Menorquí

Menorquí, also referred to as Menorquín, is a variety of the Catalan language spoken on the island of Menorca in the Balearic Islands of Spain. It is part of the Balearic group of Catalan dialects and is commonly treated as a distinct local variety within linguistic and cultural contexts. The primary community of speakers resides on Menorca, with some use among emigrants and in media or education outside the island.

Linguistically, Menorquí shares the core grammar and syntax of Catalan but possesses local phonological, lexical, and semantic features that set it apart from standard varieties. It remains largely mutually intelligible with other Catalan dialects, especially for speakers familiar with Catalan, though listeners may notice characteristic pronunciation or vocabulary.

In terms of status, Catalan is official in the Balearic Islands alongside Spanish, and local varieties such as Menorquí are supported by cultural and educational initiatives. Institutions like the Institut Menorquí d'Estudis promote the documentation, study, and preservation of the dialect through publications, dictionaries, and linguistic research.

Culturally, Menorquí is an element of Menorcan identity and appears in oral tradition, folk music, and local literature. The name derives from Menorca (Minorca), the island where the variety is most widely used, with speakers sometimes distinguishing the local form as Menorquí or Menorquín.