Catalan and Spanish are two of the most spoken languages in the world, with around 900 million people speaking them as their first language. However, there are many differences between the two languages that might surprise you. In this article, we’ll be exploring the Catalan vs Spanish difference so that you can decide which one is best for you!
What is Catalan?
Catalan is a language spoken in the region of Catalonia, in northeastern Spain. It’s also known as Valencian, and is considered a regional language in its own right, distinct from Spanish. Despite this, Catalan and Spanish share many similar features, making them easily understood by speakers of either.
Spanish is the predominant language spoken throughout the country, but there are also significant populations of Catalans in cities like Barcelona, Valencia and Zaragoza. As such, it’s important to be aware of the differences between Catalan and Spanish so you can communicate more effectively with people from the region.
There are several key differences between Catalan and Spanish that are worth noting. For one thing, Catalan uses different letters for certain sounds than Spanish does. For example, “ll” in Catalan is pronounced as “j”, while “ll” in Spanish is pronounced as “h”.
Additionally, Catalan has its own set of words for things like milk (espuma), eggs (ovos) and potatoes (papas). And lastly, Catalan grammar differs slightly from Spanish grammar. For instance, in Spanish you would say “I have a cat” (Tengo un gato), while in Catalan you would say “Tinc un
What is Spanish?
Spanish is the language of Spain. It is the official language of Andalusia, Castile-León, Extremadura, Galicia, La Rioja, Madrid, Navarre, and Valencia. It is also spoken in Aragon, Asturias, Cantabria, Castilla-La Mancha, Catalonia, Basque Country, Canary Islands, communities in Melilla and Ceuta, as well as in a number of other countries around the world. Spanish is written with the Latin alphabet.
Catalan Vs Spanish: Differences in grammar and pronunciation
Catalan and Spanish are two different languages that originated in different parts of Europe. But despite their differences, Catalan and Spanish share a lot of similarities. Here are the main differences between Catalan and Spanish:
1. Grammar: The grammar of Catalan and Spanish are almost identical, with the exception of some minor differences in word order. However, there are a few important distinctions to keep in mind when speaking either language. For example, in Catalan you must always use the formal vos form when addressing someone older than you, while Spanish doesn’t require this form.
2. Vocabulary: Catalan and Spanish both have a large number of words that originate from Latin, but they also borrow from other languages such as French and Italian. This makes them quite diverse linguistically.
3. Pronunciation: Catalan and Spanish both have a wide variety of pronunciations, which can be a bit tricky to learn if you’re not familiar with both languages. However, with some practice, you’ll be able to sound like a native speaker in no time!
Catalan Vs Spanish: Differences in vocabulary
Catalan Vs Spanish: Differences in vocabulary
The two most spoken languages in the world are Spanish and Catalan. Catalan is a dialect of Occitan, which is a Romance language spoken mainly in the south of France. Spanish, on the other hand, is a language from Central America that has been brought over to many other countries throughout the world. However, there are some major differences between Catalan and Spanish vocabulary.
One of the biggest differences between Catalan and Spanish vocabulary is that Catalan has its own unique words for many things that Spanish does not have a word for. For example, Catalan has its own word for “snow”, “glacier”, and “iceberg”.
Spanish does not have any words specifically for these things, so they must be translated into Spanish. Additionally, many Catalan words are related to nature in some way. For example, “lluvia” means “rain” in both languages, but in Catalan, it also means “dew” and “fog”.
Another big difference between Catalan and Spanish vocabulary is that Spanish uses more loanwords from other languages than Catalan does. This includes French, Latin, Arabic, and Portuguese. For example, “cerveza” (beer
The Origins of Catalan and Spanish
Catalan and Spanish share a common origin, but there are significant differences between the two languages. Catalan is a Romance language that evolved from Vulgar Latin, while Spanish is a North American language derived from Iberian.
The origins of Catalan and Spanish are closely intertwined. Catalan was first spoken in the northeastern corner of the Iberian Peninsula, which at the time was part of the Roman Empire. Over time, Catalan evolved into a distinct language with its own unique dialects.
Spanish, on the other hand, originated in the southwestern corner of the Iberian Peninsula. In pre-Columbian times, Spanish was spoken by tribes of hunter-gatherers who migrated to what is now Mexico and Central America. After the arrival of Christopher Columbus in 1492, Spanish began to spread throughout North and South America.
Today, Spanish and Catalan are two distinct languages with unique grammar rules and pronunciations. However, there are many similarities between them, including their roots in Latin and their use as official languages in various regions of the world.
