Spanish or Valenciano? An Honest Answer

Valencia has two co-official languages: **Castellano** (Spanish) and **Valenciano** (a variant of Catalan with regional vocabulary and pronunciation). ## The short answer If you’re settling in the city for work and social life: **Spanish is essential. Valenciano is a beautiful bonus.** If your children are in state school: **they will learn Valenciano whether you do or not** — most state schools teach in it. If you’re in a smaller town in the comarca or want to work in the public sector: **Valenciano matters more.** ## What you’ll actually encounter - Public signs, government forms, and street names are bilingual or Valenciano-only - Everyone in the city speaks Castilian; most happily switch when they hear you struggling - Older Valencianos in rural areas may prefer Valenciano — knowing a few phrases is a sign of respect - Restaurant menus often bilingual; bills, contracts and official letters often Valenciano-first - Some bureaucratic forms are in Valenciano with no Spanish translation. Bring a phone and Google Translate. ## Useful Valenciano phrases - *Bon dia* — good morning - *Bona vesprada* — good afternoon (the *vesprada* is distinctively Valencian; you won’t hear it in Madrid) - *Gràcies* — thank you - *D’acord* — okay, agreed - *Una canya, per favor* — a small beer, please - *Bona nit* — goodnight ## Learning Spanish in Valencia **EOI** (Escola Oficial d’Idiomes) — cheap year-long courses (€200-300/year), serious quality, competitive admission. Try for September; waiting list moves into October. **Private schools** — AIP, Costa de Valencia, Hispania, Proósito Valencia. €120-200/month for group classes, more for one-to-one. More flexible scheduling. **Online apps** — Duolingo gets you started; doesn’t replace human practice. Use alongside, not instead. **Intercambio** — weekly Spanish-English language exchanges (we list several in [Events](/events?category=language-exchange)). Real conversation, free, surprisingly effective once you stop being embarrassed. A specific tip: take Spanish lessons during your *first three months*. Your motivation is highest, your routine is forming, and it sets the trajectory. After three months it becomes harder to introduce, not easier.