Days of the Week:
Lets start by familiarizing ourselves with the days of the week in Catalan:
Monday: dilluns
Tuesday: dimarts
Wednesday: dimecres
Thursday: dijous
Friday: divendres
Saturday: dissabte
Sunday: diumenge
Phrases with Days of the Week:
Here are some phrases that incorporate the days of the week:
«Què fas dilluns?» (What are you doing on Monday?): Use this phrase to inquire about someones plans for a specific day.
«Tenim una reunió dimecres» (We have a meeting on Wednesday): Use this sentence to communicate a scheduled event on a particular day.
Months of the Year:
Next, lets explore the months of the year in Catalan:
January: gener
February: febrer
March: març
April: abril
May: maig
June: juny
July: juliol
August: agost
September: setembre
October: octubre
November: novembre
December: desembre
Phrases with Months:
Here are some phrases that involve the months of the year:
«Laniversari de la meva germana és al març» (My sisters birthday is in March): Use this sentence to indicate a specific month for an event or occasion.
«Viatjarem a Itàlia a lagost» (We will travel to Italy in August): Use this phrase to express the time frame for a future trip or activity.
Seasons:
In Catalan, the seasons are:
Spring: primavera
Summer: estiu
Autumn: tardor
Winter: hivern
When referring to seasons, you can use phrases like «a la primavera» (in spring), «a lestiu» (in summer), «a la tardor» (in autumn), and «a lhivern» (in winter).
Additional Phrases:
Here are a few additional phrases related to days of the week and months:
«Avui és dimecres» (Today is Wednesday): Use this sentence to indicate the current day.
«Quin dia és demà?» (What day is tomorrow?): Use this phrase to inquire about the following day.
«Quan és el teu aniversari?» (When is your birthday?): Use this question to ask someone about their birthday.
Talking about Dates:
When discussing specific dates, the following format is commonly used in Catalan:
[Day] de [Month]: For example, «10 de juny» (June 10th) or «25 de desembre» (December 25th).
Its also important to note that the day usually comes before the month when expressing a date in Catalan.
Holidays and Celebrations:
Catalonia has its own set of holidays and celebrations. Some notable examples include:
Sant Jordi: Celebrated on April 23rd, it is the Catalan equivalent of Valentines Day, where people exchange roses and books.
La Diada Nacional de Catalunya: Celebrated on September 11th, it commemorates the National Day of Catalonia.
Exploring local holidays and celebrations can provide valuable cultural insights and opportunities for immersion.
By familiarizing yourself with the days of the week, months, and related phrases in Catalan, you will be able to engage in conversations about dates, events, and future plans with confidence. Dont hesitate to use these phrases in your daily interactions and continue to expand your vocabulary.
Chapter 6: Time and Dates
Understanding how to express and discuss time and dates in Catalan is crucial for scheduling appointments, making plans, and engaging in everyday conversations. In this chapter, we will delve into the vocabulary and phrases related to time and dates, allowing you to navigate temporal discussions with ease.
Telling Time:
Lets begin by learning how to tell time in Catalan. The following phrases will help you express different aspects of time:
«Quina hora és?» (What time is it?): Use this question to inquire about the current time.
«És luna» (It is one oclock): Use this phrase to indicate the exact hour when the minute hand is on the 12.
«És la una en punt» (It is exactly one oclock): This phrase emphasizes that it is exactly one oclock with no minutes.
«És la una i quart» (It is a quarter past one): Use this phrase when the minute hand is at the 3, indicating 15 minutes past the hour.
«És la una i mitja» (It is half past one): This phrase signifies that it is half an hour past one.
«És la una menys quart» (It is a quarter to one): Use this phrase when the minute hand is at the 9, indicating 15 minutes to the next hour.
«És la una i vint» (It is twenty past one): This phrase indicates 20 minutes past the hour.
«És la una i cinquanta-cinc» (It is fifty-five minutes past one): Use this phrase to express that it is five minutes to the next hour.
«És migdia» (It is noon): Use this phrase to denote that it is 12:00 PM.
«És mitjanit» (It is midnight): This phrase signifies that it is 12:00 AM.
Phrases with Time:
Here are some additional phrases incorporating time:
«A quina hora comença la reunió?» (What time does the meeting start?): Use this question to inquire about the starting time of an event.
«Tenim una cita a les quatre de la tarda» (We have an appointment at four in the afternoon): Use this sentence to communicate a scheduled appointment time.
«Podem quedar a les set del vespre?» (Can we meet at seven in the evening?): Use this phrase to suggest a meeting time.
Days, Months, and Years:
When discussing specific dates in Catalan, you can use the following format:
[Day] de [Month] de [Year]: For example, «10 de juny de 2023» (June 10th, 2023) or «25 de desembre de 2022» (December 25th, 2022).
To refer to the current year, you can say «enguany» (this year). For example, «Lany passat» (last year) or «Lany que ve» (next year).
Expressing Dates:
To express dates in Catalan, you can use phrases such as:
«Avui és el 5 de gener» (Today is January 5th): Use this phrase to indicate the current date.
«El meu aniversari és el 18 dagost» (My birthday is on August 18th): Use this sentence to communicate your birthday.
«La conferència serà el 3 de juliol» (The conference will be on July 3rd): Use this phrase to denote a specific date for an event or activity.
Duration and Time Periods:
To talk about the duration of time or time periods, you can use the following expressions:
«Durant un any» (For one year): Use this phrase to discuss a time period of one year.
«Des de les tres fins a les cinc» (From three to five): Use this phrase to indicate a time span between three oclock and five oclock.
«Per dues hores» (For two hours): Use this expression to talk about a duration of two hours.
Additional Phrases:
Here are a few more phrases related to time and dates:
«Quan et ve de gust quedar?» (When are you available to meet?): Use this question when arranging a meeting time.
«Quin dia de la setmana és avui?» (What day of the week is it today?): Use this phrase to inquire about the current day.
«Quin mes preferiu per al viatge?» (Which month do you prefer for the trip?): Use this question to discuss preferred months for a trip.
Holidays and Festivals:
Catalonia celebrates various holidays and festivals throughout the year. Some notable examples include:
«Diada de Sant Jordi» (St. Georges Day): Celebrated on April 23rd, it is a day to honor Catalonias patron saint, featuring the exchange of roses and books.
«La Diada Nacional de Catalunya» (National Day of Catalonia): Celebrated on September 11th, it commemorates Catalonias national identity and history.
Exploring these cultural events will not only enhance your language skills but also provide valuable insights into Catalan traditions and customs.
By familiarizing yourself with the vocabulary and phrases related to time and dates in Catalan, you will gain confidence in scheduling appointments, making plans, and engaging in temporal discussions. Practice using these phrases in practical situations and immerse yourself in the local culture to deepen your understanding of time-related concepts.
Chapter 7: Making Reservations
Being able to make reservations is essential when planning travel, dining out, or securing accommodations. In this chapter, we will explore the vocabulary and phrases necessary for making reservations in Catalan, allowing you to confidently navigate these situations.