Valencian or Catalan: what to call it and what to learn

Key rules

• Name: Say Valencian (valencià) when you talk about the language in the Valencian Community.
• Linguistics: Linguists treat Valencian and Catalan as one language system, but the name is sensitive locally.
• Standard: The Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua sets the standard, so choose courses and books that follow it.
• Official status: Valencian and Castilian are both official, and you have the right to use either.

What to call the language

Call it Valencian (valencià) in the Valencian Community. That is the official name, and newcomers are expected to use it. It is also the name most residents use in everyday speech.

Saying "Catalan" will not usually cause a scene, especially with people who know you are new. But the name is politically sensitive, so "valencià" avoids friction. Some people choose "català" themselves, mostly in academic and nationalist-leaning circles. Follow the lead of the person you are talking to.

Attitudes vary by area, age and politics. Valencian is most relevant in the Valencian-speaking areas. The southern interior of Alicante province and parts of the west are Spanish-speaking.

How Valencian and Catalan relate

In linguistic terms they are one language system, with Valencian a dialectal variety. The regional language academy, the Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL), holds this position. So do most universities and linguists.

Some political and cultural groups say Valencian is a separate language. Academic linguistics does not accept that view. You do not need to take a side. Using the local name is enough.

Which body sets the standard

The AVL sets the standard for written Valencian. It is the official body for this, and its standard is based on the 1932 Normes de Castelló. Use its dictionary and grammar as your reference.

The regional statute of autonomy names the community's own language as Valencian. It makes Valencian official alongside Castilian (Spanish). Everyone has the right to know and use both.

The regional government uses the name valenciano in official documents and teaching. Since 2023 it has stressed that name more. The AVL's standard stays in force.

What to learn

Learn Valencian as it is taught locally, following the AVL standard. If you take a course, check that it teaches that standard. In daily life, a few greetings and polite phrases in valencià are welcome, even if you speak Spanish for most things.

The language questions below cover the most common doubts.

Frequently asked questions

Which body sets the standard for Valencian?

The Acadèmia Valenciana de la Llengua (AVL) is the official body that sets the standard for Valencian. Its standard is based on the 1932 Normes de Castelló and stays in force even as the regional government stresses the name valenciano in official documents and teaching. Follow the AVL's standard when you pick a course or a dictionary.

Do linguists treat Valencian and Catalan as the same language?

Yes, linguists and universities treat them as one language system, with Valencian as a variety of it. The AVL itself says Valencian belongs to the common Catalan-Valencian system.

Will it cause offence if I call the language Catalan in Valencia?

It can cause friction, because the name is politically sensitive in the Valencian Community. Most residents say valencià in everyday speech, and the regional statute uses that name too. Some people choose català, especially in academic and nationalist-leaning circles, but as a newcomer it is safer to say valencià.

What name does the regional statute give to the language?

The Valencian Community's statute of autonomy calls the region's own language Valencian (valenciano). It makes Valencian official alongside Castilian, and everyone has the right to know and use both. It also gives the AVL the job of setting the standard.