Why learn Catalan as a beginner
Catalan opens doors to culture, work, and travel across Barcelona, Valencia, and the islands. It’s closely related to Spanish and French, yet it has its own history, sounds, and identity.
For beginners coming from english, Catalan is approachable: plenty of cognates, transparent spelling, and a friendly community. A little daily effort goes a long way if you stay consistent and use the right online tools.
- Boost travel and local connections across Catalan-speaking regions.
- Stand out professionally in Spain and Andorra.
- Enjoy music, podcasts, and TV with real comprehension.
- Build confidence to learn other Romance languages later.
Free online tools to get started
parla.cat: official, structured courses with A1–C2 paths, grammar explanations, and exercises. It’s ideal for a beginner who prefers a curriculum and clear milestones.
duolingo: offers Catalan for Spanish speakers. If you know basic Spanish (or don’t mind interface Spanish), it’s a fun, free way to practice daily. Complement it with English-language explanations from other sites.
- Memrise and Clozemaster: user-made Catalan decks for vocabulary in context.
- Forvo: hear native pronunciation of words and names.
- Tatoeba: example sentences to see grammar in action.
- YouTube: Easy Catalan and beginner playlists for slow, clear speech.
Simple A1–A2 study plan (6 weeks)
Goal: reach solid beginner comprehension and speaking basics. Study 20–30 minutes daily. Combine one structured course (parla.cat) with a bite-sized app (duolingo or Memrise) and short listening.
Tip: keep a mini notebook or app deck for 10 new words a day. Practice out loud. Start from english for grammar notes, then apply in Catalan immediately with short sentences.
- Week 1: alphabet, greetings, introductions, numbers 0–100.
- Week 2: articles (el/la/els/les), gender, plurals; basic verbs ser/estar/tenir.
- Week 3: present tense of common verbs; daily routine; time and days.
- Week 4: places in town, directions, transport; ordering food and drink.
- Week 5: family, hobbies, preferences; very short conversations.
- Week 6: review + survival tasks (ask prices, buy tickets, simple small talk).
Pronunciation and grammar basics
Pronunciation: vowels are clear; stress is usually on the last syllable (with exceptions). Key sounds: ll (like Italian “gli”), ny (like Spanish “ñ”), c/qu (hard k) vs ç (soft s), and the open/closed e and o.
Grammar: learn subject pronouns (jo, tu, ell/ella, nosaltres, vosaltres, ells/elles), articles (el, la, els, les), and essential verbs (ser, estar, tenir, anar). Word order is flexible but SVO is common. Contractions like al (a + el) and del (de + el) appear often.
- Listen daily and mimic: short, slow clips beat long, fast ones.
- Shadow phrases: repeat with rhythm and intonation.
- Drill the present tense and question forms early.
- Reuse chunks: “Em dic…”, “Vull…”, “On és…?”, “Quant costa…?”
Everyday phrases for beginners
Practice these high-frequency chunks in short dialogues. Record yourself, compare to natives, and recycle them in your online lessons and chats.
- Hola / Bon dia — Hello / Good morning
- Bona tarda / Bona nit — Good afternoon / Good night
- Si us plau / Gràcies — Please / Thank you
- Em dic… — My name is…
- Com et dius? — What’s your name?
- D’on ets? — Where are you from?
- Soc de… — I am from…
- Parles anglès? — Do you speak english?
FAQ
- Is Catalan hard to learn for English speakers?
- At A1–A2, Catalan is very doable. Clear spelling, many cognates, and consistent grammar help. Daily 20–30 minute sessions are enough to progress.
- Can I learn Catalan free online from English?
- Yes. Combine parla.cat (free course), duolingo for daily practice, and YouTube for listening. Use Forvo and Tatoeba for pronunciation and examples.
- Is duolingo enough to reach A2?
- It’s great for habits and vocabulary, but not enough alone. Pair it with a structured course, short speaking practice, and real listening materials.
- How long to reach A1–A2?
- With 20–30 minutes a day, expect A1 in 4–6 weeks and early A2 in 8–12 weeks. Consistency and speaking out loud accelerate progress.
- Which Catalan dialect should beginners learn?
- Start with standard Catalan (Central). You’ll understand most speakers and can adapt later. Exposure to different accents comes naturally through media.