Having recently moved to Valencia, I discovered the language situation here is more complex than I imagined. Street signs and government documents frequently appear in two language versions, which was initially quite confusing. Today, let’s discuss what languages are actually used in Valencia—hopefully this helps those planning to move here.
Official Languages of Valencia
The Valencian Community operates under a bilingual system, with both Spanish and Valencian as official languages. This means all government institutions, schools, and public services must provide versions in both languages. Walking around the streets, you’ll notice that road signs, shop signs, and bus stop information are basically all displayed bilingually.
According to data from the Valencian Statistics Institute, approximately 50% of residents can speak Valencian, but the proportion who use it daily varies greatly by region. In inland cities and northern areas, Valencian usage rates are higher, while in the capital city of Valencia, Spanish is more commonly used. If you’re interested in [language school tuition in Valencia], both languages are typically offered.
The Relationship Between Valencian and Catalan
This topic is actually quite sensitive locally. From a linguistic perspective, Valencian and Catalan belong to the same language family with very high similarity—they’re basically mutually intelligible. However, many Valencians insist that Valencian is an independent language rather than a dialect of Catalan.
| Language Feature | Valencian | Catalan |
|---|
| Vocabulary Similarity | 85-90% | Baseline |
| Pronunciation Differences | Regional variations exist | Standard pronunciation |
| Official Status | Valencian Community | Catalan Community |
| Spelling Standards | AVL standards | IEC standards |
In academia, Valencian is typically classified as a western dialect of Catalan, but on political and cultural levels, this classification can be controversial. As a foreigner, when choosing a language school in Valencia, it’s best to avoid discussing this topic in public and respect local people’s language identity.
Language Use in Daily Life
In practical daily life, knowing only Spanish is completely fine. Grocery shopping, ordering at restaurants, handling administrative procedures—Spanish works smoothly for everything. Most Valencians are bilingual, and even if they communicate among themselves in Valencian, they’ll automatically switch to Spanish when talking to you.
However, in some small towns or inland areas, encountering elderly people who only speak Valencian isn’t unusual. Once, when asking for directions in a small village in Castellón province, the person responded entirely in Valencian. Although I could understand the gist, it was still somewhat challenging.
Regarding school education, public schools typically offer three models: full Spanish instruction, full Valencian instruction, or bilingual education. Parents can choose based on their needs, but completely avoiding Valencian is basically impossible since Valencian is a mandatory subject.
Language Advice for Foreigners
If you plan to live in Valencia long-term, my recommendation is:
Prioritize mastering Spanish—it’s the most practical. Once you reach B2 level, daily life and work will be basically obstacle-free. As for Valencian, you can learn some basic expressions like greetings and thanks—locals really appreciate this effort.
Work-wise, private companies typically don’t have strict Valencian requirements, but if you want to enter the public sector or education system, a Valencian language certificate is almost essential. Many locals specifically spend time obtaining this certificate to qualify for civil service positions.
Valencia’s language environment is quite friendly to foreigners. As long as you’re willing to learn Spanish, integrating into local life won’t be too difficult. If you can also speak a few phrases of Valencian through [Valencia language schools], it’s definitely a bonus.
