English Reference

Word

catalan

Phoneticscata·lan

/ˈkætəɫən/

Definitions

01the language

B2

n. the Romance language spoken in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of Valencia and France.

n. the Romance language spoken in Catalonia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra, and parts of France, Italy, and the Valencian Community.

“She decided to learn Catalan before moving to Barcelona for her new job.”

“While many residents are bilingual, Catalan remains the primary language of administration and education throughout the autonomous community.”

02a person

B2

n. a person who comes from Catalonia in Spain.

n. a native or inhabitant of Catalonia, a region in northeastern Spain.

“The famous architect Antoni Gaudí was a proud Catalan.”

“Many Catalans maintain a strong sense of cultural identity that is distinct from the broader Spanish national identity.”

03relating to Catalonia

B2

adj. relating to Catalonia, its people, its language, or its culture.

adj. of, from, or relating to Catalonia, its inhabitants, or its language.

“We enjoyed traditional Catalan food at a small restaurant near the coast.”

“The exhibition focused on Catalan modernism, highlighting the unique artistic developments in Barcelona at the turn of the century.”

Real-World Examples

“We're not asking for money, but for issues that affect our safety and health,” Juan Navarro, a member of the CGT union at Groundforce, told Catalan newspaper La Vanguardia.”
The Local · 14 Aug 2026

Etymology

From Middle English Catalane, from French Catalan, from Catalan català.

Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.

This entry

Level
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Frequent
Updated

Scan code

englishreference.com/q/catalan

English Reference