Juan More Chance

WORDS YOU READ

Street, building and door signs

The Catalan you meet between the street and your own front door: the abbreviations on a doorplate, an out-of-order lift, a red «avariada» sticker, and the floor-and-door system a Barcelona address runs on.

c. / c/ carrer · pg. passeig · av. avinguda · pl. plaça · rda. ronda · ptge. passatge · trav. travessera · rbla. rambla · ctra. carretera · bda. baixada
the street types, abbreviated
These are the official abbreviations (Generalitat, Abreviacions, 3rd ed. 2021). c/ takes no dot. Two streets can share a name and differ only in type — copy the type into every form.
Where you’ll see it: Written addresses, contracts, letters
bxs. baixos · entl. entresol · pral. principal · 1r 2n 3r 4t 5è floor · àt. àtic · s/àt sobreàtic · esc. escala · pta. / 1a 2a 3a 4a door
the parts of a Barcelona address below the street
Buildings do not start at 1. A block runs baixos → entresol → principal → 1r, so "1r" can be the fourth level up. 3r 2a = third floor, second door. The dot after an ordinal is optional (1r or 1r.).
Where you’ll see it: Doorplates, entryphones, contracts, letterboxes
entrada / sortida
entrance / exit
Where you’ll see it: Doors, stations, car parks
sortida d'emergència
emergency exit
Find yours on your first day at a new workplace.
Where you’ll see it: Green signs in every workplace and public building
empenyeu / estireu
push / pull
The correct Catalan forms on signage. Empenyeu = push, estireu = pull.
Where you’ll see it: Glass entrance doors
obert / tancat
open / closed
Tancat per vacances — closed for holidays, common in August.
Where you’ll see it: Shop doors
horari
opening hours
Where you’ll see it: On the door of everything
feiners / festius
working days / Sundays and public holidays
Two different sets of hours. On the wrong day you find a locked door.
Where you’ll see it: Timetables and opening hours
ascensor
lift
Where you’ll see it: Building lobbies
fora de servei
out of order
The standard status label across all machines and services.
Where you’ll see it: Lifts, ticket machines, gates, escalators
avariada
broken down
TMB’s own accessibility guide describes it: "es col·loca un adhesiu vermell amb la paraula «avariada» a la porta de l'ascensor." Feminine, because it agrees with porta.
Where you’ll see it: A red sticker on a Barcelona metro lift door
avaria · no funciona
the fault itself · not working
Avaria names the fault, not the status. No funciona is plain speech, not a sign.
Where you’ll see it: Building notices; FGC’s printed station Avís posters; spoken
escala (esc.)
staircase — and, in an address, the stair core
A large block has Escala A, Escala B. Post to the wrong escala does not reach you.
Where you’ll see it: Doorplates, letterboxes, contracts
planta
floor level
Where you’ll see it: Lift buttons, directories
pis
the flat itself
Where you’ll see it: Contracts, listings
porteria · replà
concierge desk / entrance hall · landing
Where parcels and notices are left.
Where you’ll see it: Building entrances
prohibit · perill · obres
forbidden · danger · works
Obres is the Ajuntament’s own word for roadworks; it also means renovation in your block.
Where you’ll see it: Street barriers, building sites
respecteu els senyals · seguiu a la dreta
obey the signs · keep right
Where you’ll see it: Roadworks hoardings
travessera / travessia
long cross-street / short connecting street
Where you’ll see it: Travessera de Gràcia, Travessera de les Corts
timbre
doorbell
Where you’ll see it: Entrance panel
prohibit el pas
no entry
Where you’ll see it: Building sites

2 sources · checked September 2026

WORDS YOU READ

Rent, bills and the letterbox

The Catalan on your contract, your bills, and whatever the postman leaves in the bústia — including the two words, fiança and desnonament, worth knowing before you need them.

