Meeting people in Catalan
How are you, what is your name, where are you from, I like it: the first five minutes. 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 10 Catalan phrases in this lesson
- Com està?kom es-TA
- How are you?
- Bé, gràciesbay GRA-see-es
- I'm fine, thanks
- I vostè?ee vos-TE
- And you?
- Com es diu?kom es DEE-oo
- What's your name?
- Em dic...em DEEK
- My name is...
- D'on és?don ES
- Where are you from?
- Sóc de...sok de
- I'm from...
- M'agradama-GRA-da
- I like it
- És precióses pre-see-OS
- It's beautiful
- Benvingutsben-veen-GOOTS
- Welcome
Use with older people, shopkeepers you do not know well, or anyone you address as "vostè." It is a genuine question in Catalan culture, so be prepared for a real answer.
The standard reply to "com estàs?" or "com està?" Short, warm, and complete. You can add "i tu?" (and you?) or "i vostè?" (and yourself? formal) to keep the exchange going.
Polite. With friends: "i tu?" (ee TOO).
Polite form. Casual: "com et dius?" (kom et DEE-oos).
Polite form. Casual: "d'on ets?" (don ETS).
For the coast, the Pyrenees and Gaudí's buildings.
The plural form on signs; to one man, "benvingut".