Castellano vs. Catalan: What’s the Difference?
Many people are surprised to learn that Spain isn’t just one big, linguistically homogenous country. While Castellano (Spanish) is the official language, other languages, like Catalan, are also spoken throughout the country.
Both Castellano and Catalan are Romance languages, meaning that they both evolved from Latin. But that’s where the simple explanations end. While the two languages share some similarities, they’re also quite different.
In this article, we’ll explore:
- The similarities and differences between Castellano and Catalan
- How easy or difficult each language is to learn
- The practical applications of each language
- The cultural significance of each language
When deciding which language to learn, it’s important to consider the cultural and practical context. While both languages share Latin roots and certain similarities, significant differences exist in grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary, making each unique with distinct cultural and practical implications.
A brief history of Spanish and Catalan
To understand the differences between Castellano and Catalan, it helps to know a little about where these languages came from.
The origins of Romance languages
Both Spanish and Catalan are Romance languages, meaning they evolved from Vulgar Latin, the everyday version of Latin spoken by regular people, rather than the formal Latin used in writing.
The Roman Empire’s influence on the Iberian Peninsula was significant. As the empire expanded, it brought its language with it. Over time, the Latin spoken in different regions began to change and diverge, eventually leading to the development of distinct languages.
Catalan’s development
Catalan emerged in the eastern Pyrenees region, an area between what is now France and Spain. From there, it spread to Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of Aragon.
The rise of Spanish (Castellano)
Castilian arose in the Kingdom of Castile, a region in central Spain. As Castile grew in power, its language became standardized and spread throughout Spain. Ultimately, Castilian became the official language of Spain and is what we now know as Spanish.
Historical tensions
The relationship between Spanish and Catalan has been shaped by historical and political events. Political events have influenced how these languages are used and recognized in different regions of Spain.
Similarities between Spanish and Catalan
Although Spanish (Castellano) and Catalan are distinct languages, they share characteristics that reflect their shared history and geographic proximity. Here’s a look at some of the key similarities:
Shared Linguistic Heritage
Both Spanish and Catalan are Romance languages, meaning they evolved from Vulgar Latin, the everyday spoken Latin used by the Romans. This shared ancestry means they have certain features in common, including:
- Grammatical gender: Nouns are classified as either masculine or feminine, which affects the agreement of articles, adjectives, and pronouns.
- Verb conjugation: Verbs change form to indicate tense, mood, person, and number.
- Sentence structure: While word order can be flexible, both languages generally follow a subject-verb-object pattern.
Because they’re related languages, there’s a degree of mutual intelligibility, especially when Spanish speakers read Catalan. Someone who speaks Spanish can often understand written Catalan fairly well, although spoken Catalan may be more difficult to grasp initially.
Vocabulary Overlap
The shared history also means the languages share many words with similar origins and meanings.
- Cognates: Many words, called cognates, have evolved from the same Latin root and retain similar forms and meanings in both languages. For example, “semana” (Spanish) and “setmana” (Catalan) both mean “week,” and “año” (Spanish) and “any” (Catalan) both mean “year.”
- Shared Loanwords: Both languages also borrowed words from other languages that influenced the Iberian Peninsula, such as Arabic.
Key Grammatical Differences
While both languages share Latin roots, Catalan and Castellano have evolved distinct grammatical structures. These differences can be subtle but significant for language learners.
Verb Tenses and Conjugation
One notable difference lies in the expression of past actions. Catalan commonly uses the periphrastic past, constructed with the verb “anar” (to go) + “a” + infinitive. For example, instead of saying “I ate,” a Catalan speaker might say “Vaig anar a menjar” (I went to eat), literally “I went to eat.” This contrasts with the preterite tense in Spanish, which directly translates to “Comí” (I ate).
The placement and usage of object pronouns also differ. Catalan object pronouns generally precede the verb, whereas in Spanish they can either precede or follow, particularly with infinitives and gerunds.
Articles and Prepositions
Catalan often uses articles before possessive nouns, a feature not typically found in Spanish. For instance, one might say “la meva casa” (the my house) in Catalan, while in Spanish it would simply be “mi casa” (my house).
The pronouns “hi” and “en” are frequently used in Catalan, representing adverbs of place and partitive pronouns, respectively. These pronouns don’t have direct equivalents in Spanish and require different sentence constructions to convey the same meaning.
Other Grammatical Distinctions
While both languages generally follow a Subject-Verb-Object (SVO) word order, subtle differences in sentence structure can occur. Catalan may sometimes exhibit more flexibility in word order compared to the relatively stricter structure of Spanish.
Finally, the use of the subjunctive mood, which expresses doubt, desire, or uncertainty, can vary between the two languages. Certain constructions may trigger the subjunctive in one language but not the other, reflecting nuanced differences in expressing subjective attitudes.
Pronunciation differences
While written Catalan and Spanish look similar, there are some distinct differences in pronunciation.
Vowel sounds
Catalan has a broader range of vowel sounds than Spanish. In Catalan, you’ll hear open and closed versions of certain vowels, something that doesn’t happen in Spanish. These subtle differences can make Catalan sound quite different, even when the words themselves look alike on paper.
