Which Catalan phrases matter most here?

“Què et poso?” (What can I get you); “Puc veure la carta, si us plau?” (Can I see the menu, please); “Em poses també un got d'aigua de l'aixeta?” (Could I also have a glass of tap water). 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 ordering drinks and small plates in Catalonia

At a Catalan bar, order the drinks first: “Dues canyes i un vermut, si us plau”. Then ask “Puc veure la carta, si us plau?” and pick a few tapes or a ració to share. At the end, ask “Em portes el compte, si us plau?” or, if you’re splitting, “Ens ho pots cobrar per separat?”.

Try it · about two minutes

After work you meet friends at a busy bar and order a round of drinks and some plates to share.

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

How does the conversation usually go?

Bartender
Què et poso?
What can I get you?
You
Una canya i una clara, si us plau.
A small beer and a shandy, please.
Bartender
Voleu menjar alguna cosa?
Would you like something to eat?
You
Puc veure la carta, si us plau?
Can I see the menu, please?
Bartender
En uns minuts tindràs la comanda.
Your order will be ready in a few minutes.
You
Podem seure a la terrassa?
Can we sit on the terrace?
Two hours later the plates are empty and you’re ready to go. You catch the bartender’s eye.
You
Em portes el compte, si us plau?
Can you bring me the bill, please?
Bartender
Pagues amb targeta o en efectiu?
Card or cash?
You
Amb targeta, si us plau.
By card, please.
Bartender
Ho sento, el datàfon no funciona.
Sorry, the card machine isn’t working.
You
Cap problema, pago en efectiu.
No problem, I’ll pay in cash.

Which Catalan phrases do you need?

Què et poso?
What can I get you?
Puc veure la carta, si us plau?
Can I see the menu, please?
Em poses també un got d'aigua de l'aixeta?
Could I also have a glass of tap water?
En uns minuts tindràs la comanda.
Your order will be ready in a few minutes.
Podem seure a la terrassa?
Can we sit on the terrace?
Et fa res si compartim aquesta taula?
Do you mind if we share this table?
Em portes el compte, si us plau?
Can you bring me the bill, please?
Pagues amb targeta o en efectiu?
Card or cash?
Ens ho pots cobrar per separat?
Can you charge us separately?
Ho sento, el datàfon no funciona.
Sorry, the card machine isn’t working.

What is worth knowing in Catalonia?

How a round goes

1
Catch the bartender’s eye at the bar and order the whole round at once.
Dues canyes i un vermut, si us plau.Two small beers and a vermouth, please.
2
Order a few tapes or one ració to share. The plates go in the middle of the table.
3
Ask for one bill at the end, or ask to split it.
Can you charge us separately?

Tapes and racions

A tapa is a small plate. A ració is a bigger portion meant for sharing, and a mitja ració is half of one. With more than two people, a ració goes further.

Ens poses unes braves i unes croquetes per compartir?

Could you get us some patatas bravas and some croquettes to share?

Canya, clara and vermut

A canya is a small draught beer, and a clara is the same beer mixed with lemon soda. “Fer el vermut” means going out for a vermouth, often around midday at the weekend, with olives or crisps.

Dues canyes i un vermut, si us plau.

Two small beers and a vermouth, please.

Questions about this situation

Which Catalan phrases matter most here?: “Què et poso?” (What can I get you); “Puc veure la carta, si us plau?” (Can I see the menu, please); “Em poses també un got d'aigua de l'aixeta?” (Could I also have a glass of tap water). 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.