lloguer
rent; renting
Where you’ll see it: Listings, contracts, aid schemes
arrendament
lease (the legal word)
Where you’ll see it: The contract’s own title
arrendador / arrendatari
landlord / tenant
Two words three letters apart, on the page that says who owes what. Arrendatari = you. In plain speech people say propietari and llogater, which are much harder to confuse.
Where you’ll see it: The first page of the contract
fiança
rental deposit
One month’s rent for a home (two months if it is not your main home). Not "bail" — this is your money, held as security. See the callout below.
Where you’ll see it: The contract; the INCASÒL receipt
contracte · pròrroga
contract · extension
Where you’ll see it: Renewal letters
subministraments
utilities
Read whether they are inclosos (included) in the rent or not.
Where you’ll see it: Contracts, bills, aid schemes
aigua · llum · gas
water · electricity · gas
Llum literally means "light" — on a bill it means electricity.
Where you’ll see it: Bills
titular del contracte
the account holder
Only the titular can change or cancel a supply. If it is in your landlord’s name, you cannot fix a problem yourself.
Where you’ll see it: Every utility bill
comunitat · quota de comunitat
the building’s owners’ association · its monthly charge
If your contract makes you pay it, it is a real monthly cost on top of rent. Ask whether it’s included.
Where you’ll see it: Notices in the lobby; the contract
escala
your stair core
Notices are posted per escala.
Where you’ll see it: Community notices, letterboxes
rebut · factura
direct-debit charge / receipt · invoice
On a statement, rebut is money going out.
Where you’ll see it: Bank statements, bills
import · venciment
amount · due date
The two numbers that matter. Import is not English "import".
Where you’ll see it: Every bill
domiciliació
direct debit
Where you’ll see it: Bill set-up, council tax
impagament
non-payment
The word that starts the clock on losing the service or the flat.
Where you’ll see it: Warning letters
avís
notice, warning
Where you’ll see it: Letters, the lobby noticeboard
burofax
a legally certified letter
Never ignore one. A burofax is used precisely because the sender wants proof you received it — rent demands, contract terminations, eviction steps.
Where you’ll see it: A slip telling you to collect one
desnonament
eviction
If this word appears, get help the same week: Barcelona’s housing offices and SAIER.
Where you’ll see it: Court and council letters
bústia
letterbox
Put your name on it. Official notices are left here, and an unnamed bústia gets your post returned.
Where you’ll see it: The lobby
avís d'arribada
the "we tried to deliver" slip
Correos holds the item at the office for 15 days, then returns it. The slip states the office and the deadline; reminder texts go out at 10 and 5 days left.
Where you’ll see it: In your bústia
es tornarà al remitent
it will be returned to sender
Correos’ own wording. A returned letter can still count as legally notified — this is how people miss deadlines for letters they never saw. Collect within the 15 days.
Where you’ll see it: Printed on the avís d'arribada
recollida · lliurament
collection · delivery
Where you’ll see it: Post office slips
arres
deposit to reserve a purchase
Where you’ll see it: Estate agent — not the same as fiança
consum / lectura
usage / meter reading
Where you’ll see it: Electricity bill
tall de subministrament
supply cut-off
Where you’ll see it: Warning letter — act on it
IBI
annual property tax
Where you’ll see it: Owners, not tenants

9 sources · checked September 2026

WORDS YOU SAY

Before you sign

The questions worth asking before you sign anything: what’s included in the rent, what the deposit is, how long the contract runs, and whether you’ll be allowed to register your address here.

¿Qué incluye el alquiler?
What’s included in the rent?
Say it like: ke in-KLU-ye el al-ki-LER
¿El agua y la luz están incluidas?
Are water and electricity included?
Say it like: el A-gwa i la luth es-TAN in-klu-I-das
¿Los gastos de comunidad están incluidos?
Are the building service charges included?
Say it like: los GAS-tos de ko-mu-ni-DAD es-TAN in-klu-I-dos
¿Cuánto pago en total al mes?
How much do I pay per month in total?
Say it like: KWAN-to PA-go en to-TAL al mes
¿Cuánto es la fianza?
How much is the deposit?
Say it like: KWAN-to es la FYAN-tha
¿Cuándo me devuelven la fianza?
When do I get the deposit back?
Say it like: KWAN-do me de-BWEL-ben la FYAN-tha
¿Cuánto dura el contrato?
How long is the contract for?
Say it like: KWAN-to DU-ra el kon-TRA-to
¿Cuánta gente vive aquí?
How many people live here?
Say it like: KWAN-ta KHEN-te BI-be a-KI
¿Están incluidos los suministros?
Are the utilities included?
Say it like: es-TAN in-kloo-EE-dos los soo-mi-NEES-tros
¿Puedo empadronarme en este piso?
Can I register my address at this flat?
Say it like: PWEH-do em-pa-dro-NAR-meh en ES-teh PEE-so

WORDS YOU SAY

Getting it written down

Turning what you were told into something you can point to later: a written contract, time to read it, and a receipt every time you pay.

