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). 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.