Catalan: Genealogical Glossary Skip to main content
Making sense of old handwriting

Genealogical Glossary


Below is a glossary of common words that are frequently found in genealogical records. This is not an exhaustive list, nor does it catalog the many possible spellings or variations that can be found in old records; however, it should help to identify words found in old documents.



Filter By Letter
All
A
B
C
D
E
F
G
H
I
J
K
L
M
N
O
P
Q
R
S
T
U
V
W
X
Y
Z


A

A: To; in; at; into.

Ab, prep: See 'amb.'

Abaixar, v: To lower down.

Abandont(a), adj: Abandoned.

Abans, adv: Before.

Abans-d'ahir, adv: The day before yesterday, ereyesterday.

Abat, m: Abbot.

Aborigen, m.f: Native, indigenous.

Abril, m: April.

Adopció, f: Adoption.

Adoptat(a), adj: Adopted.

Adulteri, m: Adultery, the violation of marriage vows.

Afillar, v: To adopt

Afocat(da), m.f: A resident, one subjected to the fogatge.

Agnat(da), m.f: Relative exclusively through the male line.

Agost, m: August.

Ahir, adv: Yesterday.

Ajuntament, m: Town hall, city hall.

Ajuntar(-se), v: To join; to marry.

Alcalde, m: Mayor.

Alhora, adv: Now, presently.

Almonia, f: alms, charity.

Amb, prep: With.

Anar, v: To go.

Ànima, f: Soul, spirit.

Anit, adv: Last night, also 'anit passada.'

Aniversari, m: Anniversary, birthday

Any, m: Year.

Apadrinador(a), m.f: Godfather, godmother; patron.

Ara, adv: Now.

Arribar, v: To arrive.

Arxiu, m: Archive.

Avantpassat(ada), m.f: Ancestor.

Avi, m: Grandfather.

Àvia, f: Grandmother.

Avui, adv: Today.

B

Baix(a), adj: Low, down.

Baptisme, m: Baptism.

Barri, m: Ward, neighborhood.

Bastard(a), m.f: Bastard, illegitimate child.

Bateig, m: Baptism, christening.

Batejar, v: To baptize

Batxiller, m: A bachelor, one who holds a bachelor's.

Bebè, m: Baby, child.

Benedicció, f: Blessing.

Bessó(ona), adj: Twins.

Bisbat, m: Bishopric, diocese.

Bisbe, m: Bishop.

Bord(a), m.f: Bastard, illegitimate child

Bracer, m.f: Worker, day laborer.

C

Cada: Each

Cadascun(a): Each one

Camperol(a), adj: Peasant, country person; rural, rustic.

Canònic(a), adj: Canonical

Capçal, m: Headquarter.

Capella, f: church, chapel, generally a smaller building with one alter.

Capellà, m: a parish priest.

Captaire, m.f: Begger, pauper

Carnisser, m.f: Butcher

Casament, m: Marriage, wedding.

Casa-se, v: To be married.

Casat(ada), adj: Married.

Castedat, f: Chastity.

Cementiri, m: Cemetery.

Cens, m: Census.

Certesa, f: Certainty.

Certificat, m: Certificate.

Cerveser(a), m.f: Brewer

Ciutadà(ana), m.f: Citizen.

Ciutat, f: City, town.

Clergue, m: Clergy, priest.

Cognat(ada), m.f: Relative exclusively through the female line.

Cognom, m: Surname, last name.

Com: As, how.

Comare, f: Godmother.

Comerciant(a) m.f: Merchant, trader.

Compare, m: Godfather.

Compromís matrimonial, m: Marriage engagement, engagement.

Comptat, m: County.

Comunió, f: Communion, mass.

Concordat, m: Agreement.

Confirmació, f: Confirmation; the religious sacrament of confirmation administered by the bishop.

Cònjuge, m.f: Spouse.

Cor, m: Heart

Cos, m: Body, cadaver

Cosí(ina), m.f: Cousin.

Criat(ada), m.f: Servant; maid.

Cristià(ana), m.f: Christian.

Crisma, m.f: Chrism, holy anointing oil.

Cugucia, f: A practice to punish adultuery under the 'evil customs' or 'mals usos,' a set of medieval feudal customs.

Cunyat(ada), m.f: Brother/sister-in-law

Curat, m: Priest, rector.

D

Dama, f: Lady

Damisel·la, f: Damsel, young lady.

Data, f: Date, calendar date.

Davant, adv: In front of.

Decés, m: dead, defunct.

Defunció, f: Death, the act of dying.

Deixada, adj: Left, abandoned.

Demà, adv: Tomorrow.

Descendent, m.f: Descendant

Desembre, m: December

Després, adv: After.

Desunió, f: Disunion, divorce.

Diari, adj: Daily.

