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"El catalán" is a form of "catalán", a noun which is often translated as "Catalan". "El gallego" is a form of "gallego", a noun which is often translated as "Galician". Learn more about the difference between "el catalán" and "el gallego" below.
el catalán(
kah
-
tah
-
lahn
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (language)
a. Catalan
Hablo catalán porque nací y crecí en Barcelona.I speak Catalan because I was born and raised in Barcelona.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. Catalan
Los catalanes pronuncian la letra ele de forma muy marcada.Catalans have a marked pronunciation of the letter L.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
b. Catalonian
Aunque mi madre es catalana, yo no sé hablar catalán.Although my mother is Catalonian, I can't speak Catalan.
el gallego, la gallega(
gah
-
yeh
-
goh
)A masculine noun is used with masculine articles and adjectives (e.g., el hombre guapo, el sol amarillo).
1. (language)
a. Galician
La gente de la provincia española de Lugo habla gallego.People from the Spanish province of Lugo speak Galician.
This means that the noun can be masculine or feminine, depending on the gender of the noun it refers to (e.g., el doctor, la doctora).
a. Galician
Cuando viajé por el norte de España, me hice amigo de varios gallegos.When I traveled around the north of Spain, I made friends with several Galicians.
3. (colloquial) (pejorative) (person from Spain) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
An offensive word or phrase used to degrade a person or group of people based on race, gender, sexual preference, etc. (e.g., redneck).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
An adjective is a word that describes a noun (e.g., the big dog).
a. Galician
El caldo gallego es delicioso y es uno de mis platos favoritos.Galician broth is delicious and is one of my favorite dishes.
5. (colloquial) (from Spain) (Latin America)
A word or phrase that is commonly used in conversational speech (e.g., skinny, grandma).
Regionalism used in Latin America: all the countries in South America, Central America, and the Caribbean. Does not include Spain.
a. Spanish
Yo creo que el dueño de la tienda de la esquina es gallego.I think the owner of the corner store is Spanish.
