Which Catalan phrases matter most here?

“Què li poso?” (What can I get you); “Una barra de pa, si us plau.” (A loaf of bread, please); “El vol tallat a talls?” (Would you like it sliced). The full list is above.

Can I hear how they sound?

Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.

How can I practise this conversation?

Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Catalonia. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Catalan phrases for buying bread at the bakery in Catalonia

Say “Bon dia” and wait for “Què li poso?”. Ask for bread with “Una barra de pa, si us plau”. If you can’t name a pastry, point and ask “Què és això?”, then order it with “Me'n posa dues, si us plau?”. Pay, take your change, and finish with “Que tingui un bon dia”.

Try it · about two minutes

You pop into the bakery for a loaf, and you point at a pastry you can’t name.

Sound on: the baker speaks Catalan. You choose what to say back, and Frasa tells you why it works.

How does the conversation usually go?

Baker
Què li poso?
What can I get you?
You
Una barra de pa, si us plau.
A loaf of bread, please.
Baker
El vol tallat a talls?
Would you like it sliced?
You
Sí, si us plau.
Yes, please.
Baker
Vol alguna cosa més?
Would you like anything else?
You
Què és això?
What is this?
Baker
És una coca de crema, feta aquest matí.
It’s a custard pastry, made this morning.
You
M'ho quedo.
I’ll take it.
Baker
Són vuit euros amb cinquanta.
That’s eight euros fifty.
You
Aquí té.
Here you are.
Baker
Aquí té el canvi.
Here’s your change.
You
Que tingui un bon dia!
Have a nice day.

Which Catalan phrases do you need?

Què li poso?
What can I get you?
Una barra de pa, si us plau.
A loaf of bread, please.
El vol tallat a talls?
Would you like it sliced?
El pa encara és calent?
Is the bread still warm?
Això és fresc?
Is this fresh?
Em posa dos, si us plau?
Could you give me two, please?
Només un, si us plau.
Just one, please.
M'ho quedo.
I’ll take it.
Sense bossa, gràcies.
No bag, thanks.
Em pot reservar una barra de pa per demà al matí?
Could you set aside a loaf for tomorrow morning?

What is worth knowing in Catalonia?

At the bakery counter

1
Say hello and wait your turn. If you’re not sure who is next, ask.
Am I next?
2
Ask for the bread first, then for pastries or anything else.
A loaf of bread, please.
3
Pay at the counter. Some small bakeries prefer cash, so it’s worth asking about cards.
Can I pay by card?

Still warm?

Some bakeries bake more than once a day, so it’s normal to ask whether the bread is still warm.

El pa encara és calent?

Is the bread still warm?

Forn, fleca or pastisseria

A forn de pa or a fleca sells bread, and a pastisseria sells cakes and pastries. Many shops in Catalan towns do a bit of both.

Questions about this situation

Which Catalan phrases matter most here?: “Què li poso?” (What can I get you); “Una barra de pa, si us plau.” (A loaf of bread, please); “El vol tallat a talls?” (Would you like it sliced). The full list is above.
Can I hear how they sound?: Yes: press the speaker next to a phrase to hear it, recorded for the Frasa app.
How can I practise this conversation?: Press “Start the conversation” above to play it through and choose your replies, with a note on why some fit better in Catalonia. Frasa, an iPhone app, lets you save these phrases and rehearse them out loud.

Related situations in Catalan

All situations in Catalan

Practise these phrases in Frasa

Frasa is an iPhone app for the conversations in front of you. Save phrases like these, rehearse them out loud, and they come back until they stick.

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.