Dijous, m: Thursday

Dilluns, m: Monday

Dimarts, m: Tuesday

Dimecres, m: Wednesday

Diòcesi, f: Diocese.

Dissabte, m: Saturday

Dit(a), m.f: The said.

Dintre, adv: Inside.

Diumenge, m: Sunday

Divendres, m: Friday

Divorci, m: Divorce.

Divorciat(ada), m.f: A divorced person.

Dona, f: Woman, wife.

Donar, v: To give.

Dot, m: Dowery.

Donzella, f: Maiden, virgin.

Dret, m: Right, privilege.

E

Edat, f: Age.

Eclesiàstic(a), adj: Ecclesiasitcal, dealing with the church

Ell(a), m.f: He, she; 3-person sing. pronoun.

Embaràs, m: Pregnancy.

Embarassada, adj: Pregnant; pregnant woman.

En, m: A personal article used with names and surnames, used in formal registers

Enterrament, m: Interrment, burial.

Enterrar, v: To inter, bury.

Esclau(ava), m.f: Slave

Església, f: Church.

Esposalles, f: Wedding, marriage, nuptial.

Espos(a), m.f: Husband, wife.

Estranger(a), m.f: Stranger, foreigner.

Eucaristia, f: Eucharist.

Expòsit(a), m.f: Abandoned child.

Extremunció, f: Extreme unction, religious rite administered to a gravely ill person in danger of death.

F

Fadrí, m: Bachelor; journeyman.

Fe, f: Faith.

Febrer, m: February

Feligrès(esa), m.f: Parishioner.

Feligresia, f: Congregation.

Femella, f: Female.

Femení(ina), adj: Feminine.

Fer, v: To make, do.

Ferrer, m: Blacksmith, metalsmith.

Fill(a), m.f: Child, son, daughter.

Fillastre(a), m.f: Stepchild.

Fillol(a), m.f: Godchild, godson, goddaughter.

Finca, f: Estate, propterty, land.

Fogatge, m: Hearth tax, established in Catalonia by Pere III.

Font, f: fountain, spring.

Forner(a), m.f: Baker.

Fossa, f: Pit, grave.

Frare, m: Friar.

Fur, m: Fuero, a Spanish legal term that usually refers to a compilation of laws for a jurisdiction.

Fuster, m: Carpenter, joiner.

G

Gendre, m: Son-in-law.

Gener, m: January

Generació, f: Generation.

Gent, f: People, population.

Germà(ana), m.f: Brother, sister.

Germanastre(a), m.f: Step brother/sister.

Germanor, f: Brotherhood either religious or by blood, confraternity.

Gossa, f: Female dog, bitch.

Granja, f: Farm.

Gremi, m: Guild, an association of people with the same profession or trade.

Grip, f: Cold, influenza.

H

Habitant, m.f: Inhabitant.

Herència, f: Inheretance; collection of goods, rights, and obligations that, when someone dies, are transmitted to his or her heir(s).

Hereu(eva). m.f: Heir/heiress.

Hipoteca, f: Mortage, pledge.

Ho: It.

Home, m: Man.

Hora, f: Hour.

I

I: And.

Idem: Latin meaning 'the same.'

Índex, m: Index, list, register.

Indigen(a), adj: Native, indigenous.

Infant, m: Infant, child.

Infantar, v: To give birth.

Infrascrit(a), m.f: Undersigned.

Il·legítim(a), adj: Illegitimate

Inventari, f: Inventory, a list of items.

J

Ja, adv: Now, already.

Jardiner(era), m.f: Gardener.

Jo: I, 1-person sing. pronoun.

Jove, m.f: Youth, young man/woman.

Jutge, m: Judge.

Jueu(eva), m.f: Jew, a Jewish perrson

Juliol, m: July

Juny, m: June.

Jura, f: Oath, promise

Justícia, f: Justice

K

L

Legal, adj: Legal.

Legítim(a), adj: legitimate.

Llar, f: Home, household.

Llevador(a) m.f: Midwife.

Llibre, m: Book.

Llicanciat. m: The licentiate, one holding a licentiate degree, often compared to a Bachelor's degree.

Lligall, m: Bundle; (legal) a collection of usually bound papers that deal with common subject.

Llit, m: Bed

Lliura, f: Pound as in weight measurement and also monetary unit.

Lliure, adj: Free.

Lloc(h), m: Place, location.

Llur: Their, 3-person pl. possessive pronoun.

M

Madrastra, f: Stepmother

Mai, adv: Ever, never.

Maig, m: May

Malalt(a), m.f: Sick, ill, one who is sick.

Malcasar, v: Bad marriage, to marry without the circumstances need for marital happiness.

Mandat, m: Command, order.

Març, m: March

Mare, f: Mother.

Marti, m: Husband.

Masculí(ina), adj: Masculine, male.

