Although English is widely spoken on Mallorca, especially in the resort and tourist areas, it is always appreciated when visitors try to communicate in the local language. There are several different official languages in use in the different regions of Spain. The language we know as Spanish, called Castellano in Mallorca, is commonly used, although the true language of the island is Mallorqui, which is similar to Catalan with variations even between villages.

For a really useful Spanish phrase lookup, arranged under various headings such as Accommodation, Bus, Train, Taxi, Eating Out, and so on, complete with a pronunciation guide, look here. If you would like a more in-depth knowledge of the Spanish language, there are some free tutorials here and you'll find a rather better laid out free resource here.

We've not yet found a purely Mallorcan reference (you'll be the first to know!) but this free Catalan to English Dictionary is very useful.

There are many personal language tutors on the island - check your local newsagents window - and several excellent language schools. One of the longest established language schools in Mallorca is The Classroom in Palma, who have a team of well qualified and experienced staff, as well as all the latest teaching aids.

If you are looking for a personalised and professional Spanish and Catalan translation service, we recommend you contact Victoria Amengual, who is My Destination Mallorca's preferred translator.

Colloquial Catalan: A Complete Course for Beginners

Covers today’s Catalan as spoken around Barcelona, with coverage of the Valencia and Balearic variations. The course pack includes the book plus two hours of recorded material to help with pronunciation and recognition.

Franklin Spanish/English Dictionary

Electronic dictionary with downloadable content cabability. Instant translation of over 2 000 traveler's phrases. Grammar guide, advanced conjugations, and correction of phonetic spelling. Seven games to reinforce learning and TOEFL test word list. Built-in organiser, world clock and currency converter.

Complete Spanish Learning Suite

Comprehensive language software for learning Spanish. Over 60 000 words with translations, electronic dictionary, fun activities. Sample dialogues, advanced speech analysis, exercises teaching sentence construction, vocabulary and grammar. Listen to native Spanish speakers.