Learn Occitan

Adiu! Welcome!

Welcome to this enhanced conversation guide. We've taken a practical approach to help you learn the basics of a language quickly. We suggest that you start by memorizing practical words and phrases that you can use every day at home and that will then come in handy when you travel to the many parts of France, but also Spain and Italy where it is still spoken. Practicing pronouncing vocabulary aloud, such as numbers, is a good exercise that can be done at any time of the day. This will get you used to the sounds of the language.

How to Learn Occitan

1. Learn the basics of vocabulary. Start by learning common words and phrases that you can use in everyday conversation. Mastering the specific vocabulary of the language will help you understand the words you hear or see written.
2. Practice speaking.Listen to native speakers speak Occitan by watching YouTube videos, movies, and TV shows. Repeat words and phrases to improve your pronunciation. Try to find people to speak Occitan with, whether they are native speakers or other learners.
3. Learn basic grammar. Like all languages, Occitan has its own grammatical rules. Learn the basics of Occitan grammar, such as verbs, nouns, articles and pronouns. This will help you construct simple, correct sentences in Occitan.
4. Find a conversation partner. Practice speaking with native speakers or with other learners. Use the words and phrases you have learned to introduce yourself, talk about your interests, ask questions, etc.
5. Read in Occitan. Read books, newspapers, and magazines in Occitan to help you better understand the language. It is important to start with simple texts and gradually work up to more difficult texts. Occitan is a language with a particularly rich literature.
6. Find the right teaching resources. There are many books, online courses, apps and websites that can help you learn Occitan. Choose the resources that are right for you and that you feel are appropriate for your level and goals.
7. Join a language class with a teacher. Taking a class with a qualified teacher can help you learn the language faster. There are many sites that allow you to find qualified teachers.
8. Anticipate periods of stagnation. After a few months, you will feel like you are no longer making progress: there are always periods of rapid, visible progress, followed by periods when progress is no longer noticeable. The best way to get through these rough patches is to keep improving by diversifying your learning sources.
9. Be regular and consistent. It's better to spend a few minutes a day practicing than an hour once a week. Learning a new language can take time and requires patience, but by persevering, you will eventually reach your goal of mastering Occitan.

Why speak Occitan today

The most spoken regional language in France

Occitan is a regional language unique to the south and southwest of France. It is spoken in many regions:

• Limousin,
• Midi-Pyrénées,
• Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur,
• Languedoc-Roussillon,
• Aquitaine,
• Ardeche,
• Drôme,
• Southern Isère.

Besides France, Occitan is also spoken by the inhabitants of the 12 valleys of the Piedmont Alps, in Italy and those of the Val d'Aran in Spain. The langue d'oc will come in handy in all of these regions if you want to integrate and establish deeper relationships with its speakers.

In addition, it is important to know that Occitan refers to several other dialects, including: Provençal, Languedoc, Limousin and Gascon. All four are moreover referred to by the "langues d'oc".

A very much alive language

In the past, Occitan was used by medieval poets. Many poems and satires reflecting the medieval era were written in Occitan. However, with the constitution of the French republic, the langue d'oc, like all patois, was forbidden. Fortunately, some intellectuals have revived it, taking an interest in this ancient language.

How are the words pronounced in Occitan?

Occitan is a language derived from Latin like French, Spanish, Italian, etc. Other languages have influenced Occitan, such as Gallic, Aquitanian or Ligurian. Moreover, the pronunciation of Occitan words is relatively easy. Just keep in mind these few rules:

• The letter "e" without accent is pronounced "é",
• The letter "o" is pronounced "ou",
• The combination "au" is pronounced "aou",
• The combination "eu" is pronounced "éou",
• The combination "èu" is pronounced "èou",
• The combination "iu" is pronounced "ïou",
• And the combination "òu" is pronounced "o-ou" .

Also, the letter "j" is pronounced "dj" and the combination "ch" is pronounced "tch". And finally, the consonants at the end of words are not pronounced, apart from the letter "n" and the letter "r". For example: the words: in, en, èn, an, un and on... should be pronounced: inn, enn, ènn, ann, unn, onn.

The Occitan alphabet

As mentioned above, Occitan is a language one derived from Latin, and therefore its alphabet consists of the 23 letters of the Latin alphabet.

You will notice that unlike the French alphabet, the Occitan alphabet does not include the letter "k", "w" and "y". However, they can be used, to designate a word from another language, such as: kayak, yacht, whiskey, among others.