Matí, m: morning; 'de matí:' early in the morning.

Matines, f: Matins, morning prayer.

Menys: Less, fewer.

Mes, m: Month.

Més: More, plus.

Mestre(a), m.f: Master; expert; teacher.

Metge(ess), m.f: Doctor.

Mig(tja), adj: Middle, half.

Millor, adj: Better

Miner, m: Miner

Ministre, m: Minister

Missa, f: Mass, religious ceremony.

Molt, adv: More, much, very.

Morir, v: To die.

Mort, f: Death, the act of dying; deceased.

Mosso(a), m.f: Boy/girl.

Muller, f: Woman, wife.

N

Na, f: A personal article used with names and surnames, used in formal registers

Naixement, m: Birth

Natiu(iva), adj: Native.

Nebot(oda), m.f: Nephew/niece.

Néixer, v: To be born.

Nen(a), m.f: Child, boy/girl.

Net(a), m.f: Grandchild

Noi(a), m.f: Boy, girl.

Nom, m: Name

Nom de pila: Given name; also 'nom de fonts' or 'nom de bateig'

Nora, f. Daughter-in-law.: undefined

Nou(va), adj: New

Novembre, m: November.

Novena, f: A series of prayers or devotional acts in Christian tradition completed over nine successive days, often done for deceased persons before burial.

Nuvi, m: Groom.

Núvia, f: Bride.

O

O, conj: Or.

Obituari, m: Obituary.

Octubre, m: October.

On: Where.

Oncle, m: Uncle.

Or, m: Gold.

Orfe, m: Orphan.

Orfebre, m.f: Goldsmilth, silversmith, one who works with precious metals.

Òrfena, f: Orphan.

Orfenat, m: Orphanage.

P

Padrastre, m: Stepfather.

Padri(na), m.f: Godfather/Godmother.

Pagès(esa), m.f: Farmer, cultivator.

Pàgina, f: Page, page of paper.

Paleta, m: Bricklayer.

Pare, m: Father; pl, parents.

Parròquia, f: Parish.

Pastor, m: Pastor, minister; shepherd

Patge, m: Page, servant, young male attendant.

Pecat, m: Sin.

Per què: Why.

Permís, m: Permission; permit, licence.

Pescador, m: Fisherman.

Pica baptismal, f: Baptismal font.

Picapedrer, m: Stonemason.

Pitjor, adj: Worse.

Poble, m: Town, village; people, nation.

Premon, m: First name, given name.

Prevere, m: Presbyter.

Prohibició matrimonial, f: Marriage banns.

Promès(es), m.f: Fiancé, fiancée.

Q

Qual: Which.

Qualcú: Someone.

Quan: When.

Quaremsa, f: Lent.

Què: What.

Qui: Who.

Quin: Which.

R

Raó, f: Reason, cause.

Rebre, v: To recieve, accept.

Rector, m: Priest, priest who directs a parish.

Registre, m: Register, record.

Religió, f: Religion.

Res: Nothing, none.

Residència, f: Residence.

Resident, m.f: Resident, inhabitant.

Ritu, m: Rite, religious ceremony.

S

Sabater, m: Cobbler, shoemaker.

Sacerdot, f: Priest.

Sang, f: Blood.

Segons: According to.

Senyor(a), m.f: Lord/Lady.

Sepulcre, m: Sepulcher, grave.

Sepultura, f: Sepulchre, grave, tomb.

Setembre, m: September.

Sogre(a), m.f: Father-in-law, mother-in-law.

Soldat, m: Soldier.

Sotascriure, v: to write below; to subscribe.

Soterrar, v: To bury, inter.

Susdit(a), m.f: The aforementioned.

T

Teixidor(a) m.f: Weaver.

També: Also.

Testament, m: Testament.

Testimoni, m.f: Witness.

Tia, f: Aunt.

Tinent, m.f: A lieutenant.

Tot, adv: All, whole.

Treballador(a), m.f: Worker.

Tribunal, m: Court, court house.

Tutela, f: Guardianship.

U

Últim(a), adj: Last, ultimate.

Ungir,v: to annoint.

Universitari(ària), m.f: Person who studies or has studied in a university; relating to universities.

Universitat, f: University.

Ut supra, Latin: As above.

V

Veí(ïna), m.f: Neighbors, residents.

Veïnat, m: Neighborhood.

Vell(a), adj: Old, ancient.

Vespres, f: Vespers, evening prayer.

Vicari, m: Vicar.

Vidu(a), m.f: Widow(er)

Viu(va), adj: Alive, living.

Viudo(a), m.f: Widow(er)

Vivent, adj: Alive, living.

Vui, adv: Today, alternative form of 'avui'

W

X

Y

Z

data-content-type=""

The Catalan Tutorial
Introduction
Paleography Introduction