Every Catalan noun is either masculine (el pa) or feminine (la carn), and the article must match: el/la in the singular, els/les in the plural. Before a word starting with a vowel or h, el and la shorten to l' (l'aigua, l'ou).
Examples
- Vull el pa i la sopa, si us plau.
- I want the bread and the soup, please.
- L'aigua és freda.
- The water is cold.
- Les patates estan bones.
- The potatoes are good.
- Em porta el compte, si us plau?
- Could you bring me the bill, please?
The mistake to avoid
There is no neuter article: never say *lo pa* — Catalan uses el.
Where this fits in
Food & ordering, Catalan A1: Order at a café or restaurant, ask for the bill, and talk about basic food and drink.