Catalan Versus Spanish Grammar
There are a few key differences between Catalan and Spanish grammar, which can make understanding each language a bit more complicated. Here are the main points to keep in mind:
1. Catalan has its own set of verb conjugations, while Spanish uses the same conjugation for all verbs. For example, in Catalan you would say “Eu vi” (I saw), whereas in Spanish you would say “Vi” (I saw).
2. Spanish has fewer articles than Catalan. For example, you would say “El coneixement és la clau per a una millora de la nostra qualitat de vida” (Knowledge is the key to improving our quality of life), but in Catalan you would say “La coneixença és la clau per a una millora de nostra qualitat de vida” (Knowledge is the key to improving our quality of life).
3. Catalan uses different verb forms when talking about actions that happen simultaneously (such as eating and drinking) or consecutively (such as eating and drinking wine). In Spanish, these actions are always described using theiba (I was) form. For example, in Catalan you would say “Edu mira” (Ed watches), but in Spanish you would say “Mira” (He/She/It looks).
4. Catalan has a few words that are not found in Spanish, such as “xocar” (to make love), “cauretat” (rapture), and “síndrome de Down” (Down syndrome).
Differences in Vocabulary
Spanish and Catalan are two languages that originate from the same root, but they have developed differently over the years. Here are a few key differences in vocabulary:
-Catalan uses many words that refer to nature and outdoor activities, such as lluna (moon), bosque (forest), montaña (mountain) and vallée (valley). Spanish has relatively few equivalents.
-Spanish has borrowed many words from Latin, while Catalan has borrowed more from French.
-Catalan also has a few unique words, such as llengua (language) and lluita (fight).
Pronunciation of Catalan and Spanish
Spanish and Catalan are both languages spoken in Spain, but they have significant differences in pronunciation. Here’s a guide to help you learn how to pronounce Spanish and Catalan correctly.
Spanish is usually pronounced with a more pronounced “a” sound at the end of words, for example, “pato” (cat) is pronounced ‘pato’. Catalan, on the other hand, has a softer “a” sound at the end of words, for example “patxo” (cat) is pronounced ‘patxo’.
Spanish also tends to have a longer vowel sound in certain words, for example “vino” (wine) is pronounced ‘hino’. Catalan, on the other hand, has shorter vowel sounds, for example ‘vinho’ (wine).
There are also some minor pronunciation differences between Spanish and Catalan. For example, Spanish often uses the letter “j” to represent the sound “y”, while Catalan uses the letter “y”. And Spanish sometimes uses the letter “h” to represent the sound “w”, while Catalan uses the letter “v”. But overall, these pronunciation differences are relatively minor and you’ll be able to easily learn how to pronounce Spanish and Catalan correctly.
Conclusion
There are a few key differences between Catalan and Spanish that you should be aware of if you want to speak either language fluently. For one, Catalan is more closely related to the Occitan language spoken in southern France than it is to Spanish. Additionally, Spanish has borrowed many words from Arabic and other languages over the years, while Catalan has not had as much interaction with other languages. If you want to know more about these and other key differences between these two languages, be sure to read on!
FAQs
What are the main differences between Catalan and Spanish? ›
Catalan uses consonant clusters whereas Spanish requires a vowel sound between consonant sounds (most of the time). Catalan uses voiced and unvoiced vowels. Catalan shares the Portuguese L, Spanish does not.
Can I understand Catalan if I know Spanish? ›Many people ask me, for example, if I speak Spanish, do I also speak Catalan? The answer is no. Catalan is mutually unintelligible with Spanish.
How similar is Catalan to Spanish? ›How similar is Catalan to Spanish and other languages? The level of lexical similarity between Catalan and Spanish is quite high as you might expect. They have a similarity level of ~85%.
How different are castilian and Catalan? ›Is Catalan a form of Castilian Spanish? No. Catalan is a language in its own right. It does not derive from Spanish, or even from French, even though many people say that Catalan sounds like a mixture of both.
What language is Catalan closest to? ›Catalan is most closely related to the Occitan language of southern France and to Spanish, but it is clearly distinct from both.
Is it better to learn Spanish or Catalan? ›But which language will be most welcomed in Barcelona? A: It depends what your objective is. If you want to connect with Catalan culture and have a more personal insight into the indigenous culture, then it's best to learn Catalan. If you wish to be more widely understood, then learning Spanish would be the option.