Also, the way unstressed vowels are pronounced differs between the two languages. In Catalan, unstressed vowels often become more neutral or reduced, while in Spanish, they tend to maintain a clearer, more defined sound.
Consonant sounds
Catalan has some consonants that simply don’t exist in Spanish. One example is the “ny” sound, similar to the “ni” in “onion,” which is common in Catalan but absent in Spanish. These unique sounds add to the distinctive character of Catalan.
Another example is the letter “Ç” (c with a cedilla). In Catalan (and also in French and Portuguese), this letter sounds just like the letter “S.”
Other pronunciation nuances
Stress patterns also differ. While both languages generally follow rules for stress placement, there are exceptions, and these exceptions don’t always align. This means that even if you know where to stress a word in Spanish, you might be wrong in Catalan.
Both languages also have silent letters, but they don’t always occur in the same places. For example, a silent “h” is common in both, but other silent letters might appear in one language but not the other, depending on the word.
Vocabulary: Similarities and differences
Because both languages evolved from Vulgar Latin, Spanish and Catalan share a lot of the same vocabulary, but there are also a lot of differences that can trip up language learners.
Cognates and similar words
Cognates are words that have similar forms and meanings in both languages. For example, impossible is imposible in Spanish and impossible in Catalan. The word necessary is necesario in Spanish and necessari in Catalan.
Cognates can be a huge help when you’re learning either language because you already have a sense of what the word means.
False friends (false cognates)
False cognates can cause a lot of confusion because they look similar but have different meanings. For example, the Spanish word embarazada looks a lot like the English word “embarrassed,” but it actually means “pregnant.” Similarly, the Catalan word enamorat looks like “enamored,” but it means “in love.”
Here are a few more common false friends:
- Constipated (English) / constipado (Spanish) = to have a cold
- Exit (English) / éxito (Spanish) = success
Unique vocabulary
Many everyday words are completely different in Spanish and Catalan. For example, the word for “apple” is manzana in Spanish but poma in Catalan. The word for “pig” is cerdo in Spanish but porc in Catalan.
Also, it’s worth remembering that there are regional variations in both languages, so a word that’s common in one area might not be used in another.
Which language is easier to learn and more useful?
If you’re trying to decide whether to learn Castellano or Catalan, you may be wondering which one is easier to pick up and which would be more useful to you.
Ease of learning
For English speakers, Spanish is often considered the easier language to learn. There are so many resources available, from apps like Duolingo to university courses, that you should have no trouble finding learning materials that work for you. The U.S. Foreign Service Institute estimates it takes about 600 class hours to reach professional working proficiency in Spanish.
Catalan may present a few more challenges. Because it’s not as widely spoken, there aren’t as many resources available. Catalan also has some unique grammatical structures and pronunciations that may take a little getting used to.
Practical usefulness
Spanish has a massive global reach. With something like 500 million native speakers, it’s spoken in Spain, Latin America, and even parts of the U.S. If you’re looking for a language that will let you communicate with people all over the world, Spanish might be your best bet.
Catalan is mainly spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and parts of France and Italy. If you’re planning to live or work in Catalonia, learning Catalan can be a huge advantage. Many locals prefer to speak Catalan, and knowing the language can help you integrate into the community.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do Spaniards speak Spanish or castellano?
Both! “Spanish” and castellano are essentially the same language. Castellano is the original name, referring to the Castile region where it originated. Think of it like “American English” versus “British English” – same base language, slightly different flavors. So, yes, Spaniards speak both Spanish and castellano.
Do Catalans speak Castilian?
Many Catalans do speak castellano (Spanish). It’s a required subject in schools, and due to its widespread use in Spain, most Catalans are bilingual. However, their first language is often Catalan, and they may prefer to speak it in everyday situations, especially in Catalonia.
Is Catalan the same as castellano?
Absolutely not! Catalan and castellano (Spanish) are distinct languages, though they share some similarities due to their shared Iberian Romance origins. They have different vocabularies, grammar, and pronunciation. Think of them as related, but definitely not interchangeable.
Does Messi speak Spanish or Catalan?
Lionel Messi, being from Argentina, primarily speaks castellano (Spanish) as his native language. However, having lived in Barcelona for many years, it’s highly likely he also understands and may even speak some Catalan, though castellano remains his dominant language.
In Closing
So, what’s the bottom line? While Spanish (Castellano) and Catalan share some similarities, they are distinct languages with different pronunciations, grammar, and vocabulary. Spanish is a global language spoken by hundreds of millions, while Catalan is primarily spoken in Catalonia and surrounding regions.
Both languages carry immense cultural significance. Spanish is the language of Cervantes, Frida Kahlo, and Gabriel García Márquez. Catalan is the language of Gaudí, Joan Miró, and contemporary literature.
When choosing which language to learn, think about your personal goals. Are you planning to travel extensively in Latin America? Or are you drawn to the unique culture of Catalonia? Your interests and needs should guide your decision.
Ultimately, if you have the time and inclination, learning both languages can open doors to even greater communication opportunities and a deeper understanding of the rich cultural tapestry of Spain. The world is a more interesting place because of its linguistic diversity, so embrace the challenge and enjoy the journey!