Catalan is a beautiful and rich language spoken by millions of people primarily in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of Aragon in Spain, as well as in Andorra, parts of southern France, and even a small area in Sardinia, Italy. Learning Catalan can be a rewarding experience, and one way to deepen your understanding and connection with the language is by familiarizing yourself with its slang and informal phrases. This not only helps you sound more like a native speaker but also allows you to better understand the culture and social nuances of Catalan-speaking regions.
Common Catalan Slang and Informal Phrases
Basic Informal Greetings
1. **Què tal?** – This phrase is equivalent to “How’s it going?” or “What’s up?” in English. It is a casual way to ask someone how they are doing.
2. **Ei!** – Simply means “Hey!” and is used to get someone’s attention or as a casual greeting.
3. **Com va?** – Another way to ask “How’s it going?” It is informal and commonly used among friends.
4. **Adéu-siau!** – A more colloquial way of saying “Goodbye,” similar to “See ya!” in English.
Expressing Emotions and Reactions
1. **Uau!** – Equivalent to “Wow!” in English. Used to express amazement or surprise.
2. **Ostres!** – This is a mild expletive that can be translated to “Geez!” or “Oh my!” in English. It is used to express surprise, frustration, or annoyance.
3. **Caram!** – Another mild expletive, similar to “Darn!” or “Wow!” Used to express surprise or admiration.
4. **Déu n’hi do!** – This phrase means “Goodness me!” or “Wow!” and is used to express astonishment or disbelief.
Compliments and Flattery
1. **Ets un crack!** – This phrase means “You’re awesome!” or “You’re a genius!” It is a high compliment often used to praise someone’s skills or achievements.
2. **Estàs fet/ta un pinzell!** – Literally translates to “You’re made like a brush!” but it means “You look sharp!” or “You look great!”
3. **Tens molt de morro!** – Means “You have a lot of nerve!” or “You’re cheeky!” It can be a playful compliment or a mild admonishment, depending on the context.
Everyday Slang
1. **Tio/Tia** – These words mean “dude” or “guy” and “girl” respectively. They are informal and commonly used among friends. For example, “Ei, tio!” means “Hey, dude!”
2. **Maco/Maca** – These words mean “nice” or “pretty.” They can be used to describe people, places, or things. For example, “Quin lloc més maco!” means “What a nice place!”
3. **Xaval/Xavala** – Similar to “kid” or “youngster.” Used informally to refer to younger people.
4. **Molt bé** – Means “very good” or “well done.” It is commonly used to express approval or satisfaction.
Expressions Related to Time
1. **Ara mateix** – Means “right now” or “immediately.” Used to indicate urgency.
2. **Fa un moment** – Translates to “a moment ago.” Used to refer to something that just happened.
3. **De seguida** – Means “right away” or “immediately.” Used to indicate that something will happen very soon.
4. **Al cap d’un temps** – Translates to “after a while.” Used to indicate the passage of time.
Social and Cultural Phrases
1. **Fer un cafè** – Literally means “to make a coffee,” but it is commonly used to mean “let’s grab a coffee” or “let’s hang out.”
2. **Anem a fer un beure** – Means “let’s go for a drink.” It is a casual way to suggest going out for a drink with friends.
3. **Quina barra!** – Translates to “What nerve!” or “How cheeky!” Used to express disbelief or disapproval of someone’s boldness.
4. **No fotis!** – A colloquial way of saying “No way!” or “You’re kidding!” Used to express surprise or disbelief.
Expressions of Agreement and Disagreement
1. **Clar!** – Means “Of course!” or “Sure!” Used to express agreement or understanding.
2. **I tant!** – Another way to say “Of course!” or “Absolutely!” It is a strong affirmation.
3. **Ni de conya!** – Means “No way!” or “Not a chance!” Used to strongly disagree or refuse.
4. **D’acord** – Simply means “Okay” or “Alright.” Used to express agreement.
Describing People
1. **Es un tros de pa** – Literally translates to “He’s a piece of bread,” but it means “He’s a good person” or “He’s a sweetheart.”
2. **Està com una cabra** – Means “He’s crazy” or “He’s nuts.” Used to describe someone who is acting irrationally or eccentrically.
3. **Estar tocat del bolet** – Another way to say “He’s crazy” or “He’s not all there.” It literally translates to “touched by the mushroom.”
4. **Està en la parra** – Means “He’s daydreaming” or “He’s not paying attention.” Literally translates to “He’s in the vine.”
Food and Drink
1. **Fer un mos** – Means “to have a bite” or “to grab a snack.” Used to suggest eating something light.
2. **Estar com un llum** – Literally translates to “He’s like a light,” but it means “He’s drunk” or “He’s tipsy.”
3. **Fer un trago** – Means “to have a drink” or “to take a sip.” Commonly used in social settings.
4. **Ser un llepafils** – Means “to be a picky eater.” Used to describe someone who is very particular about their food.
Money and Spending
1. **Estar pelat/da** – Means “to be broke” or “to have no money.” Used to describe someone who is out of cash.
2. **Fer caixa** – Literally means “to make a box,” but it means “to make money” or “to profit.”
3. **Ser un rata** – Means “to be a cheapskate” or “to be stingy.” Used to describe someone who is very frugal.
4. **Tirar la casa per la finestra** – Literally translates to “throw the house out of the window,” but it means “to splurge” or “to spend lavishly.”
Miscellaneous Phrases
1. **Estar a tope** – Means “to be at full capacity” or “to be very busy.” Used to describe a hectic situation.
2. **Fer el préssec** – Literally translates to “to make the peach,” but it means “to make a fool of oneself.”
3. **Estar al cas** – Means “to be aware” or “to be on the lookout.” Used to describe someone who is attentive.
4. **Fer l’orni** – Means “to play dumb” or “to pretend not to notice.” Used to describe someone who is deliberately ignoring something.
Conclusion
Learning Catalan slang and informal phrases can significantly enhance your ability to communicate effectively and naturally with native speakers. It allows you to fit in more easily in social situations and gain a deeper understanding of the culture and nuances of the language. While this article has covered a broad range of common phrases, the best way to master them is through practice and real-life conversations. So don’t be afraid to use these phrases and dive into the vibrant world of Catalan!
