Food & Drinks

1. Una taula per a dos, si us plau

   U-na TAU-la per a dos si us plau

   A table for two, please

   Usage

   Basic phrase to request a table at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Si us plau" is the Catalan equivalent of Spanish "por favor" (please)

2. La carta, si us plau

   la KAR-ta si us plau

   The menu, please

   Usage

   Used when requesting the menu at a restaurant

   Grammar Note

   "Carta" means menu in Catalan (same as Spanish). "La" is the feminine definite article

3. Quins plats típics teniu?

   kins plats TI-piks te-NIU

   What are your typical local dishes?

   Usage

   Used when wanting to try Catalan cuisine; pa amb tomàquet and escudella are local classics

   Grammar Note

   "Teniu" is the 2nd person plural of "tenir" (to have); naturally polite when addressing staff

4. Pa amb tomàquet, si us plau

   pa am tu-MA-ket si us plau

   Bread with tomato, please

   Usage

   Classic Catalan dish: bread rubbed with tomato and drizzled with olive oil

   Grammar Note

   "Amb" is the Catalan preposition "with", equivalent to Spanish "con"

5. Sóc vegetarià / vegetariana

   sok be-zhe-ta-ri-A / be-zhe-ta-ri-A-na

   I am vegetarian

   Usage

   Use "vegetarià" (male) or "vegetariana" (female) to inform of dietary restrictions

   Grammar Note

   "Sóc" is 1st person singular of "ser". Adjectives change for gender in Catalan

6. Tinc al·lèrgia al marisc

   tink al-LER-zhia al ma-RISK

   I have a shellfish/seafood allergy

   Usage

   Important phrase for allergy communication; replace "marisc" with other allergens as needed

   Grammar Note

   "Tinc" is 1st person singular of "tenir". The middle dot in al·lèrgia is unique to Catalan orthography

7. El compte, si us plau

   el KOM-te si us plau

   The bill, please

   Usage

   Used to request the bill after dining; in Spain staff won't bring it automatically

   Grammar Note

   "El" is the masculine definite article in Catalan. "Compte" corresponds to Spanish "cuenta"

8. Està molt bo

   es-TA molt bo

   It is very good / delicious

   Usage

   Used to compliment food during the meal; will be appreciated at local restaurants

   Grammar Note

   Uses "estar" (not "ser") because taste is a temporary state/condition of the food

9. Vull provar la crema catalana

   vull pru-VAR la KRE-ma ka-ta-LA-na

   I want to try the crema catalana

   Usage

   Catalan dessert similar to crème brûlée; custard with a caramelized sugar top

   Grammar Note

   "Vull" is 1st person singular of "voler" (to want), followed by infinitive "provar"

10. Una cervesa, si us plau

    U-na ser-VE-za si us PLOW

    A beer, please

    Usage

    Used to order a drink at a café or bar; Barcelona's bar culture is very lively

    Grammar Note

    "Cervesa" is the Catalan word for beer, similar to Spanish "cerveza"

11. l'arròs

    Rice (cooked)

    Usage

    Cooked rice; the same word covers raw grain, but in a restaurant it reads as the dish. Catalonia has many rice dishes such as "arròs negre"

12. el pa

    Bread

    Usage

    Bread in general; the Catalan staple is "pa amb tomàquet"

13. els fideus

    Noodles

    Usage

    Thin noodles — the "fideu" of "fideuà". Italian-style pasta as a whole is "la pasta"; Asian noodles are also understood as "els fideus"

14. picant

    Spicy (hot)

    Usage

    Chili heat. Say "no picant" to ask for something not spicy; salty is a different word, "salat"

15. dolç

    Sweet

    Usage

    Sweet in taste; also used for sweet wine

16. cru

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    Uncooked. Pair it with "ben cuit" (well cooked) when checking how food is prepared

17. el formatge

    Cheese

    Usage

    Cheese; also useful when checking for dairy

18. la mel

    Honey

    Usage

    Honey; "mel i mató" (honey with fresh cheese) is a classic Catalan dessert

19. el tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    Tofu; understood in vegetarian restaurants and Asian grocery shops

20. la sopa

    Soup

    Usage

    Soup; the chilled tomato soup is "el gaspatxo"

21. el iogurt

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Yogurt; point at it when ordering breakfast or dessert

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