Valencian Spanish – where, what for and for whom?

If you have ever travelled from Alicante to Torrevieja, you have probably seen some road signs in two languages (for example, Alicante/Alacant, Elche-Elx). Torrevieja is one of the westernmost cities of the Valencia autonomous community, which has its own dialect of the Spanish language – Valencian.

At Granfield Estate, our team has been living on the Costa Blanca for years and encounters the Valencian language daily — on road signs, official documents, and in conversations with local neighbours. Here’s what you need to know about this fascinating linguistic feature of the region.

You will not hear it very often in Torrevieja itself. Although studying it is part of the compulsory school curriculum, most of the other subjects are taught in castellano (standard Spanish). While in Torrevieja you will hardly come across this dialect, in Guardamar, just 15 km away, many schools teach entirely in Valencian. Street names are also written in the dialect (you will see the Valencian word “carrer” instead of the usual Castilian “calle”).

How Many People Actually Speak Valencian?

The further you move towards the regional capital, the more noticeable the presence of this language becomes. Most residents of the community speak both languages without any problem, so you will definitely not face difficulties as a tourist. However, if you are moving to the Valencia region with school-age children, you should pay attention to the schools – in some areas, schools that teach mainly in Valencian are very common. Many parents prepare their children for the move by teaching them Spanish, but Valencian still has significant differences from standard Spanish, which can be an additional source of stress for a child, so it is better to research the school situation in the city in advance.

Statistics on the use of Valencian in everyday life are declining every year, partly because of the large influx of immigrants, as the Valencia region is one of the best in the world in terms of climate and ecology, and certainly one of the best in Spain. According to statistics, almost 95% of the population of the Valencian Community understand Valencian, 78% can speak it and only half can write it correctly. Only about 40% of locals use Valencian to communicate with their family at home, and less than 20% use it in supermarkets.

Valencian in Schools and Official Life

Because the language is used less and less, in recent years there have been proposals to remove compulsory Valencian from the school curriculum. You can even submit a request to the authorities to opt out of studying Valencian. However, problems may arise later when the child moves on to higher grades. For example, this year the textbooks for mathematics and biology are in Valencian, which, of course, does not make the learning process any easier. Nevertheless, Valencians are very proud of their cultural heritage, including their own language, and they therefore try to introduce it as much as possible into different areas of life – into education, cultural events, and documentation, which is drawn up in both languages. Any website of a municipal body in the Valencian Community, as well as application forms and official paperwork, must by law be available in both Valencian and castellano. In addition, you can only work as a civil servant or teach in educational institutions in the Valencian Community if you have at least a B1 level of Valencian.

There are regular disputes between residents of Valencia and Catalonia, as the latter claim that Valencian is merely a dialect of the Catalan language and cannot be recognised as a separate language. Valencians, of course, strongly disagree. These two regional language varieties are indeed similar, but there are also some differences, mainly in pronunciation. The spelling of the words is almost identical, so you can safely use a Catalan translator to understand a text in Valencian, especially given that it is very difficult to find a specific Valencian option in online translators.

The Culinary Legacy: Paella Is a Valencian Word

The main “linguistic pride” of Valencians is the world-famous word “paella”, as it is originally a Valencian word meaning “frying pan”. This popular dish of Spanish cuisine was initially the culinary symbol of Valencia itself, but it soon spread throughout the Kingdom and acquired many variations. It is said that a good cook has at least a dozen recipes for this dish.

Valencian is a language with a rich history, and it is well worth learning if you want to live in a city where it is widely used. In Torrevieja, however, it is not at all essential (apart from being a school subject). This is another advantage of Torrevieja, which is why we recommend this town for relocation: here you will find an environmentally clean area, wonderful beaches and the clear predominance of classical Spanish (castellano).

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need to learn Valencian to live in Torrevieja?

No. Torrevieja is one of the few cities in the Valencia Community where Valencian is hardly used in everyday life. Castilian Spanish (castellano) overwhelmingly dominates here. For comfortable living, standard Spanish is sufficient — this is why Torrevieja is so popular among foreigners.

What is the difference between Valencian and standard Spanish?

It is a fully-fledged separate Romance language with its own grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation — not a dialect of Spanish. Valencian is close to Catalan, although the Valencians themselves consider it a separate language. It will be difficult for a Spanish speaker to understand it without special training, although some words have similarities.

Is learning Valencian mandatory in schools in Spain?

Within the Valencia Community — yes, Valencian is included in the mandatory school curriculum. The extent of its presence depends on the specific city and school: in Torrevieja, it is one subject among many, while in Guardamar, 15 km away, many schools teach in Valencian. It is worth clarifying which language is used for primary instruction before choosing a school.

What is the origin of the word "paella"?

"Paella" is a Valencian word meaning "pan." This dish was originally a culinary symbol of Valencia and only later spread throughout Spain, acquiring many regional variations. Valencians take great pride in this linguistic and culinary heritage.

Our team at Granfield Estate lives and works on the Costa Blanca year-round. If you’re considering a move to Spain or looking for property in the area, we’re happy to share our local knowledge — get in touch for a free consultation.

Granfield Estate
Av. Bélgica 1, C.C. Parquemar, La Mata, 03188 Torrevieja (Alicante)
Tel: +34 865 44 33 33