The Catalan Alphabet & Pronunciation Guide (with IPA)
Updated 30 June 2026 · 6 min read
Catalan uses the 26-letter Latin alphabet plus the special character ç and the digraph l·l (ela geminada). Its defining feature is the vowel system: Central Catalan has eight vowel sounds, including a schwa (/ə/) in unstressed syllables and a contrast between open and closed e and o, sounds Spanish does not have.
The letters and special characters
The alphabet is the familiar A–Z, but Catalan adds ç (c-trencada, a soft “s” sound) and the digraph l·l (ela geminada, a doubled L written with a middle dot, as in col·legi). You’ll also see accents: the grave (à è ò) and acute (é í ó ú) marking stress and vowel quality, and the dieresis (ï ü).
The vowel system and the schwa
This is what makes Catalan sound different from Spanish. In Central Catalan, unstressed a and e reduce to a schwa /ə/ (the “uh” in English about), and unstressed o often sounds like /u/. Stressed e and o can be open (è, ò) or closed (é, ó). Getting these right is the single biggest step toward sounding natural.
Consonants worth knowing early
A few consonant features trip up beginners: final consonants are often devoiced; ix/x can be a “sh” sound (caixa); ny is like Spanish ñ; and tj/tg and l·l have their own values. Learn these as sounds with audio rather than guessing from spelling.
Why IPA helps from day one
Catalan spelling is fairly regular, but the vowel reductions mean the written form doesn’t always tell you the sound. Learning each word with its IPA transcription and native audio stops bad pronunciation habits before they form. Verbadium teaches every entry with full IPA and native-speaker audio. Verbadium’s Catalan A1 course takes you from zero to the official beginner level with native-speaker audio, full IPA, 108 auto-marked exercises and a timed mock exam: one-time €25, lifetime access. Unit 1 is a free preview.
Frequently asked questions
How many letters are in the Catalan alphabet?
Catalan uses the 26 Latin letters plus the special character ç and the digraph l·l (ela geminada). Several digraphs (ny, ix, tj/tg, qu, gu) represent single sounds.
What is the schwa in Catalan?
In Central Catalan, unstressed a and e are pronounced as a schwa /ə/, a neutral “uh” sound. It’s one of the main features that distinguishes Catalan pronunciation from Spanish, where vowels keep a full value.
What is l·l (ela geminada)?
It’s a doubled L written with a raised dot between the two Ls, as in col·legi or paral·lel. It marks a geminate (lengthened) L sound and is unique to Catalan spelling.
Is Catalan pronunciation hard?
The vowels (open/closed e and o and the schwa) are the main challenge, especially for Spanish speakers. With IPA and native audio from the start, it’s very learnable; the consonants are mostly straightforward.
Start learning Catalan
Verbadium’s Catalan A1 course takes you from zero to the official beginner level: native-speaker audio, full IPA, 108 auto-marked exercises and a timed mock exam. One-time €25, lifetime access.