Malta has
two official languages; Maltese and English. Generally
locals speak in Maltese between
them although for business English is generally used.
English and Italian languages are spoken nearly fluently
throughout
the
country.
Today's Maltese language is the result of all the
languages used by the rulers who lived in Malta throughout
the ages. Their were the Phoenicians
the first inhabitants of the Maltese Islands followed
by the Carhaginiansand then by the Romans.
But it was from the Arabic language when the Arabs
invaded Malta in 870
A.D. that the first basics of the Maltese language
stated to be created. It was then developed throughout
the year to what it is now, thanks to the influence
of the Normans, the Spaniards,
the Knights
of St. John, the French and lastly the British.
The basic grammar of the Maltese language is Arabic,
with a considerable influence of the Italian
and English. The Maltese alphabet consists
of 30 letters
(from the Roman alphabet) with some added letters.
Useful Phrases - Learn before you leave
Goodbye |
|
Sahha |
Yes |
|
Iva |
No |
|
Le |
O.K. |
|
Orajt |
Please |
|
Jekk Jogghbok |
Thank You |
|
Grazzi |
Mr |
|
Sinjur |
Mrs |
|
Sinjura |
Miss |
|
Sinjorina |
My name is ... |
|
JIen jisimni ... |
Excuse me! / Sorry |
|
Skuzani! / Jidispjecini |
I don't understand |
|
Ma fhimtx |
Do you speak English? |
|
Titkellem b'ingliz? |
The Maltese Alphabet
Letter |
Approximate Pronunciation |
A |
short, like 'u' in 'shut'
long, like 'a' in 'far' |
B |
like Eng. b |
C |
like ch in 'church' |
D |
like Eng. d |
E |
short, as e in 'shed'
long, as ai in 'hair' |
F |
like Eng. f |
G |
like j in 'join' |
G |
like g in 'great' g gardell |
GH |
mostly silent * |
H |
silent within a word
pronounced like h in hen
when at the end of a word |
H |
like h in 'house' |
I |
short, as i in 'fit'
long, as ee in 'jeep' |
J |
like y in 'yes' |
K |
like k in 'kit' |
L |
like l in 'life' |
M |
as in Eng. m |
N |
as in Eng. n |
O |
short, like o in got
long, like aw in law |
P |
as in Eng. p |
Q |
glottal plosive sound
produced by the closure of
the vocal chords followed
by their sudden separation |
R |
trilled like Scottish r |
S |
like s in 'sea' |
T |
like t in French 'tante' |
U |
short, like u in 'full'
long, like oo in 'fool' |
V |
as in Eng. |
W |
like w in 'war' |
X |
like sh in 'sheep' |
Z |
voiced, like z in 'fuzz' |
Z |
unvoiced, like ts in 'hats' |
(*) 'GH' is regarded as
a single letter in Maltese. Preceding or
following any one of the vowels 'a', 'e', 'o' it prolongs
the sound of the
vowel.
When 'GH' is followed by the vowel 'i' it takes the
sound of 'ay' in the
English word 'pay'. When 'GH' is followed by the vowel
'u' it takes the
sound of 'ou' in the English word 'soul'.
When 'GH' is the final letter in a word, it is pronounced
as a soft
aspirate sound like 'h' in the English word 'hair'.
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