Language and Culture
The region has two official languages, Catalan and Spanish, which both stem from Latin.
It should be noted that Catalan is not a Spanish dialect and this can be quite a sensitive issue for the Catalans.
Catalonia, who has more than 1000 years of history have left an important mark on the people, who are very proud of their origins and of being Catalan. The inhabitants of the Costa Brava are descendants from those who enjoyed prosperous years in the Middle Ages and many of them suffered years of oppression even in the middle of the last century.
Not many people know that one of the oldest Parliaments in the world is the Catalan Parliament. This is what Mr. Pau Casals told the audience at the Assembly of the United Nations in 1971, before performing his marvellous piece  "El Cant dels Ocells" (the Song of the Birds).
Today Catalonia has four provinces: , Tarragona, Lleida and Girona. Throughout the years this Nation in the Spanish State has been a welcoming land and the Catalans are more than happy to receive tourists from all over the world.
The Catalan people enjoy showing off their gems from the ancient past, as well as offering visitors enjoyable things to do and see.
Do you want to feel more integrated and start practising the language?
A few words of Catalan and Spanish may be helpful...
| English | Catalan | Spanish |
| Hello | Hola | Hola |
| Goodbye | Adéu | Adiós |
| Please | Per favor | Por favor |
| Thanks | Grà cies | Gracias |
| Thank you very much | Moltes grà cies | Muchas gracias |
| Good morning | Bon dia | Buenos dÃas |
| Good afternoon | Bona tarda | Buenas tardes |
| Good evening | Bona nit | Buenas noches |
| Yesterday | Ahir | Ayer |
| Today | Avui | Hoy |
| Tomorrow | Demà | Mañana |
| Good | Bé | Bien |
| Bad | Malament | Mal |
| Monday | Dilluns | Lunes |
| Tuesday | Dimarts | Martes |
| Wednesday | Dimecres | Miércoles |
| Thursday | Dijous | Jueves |
| Friday | Divendres | Viernes |
| Saturday | Dissabte | Sábado |
| Sunday | Diumenge | Domingo |
| Day | Dia | DÃa |
| Week | Setmana | Semana |
| Month | Mes | Mes |
| Year | Any | Año |
| Open | Obert | Abierto |
| Closed | Tancat | Cerrado |
| Room | Habitació | Habitación |
| Bed | Llit | Cama |
| Kitchen | Cuina | Cocina |
| Bath | Bany | Baño |
| Waiter | Cambrer | Camarero |
| Breakfast | Esmorzar | Desayuno |
| Lunch | Dinar | Comida |
| Dinner | Sopar | Cena |
| How much | Quant | Cuanto |
| Much | Molt | Mucho |
| Little | Poc | Poco |
| How expensive | Quant val | Qué vale |
| The Bill | El compte | La cuenta |
| Cheap | Barat | Barato |
| Expensive | Car | Caro |
| Pharmacist | Farmà cia | Farmacia |
| Market | Mercat | Mercado |
| Post office | Correus | Correos |
| Stamp | Segell | Sello |
| Help | Ajut | Ayuda |
| Bread | Pa | Pan |
| Water | Aigua | Agua |
| Beer | Cervesa | Cerveza |
| Wine | Vi | Vino |
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A dicctionary online can be as well a good help in some situations. We recommend Reverso.
