Watching television is a proven way to accelerate your language acquisition.

It provides you with massive amounts of comprehensible input in an entertaining format.

You get to hear native speakers using natural pronunciation, idioms, and slang in real time.

Visual context also makes it much easier to guess the meaning of new words without opening a dictionary.

Talk in Catalan (highly recommended)

The absolute best tool for learning the language is Talk In Catalan.

Relying entirely on television to learn Catalan will leave frustrating gaps in your grammar and speaking abilities.

Our platform is designed specifically to help you understand native speakers and speak confidently in the real world.

You’ll learn essential vocabulary and grammar through clear, highly structured lessons.

This gives you the necessary background knowledge to actually understand the Catalan TV shows you watch.

I highly recommend signing up for Talk In Catalan before you start your next television binge.

Merlí

Merlí is arguably the most internationally famous Catalan television series ever made.

It follows a high school philosophy teacher named Merlí Bergeron who inspires his students to think freely.

This show is perfect for learners because it blends academic concepts with everyday teenage drama.

You’ll hear a wide range of vocabulary, ranging from formal philosophical terms to modern street slang.

The actors speak in the Central Catalan dialect, which is the standard variety taught in most language schools.

Plats bruts

Plats bruts is a legendary sitcom that aired in the late 1990s and early 2000s.

It revolves around two complete opposites, Lopes and David, who share an apartment in Barcelona.

The humor is incredibly fast-paced and relies heavily on local Catalan cultural references.

This makes it an excellent resource for upper-intermediate learners looking to challenge their listening skills.

Because it’s a comedy, you’ll naturally pick up on the authentic rhythm and intonation of native Catalan speakers.

Polseres vermelles

Polseres vermelles (The Red Band Society) is a deeply moving drama about children living in a hospital.

Instead of focusing on the doctors, the show is told entirely from the perspective of the young patients.

The dialogue is generally spoken at a slower, more deliberate pace due to the emotional nature of the scenes.

This slower speaking speed makes it highly accessible for beginners and early intermediate learners.

You’ll easily learn a significant amount of medical vocabulary alongside everyday conversational phrases.

Crims

If you enjoy true crime, Crims is an absolute must-watch television show.

This documentary series explores real-life criminal cases that occurred throughout Catalonia.

The narrator, Carles Porta, speaks with incredible clarity and excellent diction.

His distinct Western Catalan (Lleidatà) accent provides great exposure to regional variations of the language.

The formal narration style makes it very easy to follow along with the subtitles turned on.

Les de l’hoquei

Les de l’hoquei (The Hockey Girls) is a modern drama centered around a female roller hockey team.

The main characters are teenagers dealing with sports, relationships, and family issues.

This is the best show to watch if you want to learn current Catalan slang and informal expressions.

The dialogue is fast and features the exact type of language young people use in Catalonia today.

It’s a highly engaging way to practice your listening comprehension while following a compelling story.

Useful Catalan television vocabulary

You’ll need some basic vocabulary to navigate Catalan streaming platforms like 3Cat.

You can ask your friends this simple question to start a conversation about what to watch:

Here’s a quick cheat sheet of essential television terms in Catalan to help you find your way around.

Learning Catalan through television is both highly effective and entertaining.

Start with just one episode a day and keep your Catalan subtitles turned on.

Over time, your brain will naturally adapt to the sounds and patterns of the language.