Markets & Souvenirs

1. Quant costa això?

   How much does this cost?

   Usage

   Basic phrase for asking the price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "Quant costa?" is the most common way to ask for a price in Catalan

2. Es pot negociar el preu?

   Can I bargain on the price?

   Usage

   Asking whether price negotiation is possible

   Grammar Note

   "Es pot" is the impersonal can/may. Tourist markets in Barcelona sometimes allow haggling

3. T'ofereixo vint euros

   I'll offer you twenty euros

   Usage

   Offering a counter-price during bargaining

   Grammar Note

   "Ofereixo" is the first-person singular present of "oferir" (to offer)

4. Em podeu fer un descompte?

   Can you give me a discount?

   Usage

   Requesting a discount

   Grammar Note

   "Podeu" is the respectful plural used with one person. "Pots" is the informal singular

5. Això és fet a mà?

   Is this handmade?

   Usage

   Checking whether an item is handmade

   Grammar Note

   "Fet a mà" literally means "made by hand". "De producció local" means locally produced

6. De quin material és?

   What material is it made of?

   Usage

   Asking about the material of an item

   Grammar Note

   Simple and direct. Knowing seda (silk), cotó (cotton), cuir (leather) helps understand the answer

7. Ho podeu embolcallar per a regal?

   Can you gift-wrap this?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping

   Grammar Note

   "Per a regal" means "as a gift". "Regal" is the Catalan word for present/gift

8. On és el mercat nocturn?

   Where is the night market?

   Usage

   Asking for the location of a night market

   Grammar Note

   "Nocturn" means "nocturnal/night". Markets (mercats) are central to Catalan community life

9. Em podeu donar un rebut?

   Can I have a receipt?

   Usage

   Asking for a receipt after a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "Rebut" is an informal receipt. "Factura" is a more formal invoice for tax purposes

10. Quin horari té el mercat?

    What are the market opening hours?

    Usage

    Checking the operating hours of a market

    Grammar Note

    "Horari" means schedule/timetable. Catalan markets often close for a midday break

11. Només estic mirant, gràcies

    I'm just looking, thank you

    Usage

    Politely declining a shopkeeper's approach

    Grammar Note

    "Només estic mirant" is the most common way to say you are just browsing

12. Accepteu targeta de crèdit?

    Do you accept credit card?

    Usage

    Checking whether card payment is accepted

    Grammar Note

    Small mercats and street stalls often accept cash only

13. Ho compro de record per a un amic

    I'm buying it as a souvenir for a friend

    Usage

    Telling the seller it is a souvenir for someone

    Grammar Note

    "Record" means memory/souvenir in Catalan, equivalent to Spanish "recuerdo"

14. Es pot enviar a l'estranger?

    Can this be shipped internationally?

    Usage

    Asking whether international shipping is available

    Grammar Note

    "L'estranger" means abroad. "A l'estranger" means "to foreign countries"

15. Quin és el vostre millor article?

    What is your best item?

    Usage

    Asking for the shopkeeper's top recommendation

    Grammar Note

    "Millor" is the comparative/superlative of "bon/bona" (good). "El millor" means "the best"

16. El preu és negociable?

    Is the price negotiable?

    Usage

    Checking whether the price is open to negotiation

    Grammar Note

    Simple direct question. If answered "fixe" (fixed), the price is not negotiable

17. Teniu una talla diferent?

    Do you have a different size?

    Usage

    Looking for a different size

    Grammar Note

    "Talla" is clothing size. "Mida" is also used. Add "més gran" (bigger) or "més petit" (smaller)

18. Això és massa car

    This is too expensive

    Usage

    Expressing that the price is too high

    Grammar Note

    "Massa" means "too much". Say "una mica car" (a little expensive) for a softer approach

19. la fruita

    Fruit

    Usage

    Fruit in general; use it to find the produce stalls. "Els fruits secs" (nuts) are sold separately

20. l'all

    Garlic

    Usage

    Garlic — the base of Catalan "allioli". Say "sense all" to have it left out

21. la ceba

    Onion

    Usage

    Onion; the winter speciality "calçots" is a different, spring-onion-like variety

22. el bitxo

    Chili pepper

    Usage

    The hot chili. Colloquially "bitxo" can also mean a bug or critter, so show it at a food stall; the Spanish-derived "la guindilla" is widely understood too

23. el coriandre fresc

    Fresh coriander (cilantro)

    Usage

    The fresh leaf. Plain "coriandre" usually means the seed spice, so "fresc" is kept. It is not used in Catalan cooking — look for it in Asian or Middle Eastern shops

24. el gingebre

    Ginger

    Usage

    Ginger; the fresh root is at the produce stalls, the powder with the spices

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