Coffee Break Spanish: Catalanismos in Spanish | A Coffee Break with Pablo

Date: September 25, 2025
Host: Pablo (Coffee Break Languages)

Episode Overview

In this engaging "coffee break" episode, Pablo explores a fascinating linguistic aspect of Spanish: “Catalanismos”—words in Spanish that come directly from Catalan. Catalan is a language spoken in northeastern and eastern Spain, particularly in regions like Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands. Pablo, who grew up in Alicante, shares his bilingual experience and introduces listeners to Catalan loanwords commonly found in everyday Spanish.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Introduction to Catalanismos

• Pablo introduces the concept of Catalanismos—Spanish words with Catalan origins.

• He explains the motivation for this mini-lesson: spotting the word capicua in a book, which piqued his curiosity about everyday Catalan loanwords.

  “Estos son palabras en español que vienen directamente del catalán, un idioma hablado en el noreste y este de España, en regiones como Cataluña, Valencia o las Islas Baleares.”
  (03:01 - Pablo)

2. The Featured Words from Catalan

a. Capicua

• Definition: A number that reads the same forwards and backwards.

• Origin: From Catalan: cap (“head”) + cua (“tail”).

• Usage: Describes palindromic numbers, not palindromic words.

• Additional note: For words, Spanish uses palíndromo (from Greek).

  “Capicua comes from the Catalan word cap, which means head, and cua, which means tail. Capicua, so literally head and tail.”
  (04:22 - Pablo)

b. Agnorar

• Definition: To yearn or long for.
• Additional form: Añoranza (longing/yearning).
• Origin: Directly from Catalan.
• Example:
  “Agnoro los días en los que jugábamos en la calle.” ["I long for the days when we played on the street."]

c. Cantimplora

• Definition: A water bottle, particularly the metallic kind used for hiking.
• Origin: Identical in Catalan and Spanish.

d. Esquirol

• Spanish meaning: A strikebreaker (someone who works during a labor strike).

• Catalan meaning: Squirrel (the animal).

• Origin story: In the 1850s, textile workers in the Catalan town of Manlleu went on strike. Replacement workers from Les Quirol were nicknamed esquirols, which later became synonymous with strikebreakers in Spanish.

  “Interestingly, in Catalan, esquirol means squirrel, the animal. But... it has nothing to do with squirrels at all.”
  (07:51 - Pablo)

e. Chuleta

• Meanings:

  1. Chop of meat (literal)
  2. A “cheat sheet” (colloquial; small paper used for cheating in exams)

• Fun note: The word has two completely different meanings, which Pablo finds amusing.

  “Chuleta... puede significar una chuleta de carne o un papelito para copiar en los exámenes.”
  (09:22 - Pablo)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On language as identity:

  “Mi lengua materna es el español, pero también hablo catalán.”
  (03:24 - Pablo)

• About capicua and palindromes:

  “Sin embargo, capicua no califica para describir una palabra que se lee igual al derecho y al revés. Para eso usamos la palabra palíndromo.”
  (05:37 - Pablo)

• Fun fact about esquirol:

  “Muy curioso, ¿verdad?” (Very curious, isn’t it?)
  (08:48 - Pablo)

Translation Practice Segment

(10:01 - 11:05)

Pablo provides sentences in English for listeners to translate into Spanish using the featured Catalanismos.
Examples:

• “The number 1000, 331 is a number that reads the same forwards and backwards.”
  → “El número mil trescientos treinta y uno es un número capicua.”
• “Don’t forget your water bottle for the trip.”
  → “No olvides tu cantimplora para el viaje.”
• “Only one strike breaker entered the factory.”
  → “Solo un esquirol entró en la fábrica.”
• “I long for my last summer in Menorca.”
  → “Agnoro mi último verano en Menorca.”
• “We always order pork chops at the restaurant.”
  → “Siempre pedimos chuletas de cerdo en el restaurante.”

Final Recap

(11:05 - 11:34)

Pablo summarizes the five Catalanismos discussed in the episode:

• Capicua: Palindromic number.
• Palíndromo: Palindromic word.
• Añorar: To yearn/long for.
• Cantimplora: Water bottle, especially for hiking.
• Esquirol: Strikebreaker.
• Chuleta: Chop of meat or cheat sheet.

“Bueno, pues eso es todo. ¡Espero mucho esta happy Coffee breaking!”
(11:34 - Pablo)

Key Takeaways

• The Spanish language is enriched by Catalanismos—words that have direct Catalan origins and are used in everyday communication.
• Understanding these loanwords enhances both vocabulary and cultural appreciation for Spanish speakers and learners.
• Multiple meanings and interesting stories accompany these words, making them memorable beyond their definitions.

For further information or to listen to more lessons, visit Coffee Break Languages or search for “Coffee Break Spanish” on your favorite podcast platform.

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