Quan recordo el somni, somric.

Quan means when. In this sentence, it introduces a time clause: Quan recordo el somni = When I remember the dream.

So the sentence has two parts:

• Quan recordo el somni = when I remember the dream
• somric = I smile

Catalan often uses quan in the same way English uses when.

Catalan often leaves out subject pronouns when they are clear from the verb form. This is very common.

Here:

• recordo already means I remember
• somric already means I smile

So you do not need to say jo unless you want emphasis or contrast.

For example:

• Quan recordo el somni, somric. = normal, natural
• Quan jo recordo el somni, somric. = possible, but more emphatic

Recordo is the 1st person singular present tense of recordar = to remember.

So:

• recordar = to remember
• recordo = I remember

It is a regular-looking present tense form ending in -o, which is common for I forms in Catalan.

El is the masculine singular definite article, meaning the.

So:

• somni = dream
• el somni = the dream

Catalan often uses the definite article in places where English also uses the. In this sentence, it refers to a specific dream, so el somni is natural.

Somni means dream as a noun.

It is a masculine singular noun, which is why it takes el:

• el somni = the dream

Grammatical gender in Catalan does not always match anything logical in English, so this is something you simply learn with the noun.

Somric means I smile and comes from the verb somriure = to smile.

This verb is a little less regular than very basic verbs, so the I form is somric, not somrio or somrío.

So:

• somriure = to smile
• somric = I smile

This is just the correct present-tense form you need to memorize.

Yes. Both verbs are in the present tense:

• recordo = I remember
• somric = I smile

Catalan often uses the present tense for general truths, habits, and repeated actions, just as English does. Depending on context, the sentence can feel like:

• When I remember the dream, I smile
• Whenever I remember the dream, I smile

The comma separates the introductory time clause from the main clause:

• Quan recordo el somni, = subordinate clause
• somric. = main clause

This is very natural in writing when the sentence begins with a clause like when I remember the dream.

If you reversed the order, the comma would often disappear:

• Somric quan recordo el somni.

Both versions are natural.

Yes. That is perfectly natural.

Compare:

• Quan recordo el somni, somric.
• Somric quan recordo el somni.

Both mean the same thing. The first puts slightly more focus on the time situation (when I remember the dream), while the second starts with the main action (I smile).

Somric is pronounced roughly like sohm-REEK.

A few helpful points:

• the stress falls on the last syllable: -ric
• the final c is pronounced like a k sound

So it does not sound like English smile, and it does not end silently.

Yes. In many contexts, recordar can be translated as either remember or recall.

So Quan recordo el somni, somric could be understood as:

• When I remember the dream, I smile
• When I recall the dream, I smile

Usually remember is the most natural translation for learners, but recall is also possible depending on context.

Most naturally, it suggests one specific dream, because of el somni = the dream.

If you wanted to talk about dreams in general, you would usually use a plural or a different structure, for example:

• Quan recordo els somnis... = When I remember the dreams...
• Quan recordo un somni... = When I remember a dream...

So el somni points to a particular dream already known from context.