Translate English to Catalan
Catalan is spoken by about 10 million people in Catalonia (northeastern Spain), the Balearic Islands, Valencia, Andorra, and parts of southern France and Sardinia. Barcelona, one of Europe's most visited cities, is the heart of Catalan language and culture. Paste your English text above.
Common English to Catalan translations
| English | Catalan | Pronunciation | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hello | Hola | OH-lah | ||
| Good morning | Bon dia | bon DEE-ah | ||
| Thank you | Gràcies | GRAH-see-es | ||
| Please | Si us plau | see oos PLOW | ||
| How much is this? | Quant costa això? | kwahnt KOS-tah eye-SHOH | ||
| Where is the bathroom? | On és el lavabo? | ohn ehs el lah-VAH-boh | ||
| I do not understand | No entenc | noh en-TENK | ||
| Can you help me? | Em pot ajudar? | em pot ah-zhoo-DAR | ||
| I would like coffee | Voldria un cafè | vool-DREE-ah oon kah-FEH | ||
| The bill, please | El compte, si us plau | el KOHM-teh see oos PLOW | ||
| Nice to meet you | Encantat | en-kahn-TAHT | ||
| Goodbye | Adiéu | ah-dee-EH-oo | ||
| I need a doctor | Necessito un metge | neh-seh-SEE-toh oon MET-zheh | ||
| Excuse me | Perdoni | pehr-DOH-nee |
Tips for English to Catalan translation
Catalan is a Romance language, not a dialect of Spanish. It developed independently from Vulgar Latin alongside Spanish, French, and Italian. While Catalan shares vocabulary with all three, its grammar and pronunciation are distinct. Using a Spanish translator for Catalan text will produce errors.
Catalan has two grammatical genders and uses articles el (masculine) and la (feminine), similar to other Romance languages. The personal article en/na is used before first names in formal or traditional contexts, a feature not found in Spanish or French.
Catalan pronunciation includes the neutral vowel (schwa), which sounds like the “a” in “about.” Unstressed vowels often reduce to this neutral sound, similar to Portuguese but unlike Spanish. This vowel reduction gives Catalan its distinctive rhythm.
Written Catalan uses the interpunct (middle dot) in the combination l·l to indicate a geminate (doubled) L sound: intel·ligent, col·laborar. This punctuation mark is unique to Catalan among Romance languages.
About the Catalan language
Catalan emerged as a distinct Romance language by the 9th century in the eastern Pyrenees. During the medieval period, it was the language of the Crown of Aragon and was used across the western Mediterranean. After centuries of pressure from Castilian Spanish, Catalan experienced a cultural and literary renaissance in the 19th century and regained official status after the end of Franco's dictatorship in 1975.
Today Catalan has co-official status in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands (Spain) and is the sole official language of Andorra. It has a vibrant media ecosystem including TV3 (television), RAC1 (radio), and numerous newspapers and digital outlets. Catalan literature, music, and cultural festivals (including the famous human tower competitions, or castells) maintain a strong cultural identity distinct from the rest of Spain.
Frequently asked questions
Yes. No sign-up needed.
No. Catalan is a separate Romance language with distinct grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation.
Yes. Click the speaker icon.
Written Catalan and Valencian are very similar. Both are processed correctly.
Good for everyday use. Professional review for official texts.
The interpunct (·) in l·l indicates a doubled L sound, unique to Catalan orthography.
Visit our Catalan to English page.
Yes.
No. With about 10 million speakers and official status in multiple regions, Catalan is a vital living language.
Over 60 pairs including Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese, and more.
Need the reverse? Try Catalan to English translation.
