Parlem de la por.

Parlem is the 1st person plural form of parlar (to speak / to talk) in the present tense.

So grammatically it means we talk or we are talking.

Depending on context, parlem can also function like let’s talk. Catalan often uses the nosaltres form this way.

So Parlem de la por. can be understood as either:

• We talk about fear.
• Let’s talk about fear.

The context usually makes it clear.

Catalan often leaves out subject pronouns because the verb ending already shows who the subject is.

• parlo = I speak
• parles = you speak
• parla = he/she speaks
• parlem = we speak

So Parlem already tells you the subject is we.

You could say Nosaltres parlem de la por, but that would usually be for emphasis, contrast, or clarity.

Because with parlar (to talk / to speak), Catalan very commonly uses de:

• parlar de política = to talk about politics
• parlar d’un problema = to talk about a problem
• parlem de la por = we talk about fear

This is just the normal pattern to learn: parlar de + topic.

English uses about, but Catalan usually uses de in this structure.

Yes, you can, and it would be understood. But Parlem de la por is generally the more natural and basic way to say it.

Very roughly:

• parlar de = the most usual everyday pattern
• parlar sobre = possible, sometimes a bit more formal, explanatory, or topic-focused

For a learner, parlar de is the safest default.

Catalan often uses the definite article with abstract nouns when speaking in a general sense.

So:

• la por = fear
• l’amor = love
• la vida = life

This is one place where Catalan differs from English. English often says just fear, but Catalan commonly says la por.

So de la por is normal and natural.

Yes. Por is a feminine noun, so it takes la:

• la por

If you want to describe it, the adjective would also agree in the feminine:

• la por intensa = intense fear
• la por profunda = deep fear

So the article is feminine because the noun is feminine.

Because in Catalan, de only contracts with certain articles.

Common contractions include:

• de + el = del
• a + el = al

But with la, there is no contraction:

• de la por
• not dla por

So de la stays as two words.

No. The sentence has a very normal Catalan order:

• Parlem = verb
• de la por = prepositional phrase giving the topic

Catalan often allows flexibility in word order, but this sentence is straightforward and idiomatic.

A simple learner-friendly pronunciation guide is:

par-LEM de la POR

The stress falls on:

• -lem in parlem
• por

A rough English-style approximation is:

par-LEM de la POR

If you want to sound more Catalan, keep the vowels short and clear, and make the r light, not heavy.

It can mean both, depending on context.

• parlar català = to speak Catalan
• parlar de la por = to talk about fear

So in this sentence, parlar is best understood as to talk rather than simply to speak.

Yes. Because parlem can work like let’s talk, Parlem de la por. can be a natural way to introduce a topic:

• Parlem de la por.
• Let’s talk about fear.

This is especially common in teaching, presentations, therapy, discussion prompts, or written introductions to a topic.