Courtesy words in Catalan, Galician and Basque that earn goodwill

Key rules

• Greeting and thanks: A greeting and a thank-you in the local language earn the most goodwill for the least effort.
• Valencian name: In Valencian territory, say valencià or Valencian unless the other person says Catalan first.
• Formal and informal: Use the formal forms with older people and in offices, and the informal ones with friends.

Start with greetings and thanks

A greeting and a thank-you in the local language do the most for goodwill. Spanish still works everywhere, but a few words of the local language show respect. Learn the ones for your region first.

Catalan (Catalonia and the Balearics)

• Bon dia: good morning.
• Bona tarda: good afternoon.
• Bona nit: good night.
• Hola and Adéu: hello and goodbye.
• Sisplau: please.
• Gràcies or Moltes gràcies: thank you, thank you very much.
• De res: you're welcome.
• Perdona (informal) or Disculpi (formal): pardon.
• Com estàs? (informal) or Com està? (formal): how are you?
• Molt de gust: nice to meet you.
• Fins aviat: see you soon.
• Bon profit: enjoy your meal.
• Bon Nadal and Bona Diada: for Christmas and for Catalonia's national day.

Valencian territory

In Valencian territory, say valencià or Valencian unless the other person says Catalan first. Many people feel strongly about the name, and Catalan can come across as rude or political. The phrases above are very similar in Valencian. Avoid debating whether the two are the same language.

Galician (Galicia)

• Bos días, Boas tardes, Boas noites: good morning, good afternoon, good night.
• Ola and Adeus: hello and goodbye.
• Por favor: please.
• Grazas or Moitas grazas: thank you, thank you very much.
• De nada: you're welcome.
• Perdoa (informal) or Desculpe (formal): pardon.
• Como estás? or Como está?: how are you? (informal, formal)
• Encantado (said by a man) or Encantada (said by a woman): pleased to meet you.
• Ata logo: see you later.
• Bo proveito: enjoy your meal.
• Feliz Nadal: Merry Christmas.

Basque (Basque Country and Basque-speaking areas of Navarre)

• Kaixo: hello.
• Egun on, Arratsalde on, Gabon: good morning, good afternoon, good night.
• Agur: goodbye.
• Mesedez: please.
• Eskerrik asko or Mila esker: thank you very much, many thanks.
• Ez horregatik: you're welcome.
• Barkatu: sorry, or pardon.
• Zer moduz?: how are you?
• Pozten naiz zu ezagutzeaz: pleased to meet you.
• Gero arte: see you later.
• On egin: enjoy your meal.
• Zorionak: congratulations.

Basque sounds very different from Spanish. Even just Kaixo, Egun on and Eskerrik asko will be noticed and appreciated.

Where to use them

Say the greeting when you walk into a shop, bar or office, and the thanks when you leave. Use the formal forms with older people and in offices. The questions below cover mealtimes, politeness and festive greetings.

Frequently asked questions

What do you say to people who are about to eat in Catalan, Galician and Basque?

You wish them a good meal: "Bon profit" in Catalan, "Bo proveito" in Galician and "On egin" in Basque. Say it to neighbours, colleagues or a table next to you. It costs nothing and is often noticed.

How do you say excuse me politely in Catalan and Galician?

In Catalan, say "Perdona" to someone your age or younger and "Disculpi" to someone older or in a formal setting. In Galician the pair is "Perdoa" and "Desculpe". The same split applies to "how are you": "Com estàs?" or "Com està?" in Catalan, and "Como estás?" or "Como está?" in Galician.

What is the best way to say thank you in Basque?

"Eskerrik asko" is the standard way to say thank you very much in Basque. "Mila esker" means many thanks and sounds warmer. For hello, "Kaixo" works at any time of day.

Which festive greetings are worth learning in these languages?

"Bon Nadal" in Catalan and "Feliz Nadal" in Galician wish someone a merry Christmas. In Basque, "Zorionak" means congratulations and suits birthdays and good news. In Catalonia, "Bona Diada" is used around the regional national day.