Localize your website into Catalan
Reach roughly 10 million Catalan speakers across Catalonia, Valencia, the Balearic Islands, and Andorra. Catalan is a distinct Romance language, not a dialect of Spanish, and in several regions offering a Catalan version of your site is a matter of trust and, in the public sector, legal requirement. MotaWord matches native linguists to the region you're targeting, handling the naming and dialect distinctions along the way.
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A smaller market where localization is about trust, not comprehension
Nearly all Catalan speakers are also fluent in Spanish, so this isn't about reaching people who can't otherwise read your site. It's about credibility, regional preference, and in some cases, legal obligation.
$223B+
Catalonia's regional GDP, the largest in Spain
Legal requirement
Catalan-language availability is mandated for Catalonia's public sector
Barcelona
one of Europe's major tech and startup hubs
80%+
of the population in Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearics understands Catalan
Catalan-speaking regions, by reach
Catalan is mostly a regional language within larger countries. Andorra is the one place it stands alone as the sole official language.
Cultural and linguistic considerations
Catalan localization mistakes usually come from treating it as regional Spanish, or from ignoring naming and regional identity distinctions that matter to the people reading your site.
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Catalan is not a Spanish dialect
It's a distinct Romance language with its own grammar and eight vowel sounds versus Spanish's five. Machine translation trained mostly on Spanish can introduce false friends and awkward phrasing.
"Catalan" and "Valencian" naming is sensitive
In the Valencian Community, the local and official name is Valencian, not Catalan, even though the language is linguistically the same. Content branded only as "Catalan" can read as tone-deaf to a Valencian audience.
Catalan identity carries political weight
Catalonia's push for independence is an active and sensitive political topic. Commercial content should stay neutral and avoid political framing on either side.
A Catalan version signals respect, not access
Since nearly all readers are also fluent in Spanish, offering Catalan is a trust and identity signal rather than a comprehension necessity. It tends to matter most for public sector, education, and local government audiences.
France and Italy pockets are a different market shape
Northern Catalonia and Alghero have smaller, older, and non-official-status speaker bases. Don't apply the same growth assumptions used for Catalonia or Valencia.
What Catalan localization does for search and reach
Catalan doesn't have its own ccTLD or a huge standalone search volume, so the SEO case here is different: it's about local relevance signals, not raw discoverability.
No dedicated ccTLD: Catalan content typically lives under Spain's domain structure. A subdirectory or subdomain with hreflang ca-ES is the standard approach.
Regional relevance over raw volume: Search volume is small compared to Spanish overall, but a Catalan page can meaningfully improve local and "near me" relevance signals within Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearics.
Public sector and procurement visibility: For government, education, or public-facing contracts in Catalonia specifically, Catalan-language content can be a requirement for eligibility, not just an SEO nicety.
No hreflang tag for "Valencian": There's no separate IETF language subtag for Valencian branding. Targeting that audience is handled through content and regional signals, not a distinct hreflang value.
Linguistically yes, and the Valencian Academy of Language officially recognizes the two as the same language. Locally, though, Valencian is the preferred name in the Valencian Community, and content should reflect that.
Not for basic comprehension, since nearly all Catalan speakers also read Spanish fluently. It matters most when trust, regional identity, or a public-sector requirement is part of the decision.
For most commercial content, one well-made Catalan version works across all three. Government, education, or highly localized marketing content is where regional-specific versions start to pay off.
The cost of translating a website with MotaWord depends on which option fits your workflow. For file-based website localization, you send us the text, pages, or strings you want translated, and pricing is based mainly on the total word count and project scope. If you want a more complete solution, MotaWord Active is usually the better option. Active runs on a subscription matched to your website and includes professional translation, multilingual SEO support, ongoing content updates, a no-code workflow, and 24/7 live support so your localized site stays polished, accurate, and easy to manage as it grows.
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What sets our Catalan localization apart
Translators fluent in the naming and regional distinctions between Catalonia, Valencia, and the Balearic Islands.
We translate directly into Catalan rather than adapting from a Spanish version, avoiding the false friends that approach introduces.
Instant machine-first localization with professional post-editing layered on top, so you can launch fast and refine over time.
Our collaborative translation model gets full-site projects done in hours, not the weeks a traditional agency needs.
We help you decide when "Catalan" and when "Valencian" is the right label for your audience.
Direct access to your project team throughout, with no ticket queue.
Not sure where to start?
Tell us about your site in the chat. Answer one quick question and we'll point you to the right next step.
Need Catalan beyond your website?
MotaWord supports Catalan beyond website localization, from official document translation to live interpretation.
Live on site
USCIS-accepted certified translation for birth certificates, diplomas, transcripts, and other official Catalan documents.
View certified translation →
Coming soon
In-person interpreters for legal proceedings, medical appointments, school meetings, and business events.
Learn more →
Coming soon
On-demand VRI and OPI interpreters for remote Catalan-language support, available 24/7.
Learn more →