Ask where is Catalan spoken and the short answer is northeastern Spain, above all Catalonia, Valencia and the Balearic Islands. It is also the official language of Andorra and lives on in a corner of France and one Italian city.
Planning a trip to Barcelona, Valencia or Mallorca? This guide maps where you will hear Catalan and the first words to try, and the Ling app can help you practice it in short daily lessons.
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Where Is Catalan Spoken Today?
Catalan is spoken across four countries: Spain, Andorra, France and Italy. Most speakers live in Spain, along the Mediterranean coast from the Pyrenees to the south of Valencia.
- Catalonia: the heartland, from Barcelona and Girona to Lleida and Tarragona.
- Valencian Community: here the language is called Valencian, and you will hear it in Valencia, Alicante and Castellón.
- Balearic Islands: Mallorca, Menorca, Ibiza and Formentera.
- Border areas of Spain: a strip of eastern Aragon along the Catalan border, and a few villages in Murcia next to Valencia.
- Andorra: the small country in the Pyrenees between Spain and France.
- Southern France: the Pyrénées-Orientales department, often called Northern Catalonia.
- Alghero: a port city on the Italian island of Sardinia.
Where Is Catalan An Official Language?
Catalan is the only official language of Andorra, and in Spain it shares official status with Spanish in three regions. Spain’s constitution lets regional languages be official through each region’s Statute of Autonomy.
According to Spain’s Ministry of Territorial Policy, the statutes recognize these co-official languages:
- Catalonia: Catalan, plus Occitan, known locally as Aranese
- Valencian Community: Valencian
- Balearic Islands: Catalan
Elsewhere Catalan has no official status, except in Alghero, where Italian law protects it as a minority language.
Is Valencian The Same As Catalan?
Linguistically, yes: Valencian is the name used in the Valencian Community for its own variety of Catalan. Speakers from Valencia and Barcelona understand each other easily, much like British and American English speakers do.
The name Valencian is official in the region and matters to locals, so use it in Valencia.
Where Is Catalan Spoken Outside Spain?
Outside Spain, Catalan is spoken in Andorra, in the Pyrénées-Orientales in southern France, and in Alghero on Sardinia.
- Andorra: Catalan is the language of government, schools and street signs.
- Pyrénées-Orientales: the area around Perpignan was part of Catalonia until 1659, when the Treaty of the Pyrenees handed it to France. Catalan survives there in place names and family life.
- Alghero: Catalan arrived with settlers from the Crown of Aragon in the 14th century, and our guide to the languages spoken in Italy covers it among the country’s linguistic minorities.
Where Will You Hear Catalan On Your Trip?
| Place | Country | Status | What you will notice |
|---|---|---|---|
| Catalonia | Spain | Co-official with Spanish | Signs, menus and metro announcements in Catalan |
| Valencian Community | Spain | Co-official, called Valencian | Valencian in towns, more Spanish in some big-city streets |
| Balearic Islands | Spain | Co-official with Spanish | Island accents in Mallorca, Menorca and Ibiza |
| Andorra | Andorra | Sole official language | Catalan first on every sign and form |
| Pyrénées-Orientales | France | Regional language, not official | Bilingual place names around Perpignan |
| Alghero | Italy | Protected minority language | Catalan street names in the old town |
In short, Catalan is part of daily life in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearics and Andorra, and a heritage language everywhere else.
How Many People Speak Catalan?
More than 7 million people can speak Catalan, and about 10 million understand it, according to the University of Barcelona’s language services. The same source puts the population of the Catalan-speaking regions at more than 11 million.
- In Catalonia, nearly everyone understands Catalan and over three quarters of people can speak it.
- At least 5 million people use it as their main language of communication.
- Catalan shares daily life with Spanish in Spain and with French in France, so you will hear people switch between languages all the time.
How Do You Say Hello In Catalan?
The simple way to say hello in Catalan is hola, spelled just like the Spanish word. In the morning, people often greet you with bon dia (good morning), and from lunchtime on it becomes bona tarda (good afternoon).
