Catalan

American  

[kat-l-an, -uhn, kat-l-an] / ˈkæt lˌæn, -ən, ˌkæt lˈæn /

adjective

1. pertaining to Catalonia, its inhabitants, or their language.

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noun

1. a native or inhabitant of Catalonia.

2. a Romance language closely related to Provençal, spoken in Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, Andorra, southern France, and western Sardinia.

Catalan British  

/ -lən, ˈkætəˌlæn /

noun

1. a language of Catalonia, quite closely related to Spanish and Provençal, belonging to the Romance group of the Indo-European family

2. a native or inhabitant of Catalonia

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adjective

1. denoting, relating to, or characteristic of Catalonia, its inhabitants, or their language

Etymology

Origin of Catalan

1375–1425; late Middle English < Spanish

Example Sentences

An old Catalan independence flag hanging by its entrance flaps in the wind, and the sound of pigs grunting and squealing in the farm buildings can be heard in the distance.

From BBC • Apr. 5, 2026

It was his first of 672 goals during a legendary 17-year career with the Catalan club.

From BBC • Mar. 18, 2026

Boldúman –a German doughboy with Catalan flair, ridiculous and adorable– is one of Barcelona’s best stories, seldom heard beyond its borders.

From Salon • Feb. 5, 2026

Barcelona president Joan Laporta said that teenage talent Dro Fernandez's decision to leave the club for a planned move to Paris Saint-Germain, despite having previously agreed a new deal with the Catalan giants, was "unpleasant".

From Barron's • Jan. 26, 2026

I will have lost two hundred fathoms of good Catalan cardel and the hooks and leaders.

From "The Old Man and The Sea" by Ernest Hemingway