Do most Spaniards speak Catalan? ›A little over 15 percent of the Spanish population speak some form of Catalan, while only 8.5 percent call it their mother tongue. The Romance language Catalan has its name from the region of Catalonia in the northeast of Spain and adjoining parts of France.
Do all people in Barcelona speak Catalan? ›There are two official languages in the city: Catalan and Spanish. The overwhelming majority of Barcelona's residents consider themselves fully bilingual. That means they can switch from Catalan to Spanish with ease.
Is it hard for a Spanish speaker to learn Catalan? ›Catalan is not difficult to learn – especially if you already speak another Romance language. Many people think Catalan is a dialect of Spanish and that's not true at all. It's as different from Spanish as is Portuguese or Italian. Like these languages, it did come originally from Latin.
How do you greet in Catalan? ›Hola/Bon Dia (Hello)
The official greeting in Catalan is 'Bon dia'. If you can't quite remember the phrase, a simple 'Hola' is the best way to greet people in Barcelona.
Is Catalan closer to Spanish or Portuguese? ›
Differences between Catalan and Spanish
Many listeners find that Catalan sounds closer to Portuguese or Italian than it does to Spanish, while others liken it to a blend of French and Spanish. Not all Spanish speakers can understand Catalan – and vice versa.
Where Is Catalan Spoken? Currently, Catalan is spoken in the Aragon, Balearic Islands, Catalonia, Murcia and Valencia autonomous communities of Spain, the country of Andorra, the Roussillon region of France, and the city of Alghero in Sardinia, Italy.
How do you say good morning in Barcelona? ›1. Good Morning – Bon dia. 2. Good Afternoon – Bon Tarda.
Is Catalan closer to Latin than Spanish? ›Catalan has its own grammar, dictionary, and is mostly mutually unintelligible to the uninformed Spanish speaker — especially those who learned Spanish as a second language (like us). Catalan is a Latin language, similar to Spanish, French, and Italian. In terms of pronunciation, it's most similar to Spanish.
Why do people say Barthelona? ›For those who have heard Catalan people pronounce it as "Barthelona", that was probably because they were speaking Spanish: in the variety of Spanish spoken in Catalonia it is pronounced "Barthelona".
What country speaks Catalan the most? ›Catalan speaking countries
The Catalan language (native name: català, valencià) has its roots in the Indo-European language family. With 8.06 million native speakers, Catalan has the highest prevalence in Spain. As a percentage of the total population, the largest share of around 32 percent is in Andorra.
Both Catalan and Spanish (or Castellano as it is more often known) are official languages in Barcelona and many residents are bilingual, so ultimately, learning either of them will help you more than English will.
What percentage of Catalans speak Spanish? ›Catalan. According to the official government of Catalonia, Catalan is the second most spoken language of the region, after Spanish (over 35% of Catalans use exclusively Catalan as their first language, while 11% of Catalans use equally both Catalan and Spanish).
Can you live in Barcelona without speaking Catalan? ›So, no one will kill you if you don't speak Catalan. However, I highly recommend that you learn it. Even though Catalunya is still a part of Spain, it's a part of Spain with its own traditions, customs and language. I believe it's polite and shows a great deal of respect for the place if you decide to learn it.
What is the most spoken language in the world? ›1. English (1,452 million speakers) According to Ethnologue, English is the most-spoken language in the world including native and non-native speakers. Like Latin or Greek at the time, English has become the world's common language.
Can I speak English in Barcelona? ›
Some locals may speak English with you when they find out you're not Spanish, but more pride is attached to being fluent in one of the four recognized languages in Barcelona. A history lesson aside, you will find the locals are very friendly and can easily converse with foreign tourists.
Is Catalan a beautiful language? ›Catalan is an elegant and beautiful language and has long and significant literary and cultural history. It is a member of the family of Romance languages, and derives from Latin, like French, Spanish, Italian, Galician, Portuguese, Rumanian and Occitane.
Can I live in Barcelona without knowing Spanish? ›Sure. If you're living in a major city, studying a course taught in English, interning or working at a company that requires English, or are living in expat areas such as Costa del Sol or Malaga, you can get by with just English in Spain. In all these scenarios, you can live in Spain even if you don't speak Spanish.
Can you learn Catalan on duolingo? ›The world's most popular way to learn Catalan online
Learn Catalan in just 5 minutes a day with our game-like lessons. Whether you're a beginner starting with the basics or looking to practice your reading, writing, and speaking, Duolingo is scientifically proven to work.
