Languages of Catalonia
According to the government of Catalonia, Spanish, locally known as Castilian, is currently the most spoken language in Catalonia (45.9% daily users of Spanish vs. 35.6% daily users of Catalan vs. 11% daily users of both Spanish and Catalan) and especially in the Barcelona metropolitan area, as well as native language and usual language of many Catalan citizens. This language is widely prevalent in the press, cinema and in daily life.
Influence of Arabic on other languages
Arabic has notably influenced the Valencian variety of the Catalan language spoken in Spain south of Catalonia, more than Catalonia itself although it also left influences in Catalan. Due to more than 8 centuries of Arabic dominion in the Iberian Peninsula (Al-Andalus), hundreds of words from many fields (including Arabic inventions) have been adapted into Catalan; among many are "séquia" ("irrigation ditch"), "nòria" ("whaterwheel, noria"), "algorfa" ("loft"), "magatzem" ("warehouse"), "alfàbia" ("earthenware jar"), "barnús" ("bathrobe"), "aladroc" ("anchovy"), "dacsa" ("corn"), "safanòria" ("carrot"), "carxofa" ("artichoke"), "albergínia" ("aubergine"), "xirivia" ("parsnip"), "alfals" ("alfalfa"), "albercoc" ("apricot"), "tramús" ("lupin"), "corfa" ("bark, peel"), "xara" ("thicket"), "matalaf/matalàs" ("mattress"), "alacrà" ("scorpion"), "fardatxo" ("lizard") "alfàb(r)ega" ("basil"), etc. and expressions such as "a la babalà" ("randomly, to God's will") and "a betzef" ("abundance, plenty").