Basic Nouns

1. l'aigua

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel

2. el menjar

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun formed from the verb "menjar"

3. els diners

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Normally masculine plural; the singular is rarely used

4. el lavabo

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; public facilities are also "els serveis"

5. el mocador de paper

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; "mocador" alone means a cloth handkerchief

6. el medicament

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; the pharmacy is "la farmàcia" (feminine)

7. l'equipatge

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Masculine and uncountable; "el" elides to "l'"

8. la clau

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine noun; plural "les claus"

9. el bitllet

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine noun; "tll" sounds close to a long "ly"

10. el passaport

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; plural "els passaports"

11. el telèfon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a mobile is "el mòbil"

12. el carregador

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; tool names in "-dor" are usually masculine

13. l'estació

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun elided to "l'"; plural "les estacions"

14. l'hospital

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the silent "h" triggers elision

15. la policia

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for the force; Catalonia's own force is the "Mossos d'Esquadra"

16. la botiga

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; a big one is "el supermercat"

17. l'habitació

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun for a hotel room; the "h" is silent

18. el carrer

    Street

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun for a street; an out-of-town road is "la carretera"

19. la família

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; the stress falls on the "í"

20. el nom

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; a surname is "el cognom"

21. el cap

    Head

    Usage

    The head as a body part; point at it to show where it hurts

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun. Bare "cap" also works as the negative determiner "no / any" and can mean boss or cape, so always show it with "el"

22. l'ull

    Eye

    Usage

    Eye; both eyes are "els ulls"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "el" elides to "l'" before a vowel

23. les dents

    Teeth

    Usage

    Teeth; a dentist is "el dentista" and toothache is often "mal de queixal" (molar ache)

    Grammar Note

    Feminine plural; the singular is "la dent"

24. la gola

    Throat

    Usage

    The throat itself. Everyday Catalan says "mal de coll" for a sore throat, but "la gola" is the body part

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun

25. la panxa

    Belly (abdomen)

    Usage

    The belly you can point at from outside; the stomach as an organ is "l'estómac"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; colloquial but understood by doctors

26. l'esquena

    Back

    Usage

    The back as a whole; indicate the height of the pain with your hand

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel

27. la part baixa de l'esquena

    Lower back

    Usage

    The lower back. Catalan has no single word matching Japanese "koshi"; this descriptive phrase is the accurate one. Colloquially back pain there is "mal de ronyons" (kidney ache)

28. el peu

    Foot

    Usage

    The foot below the ankle. The leg is a different word, "la cama", so point at the spot that hurts

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun

29. la mà

    Hand

    Usage

    The hand below the wrist; the arm is a separate word, "el braç"

    Grammar Note

    Feminine despite the "-à" ending; keep the accent

30. el pit

    Chest

    Usage

    The chest, for reporting chest pain. The plural "els pits" means breasts, so keep it singular

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun

31. l'hotel

    Hotel

    Usage

    Hotel; show it with the name of your accommodation when directing a taxi

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; the silent "h" makes "el" elide to "l'"

32. l'aeroport

    Airport

    Usage

    Airport; Barcelona's is "l'aeroport del Prat"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun; "el" elides to "l'" before a vowel

33. l'ambaixada

    Embassy

    Usage

    Embassy — show it if you lose your passport. A consulate is "el consolat", and Barcelona mostly has consulates rather than embassies

    Grammar Note

    Feminine noun; "la" elides to "l'" before a vowel

34. el camió de bombers

    Fire engine

    Usage

    The vehicle used to put out fires; the tanker type is also called "l'autobomba"

    Grammar Note

    "Camió" (truck) + "de" + "bombers" (firefighters); "bomber" is a firefighter, from "bomba" (pump)

35. el consolat

    Consulate

    Usage

    Where to go if you lose your passport; an embassy is "l'ambaixada"

    Grammar Note

    Masculine noun, plural "consolats"; the consul is "el cònsol"

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