¿Me puede dar un contrato por escrito?
Can you give me a written contract?
Say it like: me PWE-de dar un kon-TRA-to por es-KRI-to
Quería leerlo con calma antes de firmar.
I’d like to read it properly before signing.
Say it like: ke-RI-a le-ER-lo kon KAL-ma AN-tes de fir-MAR
¿Me lo puede mandar por WhatsApp?
Can you send it to me on WhatsApp?
Say it like: me lo PWE-de man-DAR por WHATS-app
Prefiero no firmar hoy. Me lo voy a pensar.
I’d rather not sign today. I’ll think about it.
Say it like: pre-FYE-ro no fir-MAR oy. me lo boy a pen-SAR
¿Me puede dar un recibo del alquiler?
Can you give me a receipt for the rent?
Say it like: me PWE-de dar un rre-THI-bo del al-ki-LER
Le he pagado el alquiler hoy. ¿Me lo confirma?
I paid you the rent today. Can you confirm that?
Say it like: le e pa-GA-do el al-ki-LER oy. me lo kon-FIR-ma

WORDS YOU SAY

How to insist, politely

The move is to attach the request to your own memory, not to their honesty. A Spanish landlord hears "I don’t trust you" if you ask for proof. They hear nothing at all if you ask so that you remember correctly. Same paper, no argument.

¿Me lo puede poner por escrito, por favor? Es para tenerlo claro.
Can you put that in writing, please? So I have it clear.
Say it like: me lo PWE-de po-NER por es-KRI-to, por fa-BOR. es PA-ra te-NER-lo KLA-ro
Prefiero tenerlo por escrito, por si acaso.
I’d rather have it in writing, just in case.
Say it like: pre-FYE-ro te-NER-lo por es-KRI-to, por si a-KA-so
¿Me lo manda por WhatsApp? Así no se me olvida.
Can you send it on WhatsApp? Then I won’t forget.
Say it like: me lo MAN-da por WHATS-app. a-SI no se me ol-BI-da
Es que si no lo apunto, se me pasa.
It’s just that if I don’t note it down, I lose track.
Say it like: es ke si no lo a-PUN-to, se me PA-sa

WORDS YOU SAY

When something breaks

The heater, the heating, a leak, damp, a blocked drain — what to say when something breaks, and how to say it again when the first time did not work.

Se ha roto el calentador.
The water heater has broken.
Say it like: se a RRO-to el ka-len-ta-DOR
No funciona la calefacción.
The heating doesn’t work.
Say it like: no fun-THYO-na la ka-le-fak-THYON
Hay una gotera en el techo.
There’s a leak in the ceiling.
Say it like: ai U-na go-TE-ra en el TE-cho
Hay humedad en la pared.
There’s damp on the wall.
Say it like: ai u-me-DAD en la pa-RED
Se ha atascado el desagüe.
The drain is blocked.
Say it like: se a a-tas-KA-do el de-SA-gwe
¿Cuándo lo van a arreglar?
When are they going to fix it?
Say it like: KWAN-do lo ban a a-rre-GLAR
¿Puede venir alguien esta semana?
Can someone come this week?
Say it like: PWE-de be-NIR AL-gyen ES-ta se-MA-na
Ya se lo dije la semana pasada.
I already told you last week.
Say it like: ya se lo DI-khe la se-MA-na pa-SA-da
Le mandé una foto el lunes.
I sent you a photo on Monday.
Say it like: le man-DE U-na FO-to el LU-nes

WORDS YOU SAY

Introducing yourself

Meeting a new neighbour for the first time: who you are, where you live, and the offer to help each other out.

Hola, buenos días. Soy su vecina.
Hello, good morning. I’m your neighbour. (a man says vecino)
Say it like: O-la, BWE-nos DI-as. soy su be-THI-na
Me llamo Rosa. Acabo de mudarme al tercero segunda.
My name is Rosa. I’ve just moved into the third floor, second door.
Say it like: me YA-mo RRO-sa. a-KA-bo de mu-DAR-me al ter-THE-ro se-GUN-da
Vivo en el cuarto primera.
I live on the fourth floor, first door.
Say it like: BI-bo en el KWAR-to pri-ME-ra
Encantada.
Pleased to meet you. (a man says encantado)
Say it like: en-kan-TA-da
Cualquier cosa, me dice.
If you need anything, tell me.
Say it like: kwal-KYER KO-sa, me DI-the

WORDS YOU SAY

Noise

Apologising for noise, and asking a neighbour to turn theirs down, without starting a fight.