Catalan is sometimes more similar to French than Spanish
Although Catalan, Spanish, French, Italian, Portuguese and many other European languages have their origins in Latin (these are known as Romance languages), each has evolved in its own way.
Chilean Spanish accent
Spanish from Chile is famously different from the standard version. There are a lot of Chilean words that you won't find in RAE canon. For this reason, some people call “Chileno” the hardest version of Spanish to learn. It's also known to have unclear pronunciations.
Besides being an amazing country with beautiful and mesmerizing places to visit and enjoy, Colombia is also considered to have one of the clearest and easiest Spanish accents to learn and understand.
What is the hardest language for Spanish speakers? ›Mandarin Chinese
It is perhaps the language that offers the greatest difficulties. In fact, Mandarin is not only difficult for Latinos, but it is perhaps the most difficult to learn worldwide. But why is this language so complicated? First of all because of its alphabet …
Merci!
Like in French, Catalan people say thanks by saying merci, which is a very useful word and easy to remember. So don't be surprised if somebody uses this French word when thanking you in Barcelona.
1 Vale - “Okay” in Spanish
Vale is one of the most popular expressions in Spain, and you'll hear it everywhere you go. It's the Spanish way of saying “okay,” and you can use it as a response for pretty much anything.
What does Bon Dia mean in Barcelona? ›
Bon dia (bon dee-ah) / Bona tarda (bon-ah tard-ah) Good morning / Good afternoon. When strolling along the streets of Barcelona, you'll definitely hear this phrase used again and again.
What is the closest language to Spanish? ›Based on lexical similarity, you will find that Portuguese is the closest to Spanish. Just remember that you will need to rethink the way the words are pronounced. You will also want to know which words are different between the languages. Following Portuguese is Italian as the second closest language to Spanish.
How many letters are there in the Catalan alphabet? ›The Catalan alphabet consists of twenty-six basic letters.
Are Catalan people French? ›The current official category of "Catalans" is that of the citizens of Catalonia, an autonomous community in Spain and the inhabitants of the Roussillon historical region in southern France, today the Pyrénées Orientales department, also called Northern Catalonia and Pays Catalan in French.
What part of Spain speaks Catalan? ›It is spoken by 9 million people in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Isles, Andorra and the town of Alghero in Sardinia.
Do they speak Catalan in Madrid? ›In Madrid, the language that's spoken is Castellano! There are four official languages in Spain: Catalan (Barcelona), Basque (the Basque Country) and Gallego (Galicia), as well as Castellano, which is spoken throughout Spain and you'll hear in music, movies and on TV.
What time is breakfast in Barcelona? ›Breakfast – 8 am to 10:30 am
You can ask for a solo (expresso) or a tallat (machiatto), although these beverages are traditionally taken after dessert at the large midday meals.
Tips aren't expected in Barcelona, but they are always appreciated. Credit cards – tipping is possible with a card, just be sure you ask them to add it to the total as they run your card. There's no space on the credit card receipt when it comes time to sign.
What is breakfast like in Barcelona? ›Typical and traditional breakfasts in Barcelona
Typical foods include tomato bread, omelettes (often served cold) and milky coffee. Other popular options include sandwiches. Almost all of Barcelona's many cafés offer a breakfast menu.
There are two official languages in the city: Catalan and Spanish. The overwhelming majority of Barcelona's residents consider themselves fully bilingual. That means they can switch from Catalan to Spanish with ease.
Is Catalan more spoken than Spanish? ›
Catalan. According to the official government of Catalonia, Catalan is the second most spoken language of the region, after Spanish (over 35% of Catalans use exclusively Catalan as their first language, while 11% of Catalans use equally both Catalan and Spanish).
Do people in Barcelona actually speak Catalan? ›Most of the people who live in Barcelona are bilingual and speak Catalan and Spanish, which is also an official language.
What is the closest language Spanish? ›Portuguese. In the north-western part of Spain, Galicia is the mother-land of the Portuguese mother tongue. It's widely considered the closest language to Spanish – the lexical similarity is approximated at 89%.
Is Spain friendly to foreigners? ›Spaniards live life to the fullest, taking an open, carefree attitude to everyday events. It is this laidback approach that underpins life in Spain, whether it's the country's famous outdoorsy culture or the fact that the Spanish are so gregarious and welcoming of foreigners and expats.
Is it difficult to learn Catalan? ›Catalan is not difficult to learn – especially if you already speak another Romance language. Many people think Catalan is a dialect of Spanish and that's not true at all. It's as different from Spanish as is Portuguese or Italian. Like these languages, it did come originally from Latin.