye between friends. Adéu works too; fins després (feens dehs-PREHS) means see you later.
Literally "if it pleases you." It sounds long but flows naturally once you have said it a few times. Tacking it onto any request instantly makes you sound polite and considerate.
Your everyday thank you, appropriate in shops, cafes, and restaurants. Say it clearly and Catalans will smile. The "c" before "i" is pronounced like an "s," not a "k."
Literally "of nothing," the standard reply to gràcies. Light and breezy in tone. You may also hear "no hi ha de què" in more formal contexts, but de res covers 95% of situations.
Literally "I feel it", the real apology.
The formal way to get someone's attention or to ask to pass. Casual: "perdona".
A warm introduction phrase. Men say "encantat" and women say "encantada." In practice many people just say "encantat" regardless and nobody minds. A handshake is standard.