How to pronounce Catalan
Say it like KAT-uh-lun. Catalan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Catalan. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- KAT
- uh
- lun
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Catalan pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- KATSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "a" in cat.
- uhKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
- lunKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the relaxed "uh" in about.
American vs British pronunciation of Catalan
- Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t.
British respelling: KAT-uh-lan.
What does Catalan mean?
- The Romance language of Catalonia, an autonomous region in the northeast of Spain, also spoken in the Valencian autonomous region (where the language is officially named valencià), the Balearic Islands, Andorra, Roussillon in France, and the Sardinian city of Alghero.
Where does Catalan come from?
Inherited from Middle English Catalane, from French catalan, from Catalan català.
Questions about saying Catalan
How do you pronounce Catalan?
Say KAT-uh-lun. The American pronunciation is /ˈkætələn/. In British English it is /ˈkætəˌlæn/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Catalan?
Catalan has three syllables, and the main stress falls on the first one (KAT). Broken into parts: KAT · uh · lun.
Is Catalan pronounced differently in British English?
Yes. Americans usually soften the t in the middle into a quick d-like tap; British speakers keep a crisp t. The British form is /ˈkætəˌlæn/ (KAT-uh-lan).