Language/Catalan/Vocabulary/At-the-Restaurant

Catalan → Vocabulary → 0 to A1 Course → At the Restaurant

Introduction

In this lesson, you will learn useful phrases and expressions for dining out in Catalan. You will discover how to order food, ask for the bill, and discuss dietary preferences.

As you progress, you will increase your vocabulary and communication skills, as well as your confidence in dining out in a Catalan-speaking region.

Let's get started!

Take a moment to explore these relevant pages as you conclude this lesson: Greetings in Catalan & Idiomatic Expressions.

Basic Phrases

Before we dive into the specific terms related to dining out, let's start with some basic phrases and expressions that you'll commonly use at restaurants.

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
Hola	['ɔ.lə]	Hello
Bon dia	[bɔn di.ə]	Good morning
Bona tarda	[bo.nə tar.ðə]	Good afternoon
Bona nit	[bo.nə nit]	Good evening / Good night
Fins ara	[fins aɾə]	Bye for now
Adeu	[ə'ðew]	Goodbye
Gràcies	[ˈɡɾa.si.əs]	Thank you
Si us plau	[si us ˈplaw]	Please
Ho sento	[u ˈsɛn.tu]	Sorry

• Note that "si us plau" is often abbreviated as "si us" in more casual contexts.

• "Adeu" is more formal and final than "fins ara," which is often used to indicate that you will see someone again soon.

Dining Vocabulary

Now let's dive into the vocabulary that you will need when eating out in Catalan.

Ordering Food

To order food at a restaurant, you will need to know some basic vocabulary related to food and drinks, as well as some phrases to express your preferences or dietary restrictions.

Here are some common phrases for ordering food:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
Vull...	[buʎ]	I want...
Em porteu...	[əm puɾˈto.wə]	Can you bring me...
El menú, si us plau	[ɛɫ məˈnu si us ˈplaw]	The menu, please
Què em recomaneu?	[ˈkɛ məm rə.ku.məˈne.w]	What do you recommend (to me)?
Puc veure la carta?	[puk bəˈwe.ɾə ɫə ˈkaɾ.tə]	Can I see the menu?
Quines són les especialitats?	[ˈki.nəz ˈsom ɫəz əspe.sjə.liˈtats]	What are the specialties?
Pot ser sense...?	[pot ser sən.se]	Can it be without...?
Sense gluten / lactosa	[ˈsɛns ɡɫuˈtɛn / ɫəkˈtɔ.zə]	Gluten-free / lactose-free

• "Què em recomaneu?" is a useful phrase to ask for recommendations from the waiter or waitress.

• "Puc veure la carta?" is how you can ask to see the menu.

• "Pot ser sense...?" is a helpful way to ask if a dish can be prepared without certain ingredients.

Here are some Catalan words for common food items:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
Amanida	[əmə'niðə]	Salad
Pa amb tomàquet	[pa əm tu'mat͡ʃət]	Bread with tomato
Croquetes	[kɾo'kɛtəs]	Croquettes
Truita	[tɾu'itə]	Omelette
Marisc	[mə'ɾisk]	Seafood
Peix	[pɛʃ]	Fish
Carn	[kaɾn]	Meat
Pollastre	[poʎˈɫastɾə]	Chicken
Postre	[ˈpɔstɾə]	Dessert
Gelat	[ʒə'lat]	Ice cream

Drinks

To order a beverage, you will need to know the words for various drinks. Here's a list:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
Aigua	[ə'ɡi.wə]	Water
Cervesa	[səɾ'βɛsə]	Beer
Vi	[bi]	Wine
Refresc	[rəf'ɾɛsk]	Soft drink
Suc	[suk]	Juice
Infusió	[imfuˈzi.o]	Tea (infusion)
Cafè	[kə'fe]	Coffee
Té	[ˈte]	Tea

The Meal

Once your food and drinks have been served, you might want to describe them or ask for something else. These phrases will come in handy:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
Està boíssim!	[əs'ta βuɪ̯'si]	It's really good!
Això no m'agrada	[əʃˈʃɔ nʊ.əˈɣɾaðə]	I don't like that
Em podeu portar...?	[əm po'dew puɾ'taɾ]	Can you bring me...?
M'agradaria provar...	[məɣɾəðəˈɾi.ə pɾu'vaɾ]	I would like to try...
Em podeu donar més pa, si us plau?	[əm poˈðew ðo'naɾ ˈmɛz pa si us ˈplaw]	Can you give me more bread, please?
La sal, si us plau	[ɫə ˈsaɫ si us ˈplaw]	The salt, please

• "Està boíssim!" is a great way to compliment the chef or the restaurant when you really enjoy your food.

• "Em podeu donar més pa, si us plau?" is how you can ask for more bread politely.

Paying the Bill

When it's time to pay the bill, you will need to know how to ask for it, and the different payment methods available.

Here are some useful phrases for paying the bill:

Catalan	Pronunciation	English
El compte, si us plau	[ɛɫ kom'tɛ si us ˈplaw]	The bill, please
Accepteu targeta / efectiu?	[ək siptˈɛw taɾ'ʒɛtə əfəkˈtiw]	Do you take card / cash?
Pot ser amb tarja?	[pot seɾ am ta'rʒə]	Can I pay by card?
Què devo?	[kɛ ˈðɛ.βu]	What do I owe?
Una propina	[u.nə pɾu'pi.nə]	A tip

• While tipping isn't mandatory in Catalan culture, it is becoming increasingly common to leave a small amount (around 5-10% of the total) as a gesture of appreciation for good service.

• "Què devo?" literally translates to "What do I owe?", but it is a common phrase to ask how much the bill is.

Culture Corner

Catalan cuisine is famous for its paella, a rice dish usually made with seafood or chicken. Another popular dish is "calçots," which are long, sweet onions usually served grilled and dipped in a sauce called "romesco."

In Catalan culture, it is common to share dishes family-style, rather than ordering individual plates. This is especially true for appetizers and desserts. Don't be afraid to try something new and share with your dining companions!

Practice

Now that you've learned some useful Catalan vocabulary and phrases for dining out, it's time to practice! Try visiting a Catalan restaurant or even just ordering takeout, and see if you can use any of the phrases you've learned.

Challenge yourself to ask for a recommendation, try a new dish, or even pay the bill in Catalan. Every little step will bring you closer to fluency!

Table of Contents - Catalan Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Catalan

• Alphabet and Pronunciation
• Basic Sentence Structure

  ---

Greetings and Introductions

• Common Greetings
• Introducing Yourself

  ---

Articles and Nouns

• Definite and Indefinite Articles
• Noun Gender and Plurals

  ---

Numbers and Time

• Numbers 1-100
• Telling Time

  ---

Adjectives and Pronouns

• Adjective Agreement
• Personal Pronouns

  ---

Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Describing Relationships

  ---

Verbs and Tenses

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs

  ---

Food and Dining

• Food Vocabulary
• At the Restaurant

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Prepositions and Conjunctions

• Common Prepositions
• Coordinating Conjunctions

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Travel and Transportation

• Modes of Transportation
• Travel Phrases

  ---

Catalan Culture

• History and Geography
• Traditions and Celebrations

Other Lessons

• Days of the week
• Weather and Climate
• Clothes
• Literary and academic vocabulary
• Greetings in Catalan
• Telling Time
• Days of the Week
• Animal
• Business and professional vocabulary

Sources

• Navigating a Catalan Menu: Catalan Food Vocabulary & Tips ...
• Essential Catalan Phrases to visit like a local | Barcelona Eat Local ...
• 20 Essential Catalan Phrases You'll Need in Barcelona

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