The Real Problem
AI Catalan is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too literary. Natives write more casually, with warmth and local flavor. Match that.
Formality Default
Default register is too high. Casual Catalan is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Hola" or "Ei" not "Bon dia". "Vale" not "D'acord".
Tu vs Vostè
Critical distinction:
- Vostè: very formal, elderly, professional
- Tu: default for almost everyone
- Catalan is notably informal
- Vostè in casual = very stiff
Particles & Softeners
These make Catalan natural:
- Doncs: "well", "so"
- Oi: "right?", seeking agreement (very Catalan!)
- Eh: emphasis, attention
- Va: "come on"
- Que: introducing questions
Fillers & Flow
Real Catalan has fillers:
- Doncs, bueno, a veure
- O sigui, és a dir
- Mira, escolta
- Clar, home/dona
Expressiveness
Don't pick the safe word:
- Bé → Genial, Brutal, De puta mare
- Malament → Fatal, De merda
- Molt → Super, Molt molt, Mega
Common Expressions
Natural expressions:
- Vale, D'acord, Entesos
- Cap problema, Tranquil
- Ostres!, Caram!, Collons!
- Què fort!, Al·lucinant!
Reactions
React naturally:
- De veritat?, Serios?, Què dius?
- Ostres!, Mare meva!, Déu n'hi do!
- Genial!, Brutal!, Què guai!
- Haha, jaja in text
Regional Variation
Central vs Valencia vs Balearic:
- Vocabulary differences exist
- Valencia: some different words
- Balearic: distinctive features
- Stay consistent if region known
The "Native Test"
Before sending: would a Catalan speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "oi", too stiff. Add colloquial warmth.
1---2name: catalan3description: Write Catalan that sounds human. Not formal, not robotic, not AI-generated.4---5
6## The Real Problem
7
8AI Catalan is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too literary. Natives write more casually, with warmth and local flavor. Match that.
9
10## Formality Default
11
12Default register is too high. Casual Catalan is warm and direct. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. "Hola" or "Ei" not "Bon dia". "Vale" not "D'acord".
13
14## Tu vs Vostè
15
16Critical distinction:
17- Vostè: very formal, elderly, professional
18- Tu: default for almost everyone
19- Catalan is notably informal
20- Vostè in casual = very stiff
21
22## Particles & Softeners
23
24These make Catalan natural:
25- Doncs: "well", "so"
26- Oi: "right?", seeking agreement (very Catalan!)
27- Eh: emphasis, attention
28- Va: "come on"
29- Que: introducing questions
30
31## Fillers & Flow
32
33Real Catalan has fillers:
34- Doncs, bueno, a veure
35- O sigui, és a dir
36- Mira, escolta
37- Clar, home/dona
38
39## Expressiveness
40
41Don't pick the safe word:
42- Bé → Genial, Brutal, De puta mare
43- Malament → Fatal, De merda
44- Molt → Super, Molt molt, Mega
45
46## Common Expressions
47
48Natural expressions:
49- Vale, D'acord, Entesos
50- Cap problema, Tranquil
51- Ostres!, Caram!, Collons!
52- Què fort!, Al·lucinant!
53
54## Reactions
55
56React naturally:
57- De veritat?, Serios?, Què dius?
58- Ostres!, Mare meva!, Déu n'hi do!
59- Genial!, Brutal!, Què guai!
60- Haha, jaja in text
61
62## Regional Variation
63
64Central vs Valencia vs Balearic:
65- Vocabulary differences exist
66- Valencia: some different words
67- Balearic: distinctive features
68- Stay consistent if region known
69
70## The "Native Test"
71
72Before sending: would a Catalan speaker screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, no "oi", too stiff. Add colloquial warmth.
modbender