Flag of Malta:



Maltese Language:

Stepping into a new country is always exhilarating, especially when you are faced with the challenge of communication .

I have to admit I heard the Maltese language for the first time myself at the Oceana restaurant of the Hilton when a lady was chatting with a Cook. I asked them what language they were speaking, and later on tried to find out a bit more about it.Official languages the Maltese but English also.


Language influences:

The Maltese is heavily influence by Arabic elements due to Arabic conquests of both Malta and parts of Sicily so it is made of 50% of Italian words and rest of 44% is made of semitic/Arabic words, and 6% English origin words.


 
Maltese is written using the Roman letters with some additions, ċ as in church , ġ as j in jerk ,ħ as in hat to differenciate from h which is silent in Maltese , għ mostly silent , ż as in zip , and does not use the y.



A list of handy words perhaps you might need upon visiting Malta: 
 

Hello              Merħba        ( Mair ha ba )
How are you?             Kif inti ?       ( Keef in tee ?)   -A more popular greeting  

 
Good morning       Bonġu         ( Bon Jew )
Good evening       Lejl it-tajjeb     ( Lay-l it tie-ebb)
Good Bye          Saħħa         ( Sah Ha , H as in How )



Please             Ekk Jogħġbok   ( Yekk Yoj Bok )
Thank you         Grazzi                 ( Grutzi )

 
That one           Dak           ( Duuck)         
How much?                 Kemm?        ( K as in back ..mm)
Yes               Iva           ( Ee vah )        
No               Le                      
Sorry             Jiddispjaċini 



Cheers           Saħħa 

 
Do you speak English?   Titkellem bl-Ingliż?
What's your name?     X'jismek

Go away             Itlaq l'hemm

Who are you?         Min inti ?