Which Catalan phrases matter most here?

“Què li poso?” (What can I get you); “Aquest peix és d'avui?” (Is this fish from today); “Què em recomana per al sopar d'aquesta nit?” (What do you recommend for tonight’s dinner). 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 the butcher's and fishmonger's counter in Catalonia

At the counter, the seller asks “Què li poso?”. Ask what’s fresh, “Aquest peix és d'avui?”, then order by weight and say how you want it prepared: “Em pot netejar el peix?” or “Me'l podria picar, si us plau?”. For ideas, ask “Com es cuina això?”.

Try it · about two minutes

At the counter you ask what’s fresh today and how they can cut or clean it for you.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

Fishmonger and butcher
Què li poso?
What can I get you?
You
Aquest peix és d'avui?
Is this fish from today?
Fishmonger and butcher
L'orada és molt fresca; ens ha arribat aquest matí.
The sea bream is very fresh; it came in this morning.
You
Doncs en vull una. Me la pot netejar?
Then I’ll take one. Can you clean it for me?
Fishmonger and butcher
Són una mica més d'un quilo. Va bé?
It’s a bit over a kilo. Is that fine?
You
Ja està bé, gràcies.
That’s enough, thanks.
Next door, at the butcher’s counter, you’d like a piece of beef of about four hundred grams.
You
Em pot posar un tros d'uns quatre-cents grams?
Could you give me a piece of about four hundred grams?
Fishmonger and butcher
El vol tallat a talls?
Would you like it sliced?
You
Me'l podria picar, si us plau?
Could you mince it for me, please?
Fishmonger and butcher
Estarà llest d'aquí a deu minuts.
It will be ready in ten minutes.
You
Quant de temps aguanta a la nevera?
How long will this keep in the fridge?

Which Catalan phrases do you need?

Què li poso?
What can I get you?
Aquest peix és d'avui?
Is this fish from today?
Què em recomana per al sopar d'aquesta nit?
What do you recommend for tonight’s dinner?
Em pot netejar el peix?
Could you clean the fish for me?
Em pot treure les espines, si us plau?
Could you take the bones out, please?
Em pot posar un tros d'uns quatre-cents grams?
Could you give me a piece of about four hundred grams?
El vol tallat a talls?
Would you like it sliced?
Me'l podria picar, si us plau?
Could you mince it for me, please?
Com es cuina això?
How do you cook this?
Quant de temps aguanta a la nevera?
How long will this keep in the fridge?

What is worth knowing in Catalonia?

At the counter

1
Wait your turn. If there is a queue and no tickets, ask who is last.
What can I get you?
2
Say how you want it prepared: cleaned, boned, sliced or minced.
Could you take the bones out, please?
3
Wait while it’s prepared, then pay at the counter.

Words for cuts

Picat is minced, a talls is sliced, a trossos is in pieces and, for fish, sense espines is without bones. Say the word after “el vull” (I want it) or “Me'l podria…?” (could you…).

Me'l podria picar, si us plau?

Could you mince it for me, please?

Ask how to cook it

Sellers are often glad to tell you how to cook what they sell, and which cut or fish suits the dish. It’s a good way to learn the words.

Com es cuina això?

How do you cook this?

Questions about this situation

Which Catalan phrases matter most here?: “Què li poso?” (What can I get you); “Aquest peix és d'avui?” (Is this fish from today); “Què em recomana per al sopar d'aquesta nit?” (What do you recommend for tonight’s dinner). 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

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AI-generated. May be inaccurate.