Maltese Language Basics
At varying levels, English is spoken and understood by all in Malta (in certain regions it is also the language of choice). Italian is also widely spoken. Having said this, attempting to say a couple of words in ‘Malti’ when seeking assistance or receiving a service will go a long way to break the ice and turn a hesitant local into an amiable character!
| Essentials | (pronounced) | |
| Yes | Iva | iva |
| No | Le | le |
| Please to meet you | Ghandi pjacir | undee pyachir |
| How are you ? | Kif inti ? | Kiyf intee |
| Do you speak English | Titkellem bl-Ingliz | titkellem blinglis |
| My name is | Jisimni | yisimnee |
| So long | Caw | chaw |
| Good morning | Bongu | bonju |
| Good evening | Bonswa | bonswa |
| Good night | Il-lejl it-tajjeb | illeyl itayeb |
| Good-bye | Sahha | sahha |
| Please | Jekk joghgbok | yek yojbok |
| Thank you | Grazzi | gratsee |
| Many thanks | Grazzi hafna | gratsee hafna |
| Very good/well | Tajjeb hafna | tayeb hafna |
| Welcome | M’hemmx mn’hiex | memsh mnish |
| Sorry / Excuse me | Skuzani | skuzanee |
| I need a doctor | Ghandi bzonn tabib | undee bson tabib |
| Questions | ||
| Where? | Fejn? | feyn |
| How? | Kif? | kiyf |
| When? | Meta? | meta |
| What? | X'hini? | shinee |
| Why? | Ghaliex? | alish |
| Who? | Min? | mean |
| Which? | Liema? | lima |
| Where is? | Fejn hu? | feyn uw |
| Where are? | Fejn huma? | feyn uma |
| Where can I find? | Fejn insib? | feyn insib |
| How far? | Kemm hu boghod | kem u bod |
| How long? | Kemm iddum? | kem iddum |
| How much/many? | Kemm? | kem |
| Wishes | ||
| Merry Christmas | Il-Milied it-Tajjeb | il milid it tayeb |
| Happy New Year | Is-Sena t-Tajba | is sena it tayba |
| Happy Easter | L-Ghid it-Tajjeb | leyd it tayeb |
| Happy Birthday | Awguri tal-birthday | awguri tal 'birthday' |
| Best Wishes | Awguri | awguree |
| Congratulations | Nifrahlek | nifrahlek |
| Good luck | Ix-Xorti t-Tajba | ish shortee it tayba |
| Regards | Inselli ghalik | insellee alik |
| Goodbye | Sahha | sahha |
| Bye | Ciao | chaw |
| Time | ||
| During the day | Matul il-gurnata | matul il jurnata |
| In the afternoon | Wara nofs in-nhar | wara nofs inar |
| In the evening | Fil-ghaxija | filashiya |
| At night | Bil-lejl | billeyl |
| Yesterday | Il-bierah | ilbirah |
| Today | Illum | illum |
| Tomorrow | Ghada | ada |
| The weather | ||
| What a lovely day! | X'gurnata sabiha! | shjurnata sabiha |
| What awful weather! | X'temp hazin! | shtemp hazin |
| It's cold / hot | Il-kesha / is-shana | il kesha / iss shana |
| Do you think it's | Tahseb li se taghmel | tahseb li se tamel |
| going to rain? | ix-xita? | ish shita |
| Emergency | ||
| Call the police | Sejjah pulizija | seyyah pulitsiya |
| Danger | Periklu | periklu |
| Fire | Nar | nar |
| Get a doctor | Sejjah tabib | seyyah tabiyb |
| Go away | Mur 'l hemm | muwr lem |
| Help | Ajut | ayut |
| Get help quickly | Sejjah ghajnuna malajr | seyyah aynuwna malayr |
| I'm ill | Inhossni hazin | inhossni haziyn |
| I'm lost | Intlift | intlift |
| Leave me alone | Hallini kwiet/a(f) | halliyni kwit/a(f) |
| Look out! | Attenzjoni! | attentsyoni |
| Police | Pulizija | pulitsiya |
| Quick | Malajr | malayr |
| Stop | Ieqaf | e'af / e'fu (p) |
