Booking a child's birthday party does not require fluent Spanish or Catalan: with ten phrases and a handful of key words you will be understood at almost any venue. This guide gives you messages to use on the phone, by WhatsApp or by email, in Spanish and Catalan, plus a glossary and tips on reading each venue's page. If you first want to understand how a party usually works, start with the guide for newcomers.
Spanish or Catalan?
In Catalonia most staff understand both languages. If you are unsure which to use, Spanish is usually a safe choice; a greeting in Catalan (Bon dia) is generally appreciated but not necessary. If the venue answers in Catalan, you can carry on in Spanish. In writing, short and specific messages work better than a long text.
Phrases for your first message
The table gives the meaning in English, the Spanish phrase and its Catalan version. Copy them and change the details.
| You want to say | Español | Català |
|---|---|---|
| Hello and reason for contact | Hola, buenos días. Quería información sobre cumpleaños infantiles. | Hola, bon dia. Voldria informació sobre aniversaris infantils. |
| Date and time: "Are you free on Saturday 14 March in the afternoon?" | ¿Tenéis disponibilidad el sábado 14 de marzo por la tarde? | Teniu disponibilitat el dissabte 14 de març a la tarda? |
| Age and number: "My son is turning 6 and there would be about 15 children." | Mi hijo cumple 6 años y seríamos unos 15 niños. | El meu fill fa 6 anys i serem uns 15 infants. |
| "What does the package include?" | ¿Qué incluye el paquete? | Què inclou el paquet? |
| "Is the price per child or per group? Is VAT included?" | ¿El precio es por niño o por grupo? ¿Incluye IVA? | El preu és per infant o per grup? Inclou IVA? |
| "Is there a minimum number of children?" | ¿Hay un mínimo de niños para reservar? | Hi ha un mínim d'infants per reservar? |
| "How long does the party last?" | ¿Cuánto dura la fiesta? | Quant dura la festa? |
| "Is the room private for our group?" | ¿La sala es privada para nuestro grupo? | La sala és privada per al nostre grup? |
| "Can we bring the cake or the snack?" | ¿Se puede traer la tarta o la merienda? | Es pot portar el pastís o el berenar? |
| "One child has a nut allergy. How do you handle that?" | Hay un niño con alergia a los frutos secos. ¿Cómo lo gestionáis? | Hi ha un infant amb al·lèrgia als fruits secs. Com ho gestioneu? |
| "Do we need to pay a deposit to book? How?" | ¿Hay que pagar una señal para reservar? ¿Cómo se paga? | Cal pagar una paga i senyal per reservar? Com es paga? |
| "What happens if we need to change the date?" | ¿Qué pasa si hay que cambiar la fecha? | Què passa si cal canviar la data? |
| "Does anyone on the team speak English?" | ¿Alguien del equipo habla inglés? | Algú de l'equip parla anglès? |
| "Thank you very much, I will confirm in a few days." | Muchas gracias, os confirmo en unos días. | Moltes gràcies, us ho confirmo en uns dies. |
For a phone call
Have the date, the child's age, the number of children and your budget to hand. If you do not understand something, say: "Could you speak more slowly, please?" (¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? / Pot parlar més a poc a poc, si us plau?) or "Could you send it to me by WhatsApp or email?" (¿Me lo puede enviar por WhatsApp o por correo? / M'ho pot enviar per WhatsApp o per correu?). Asking for written confirmation is good practice for any booking.
Mini glossary
| Español | Català | Meaning in English |
|---|---|---|
| merienda | berenar | Mid-afternoon snack; at a birthday, the main food of the party |
| monitor / animador | monitor / animador | Staff member who leads games and activities |
| pastel / tarta | pastís | Birthday cake |
| sala privada | sala privada | Room reserved for your group only |
| paquete / pack | paquet / pack | Set offer with activity, food and time |
| señal | paga i senyal | Deposit paid in advance to secure the date |
| alérgenos | al·lèrgens | Ingredients that can cause an allergic reaction |
| mínimo de niños | mínim d'infants | Minimum number of children required to book |
| invitados | convidats | Guests (children, sometimes adults) |
| piñata | pinyata | Container of sweets that is broken open at the party |
| bolsa de cumpleaños | bossa d'aniversari | Party bag given to each guest on leaving |
| aforo | aforament | Maximum capacity |
| calcetines antideslizantes | mitjons antilliscants | Non-slip socks, often required in play areas |
How to read a venue page
On each venue page in our catalogue, check four things: the price (approximate, taken from the venue's website and calculated for 15 children), the minimum number of children, what is included (snack, room, entertainer, cake) and the recommended age. A "from €8 per child" price may not include the snack or the room. If something is unclear, copy one of the phrases above and ask. You can learn more about where the data comes from in how the site works. To begin, use the search or filter by parties with a snack.
A complete message template
Hola, buenos días. Queremos celebrar el cumpleaños de nuestro hijo (6 años) el sábado 14 de marzo por la tarde, con unos 15 niños. ¿Tenéis disponibilidad? ¿Qué incluye el paquete, cuánto cuesta y cuánto dura? Hay un niño con alergia a los frutos secos. ¿Hace falta una señal para reservar? Muchas gracias.
In English: "Hello, good morning. We would like to celebrate our son's 6th birthday on Saturday 14 March in the afternoon, with about 15 children. Are you available? What does the package include, how much is it and how long does it last? One child has a nut allergy. Do we need to pay a deposit to book? Thank you very much."
Quick questions
What if the venue replies only in Catalan?
Paste the reply into a translator to understand it and carry on in Spanish; always confirm the date, time and price in writing.
Can I pay by card?
Ask which payment method is accepted for the deposit.
With these phrases you are ready to write. Pick your city, for example Barcelona, and send your first message.