Here is a short exchange from the Introduction unit of the Catalan course in the Ling app, recorded with native speaker audio. It uses the polite form vostè, which is what you would use with a stranger or a shopkeeper.
The rest of the conversation, and the rest of the unit, are in the lessons.
12 Catalan Words And Phrases For Your Trip
These cover a first chat at a café in Barcelona or a market stall in Palma.
| English | Catalan |
|---|---|
| Hello | Hola |
| Good morning | Bon dia |
| Good afternoon | Bona tarda |
| Good night | Bona nit |
| Please | Si us plau |
| Thank you | Gràcies |
| Thank you very much | Moltes gràcies |
| You’re welcome | De res |
| Excuse me (polite) | Disculpi |
| Do you speak English? | Parles anglès? |
| Goodbye | Adéu |
| See you later | Fins després |
If you learn only two, make them bon dia and gràcies.
Common Mistakes To Avoid With Catalan
Most mix-ups come from assumptions about the region rather than from grammar.
- Calling Catalan a dialect of Spanish. It is a language in its own right, with its own grammar, spelling and literature, as our look at the history and grammar of the Catalan language explains.
- Assuming everyone in Barcelona speaks Catalan first. The city is very mixed, so start in Catalan and switch if the other person does.
- Correcting people in Valencia. Locals call their language Valencian, and it is polite to use that name there.
- Thinking Catalonia has only two languages. In the Val d’Aran, high in the Pyrenees, Aranese is official too.
Slips are part of the process, and the Ling app keeps track of the words you miss so you can practice them again.
Tips For Using Catalan When You Travel
A little Catalan goes a long way with locals.
- Open with a greeting. A bon dia at a bakery or a bona tarda at a museum desk sets a warm tone.
- Practice whole exchanges out loud. The Ling app’s Dialog lessons walk you through both sides of a short conversation, so the words come out when you need them.
- Pick a tool that actually teaches Catalan. Several big apps skip it, as our guide to why Babbel has no Catalan course explains, and our roundup of the best apps to learn Catalan compares the options.
Frequently Asked Questions About Where Is Catalan Spoken
What Countries Speak Catalan?
Catalan is spoken in four countries: Spain, Andorra, France and Italy. Most speakers live in Spain, in Catalonia, the Valencian Community and the Balearic Islands.
Where Is Catalan Spoken In Spain?
In Spain, Catalan is spoken in Catalonia, the Valencian Community, where it is called Valencian, and the Balearic Islands. It is also heard in a strip of eastern Aragon and a few villages in Murcia.
Is Catalan The Official Language Of Andorra?
Yes. Catalan is the only official language of Andorra, the language of government, schools and public signs.
Is Catalan A Dialect Of Spanish?
No. Catalan is a separate Romance language with its own grammar, spelling and literature. It shares Latin roots with Spanish, French and Italian.
Do People In Barcelona Speak Catalan Or Spanish?
Both. Catalan and Spanish are co-official in Catalonia, and most people in Barcelona switch between them easily. Signs are usually in Catalan first.
How Many People Speak Catalan?
More than 7 million people can speak Catalan and about 10 million understand it, according to the University of Barcelona’s language services. The Catalan-speaking regions are home to more than 11 million people.
What Should You Remember About Where Catalan Is Spoken?
Catalan’s home is northeastern Spain: Catalonia, the Valencian Community, where it goes by Valencian, and the Balearic Islands, where it is co-official with Spanish. It is the only official language of Andorra and lives on in southern France and in Alghero on Sardinia.
Start with hola, bon dia and gràcies, and you have a friendly opening line from a Barcelona café to an Andorran mountain village.
Ready To Try Catalan On Your Next Trip?
Heading to Barcelona, Valencia or the Balearic Islands? A few Catalan words will make every greeting warmer.
With flashcards, native speaker audio you can slow down and Dialog for real conversation practice, Ling keeps learning simple and fun. Start learning Catalan today and greet your first host with a confident bon dia!