Perdone por el ruido de anoche.
Sorry about the noise last night.
Say it like: per-DO-ne por el RWI-do de a-NO-che
El sábado tenemos una comida en casa. Si molesta, me avisa.
We’re having a meal at home on Saturday. If it bothers you, tell me.
Say it like: …si mo-LES-ta, me a-BI-sa
Perdone, hay mucho ruido. ¿Pueden bajarlo un poco?
Excuse me, it’s very noisy. Can you turn it down?
Say it like: …PWE-den ba-KHAR-lo un PO-ko
Es que mañana trabajo temprano.
It’s just that I work early tomorrow.
Say it like: es ke ma-NYA-na tra-BA-kho tem-PRA-no

WORDS YOU SAY

Rubbish

Barcelona collects bulky items — old furniture, mattresses, junk — on a set night per street, and things must go out between 20:00 and 22:00. Everything else goes in the street containers. Your neighbour knows which night yours is.

¿Qué día sacan los muebles viejos en esta calle?
Which day do they collect old furniture on this street?
Say it like: ke DI-a SA-kan los MWE-bles BYE-khos en ES-ta KA-ye
¿A qué hora hay que sacarlos?
What time do you have to put them out?
Say it like: a ke O-ra ai ke sa-KAR-los
¿Dónde está el contenedor del vidrio?
Where’s the glass container?
Say it like: DON-de es-TA el kon-te-ne-DOR del BI-dryo
¿Y el del orgánico?
And the food-waste one?
Say it like: i el del or-GA-ni-ko
¿Dónde se tira el aceite usado?
Where do you throw used cooking oil?
Say it like: DON-de se TI-ra el a-THEY-te u-SA-do
Esto no sé dónde va. ¿Me puede decir?
I don’t know where this goes. Can you tell me?
Say it like: ES-to no se DON-de ba. me PWE-de de-THIR

2 sources · checked September 2026

WORDS YOU SAY

Asking a neighbour for help

The small favours that pass between neighbours: a locked door, no power, no hot water, a parcel, and the number that solves the rest.

¿Me puede echar una mano?
Can you give me a hand?
Say it like: me PWE-de e-CHAR U-na MA-no
Se me ha olvidado la llave.
I’ve locked myself out.
Say it like: se me a ol-bi-DA-do la YA-be
Se me ha ido la luz. ¿A usted también?
My electricity has gone off. Has yours?
Say it like: se me a I-do la luth. a us-TED tam-BYEN
No sale agua caliente.
There’s no hot water.
Say it like: no SA-le A-gwa ka-LYEN-te
¿Me puede recoger un paquete?
Could you take in a parcel for me?
Say it like: me PWE-de rre-ko-KHER un pa-KE-te
¿Sabe el teléfono del administrador?
Do you know the building manager’s number?
Say it like: SA-be el te-LE-fo-no del ad-mi-nis-tra-DOR

WORDS YOU SAY

The buzzer (el interfono)

What the voice on the interfono says, and what you say back.

¿Sí? / ¿Quién es?
Yes? / Who is it?
Say it like: si / kyen es
¿Digui?
Yes? (the same thing, in Catalan)
Say it like: DI-gi
Ya bajo.
I’m coming down.
Say it like: ya BA-kho
Suba, es el segundo.
Come up, it’s the second floor.
Say it like: SU-ba, es el se-GUN-do
Soy Rosa, la vecina del tercero.
It’s Rosa, your neighbour from the third floor.
Say it like: soy RRO-sa, la be-THI-na del ter-THE-ro
Vengo a ver a la señora García.
I’m here to see Mrs García.
Say it like: BEN-go a ber a la se-NYO-ra gar-THI-a
¿Me abre, por favor?
Can you buzz me in, please?
Say it like: me A-bre, por fa-BOR
¿A qué piso subo?
Which floor do I go up to?
Say it like: a ke PI-so SU-bo

WORDS YOU SAY

The portero

What you say to the portero on your way in: where you’re going, and whether anything has arrived for you.

Buenos días. Voy al segundo primera.
Good morning. I’m going to the second floor, first door.
Say it like: …boy al se-GUN-do pri-ME-ra
¿Ha llegado un paquete para mí?
Has a parcel arrived for me?
Say it like: a ye-GA-do un pa-KE-te PA-ra mi
¿Sabe cuándo viene el técnico?
Do you know when the repair man is coming?
Say it like: SA-be KWAN-do BYE-ne el TEK-ni-ko
¿Hay correo para el cuarto segunda?
Is there post for fourth floor, second door?
Say it like: ai ko-RRE-o PA-ra el KWAR-to se-GUN-da

Your building, your flat, your bills

Your building, your flat, your bills phrases

Street, building and door signs

Rent, bills and the letterbox

Before you sign

Getting it written down

How to insist, politely

When something breaks

Introducing yourself

Noise

Rubbish

Asking a neighbour for help

The buzzer (el interfono)

The portero