Language/Maltese/Grammar/Basic-Maltese-Phrases

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Maltese → Grammar → 0 to A1 Course → Introduction to Maltese Language → Basic Maltese Phrases

Maltese is a Semitic language and is the only language in the Semitic family written in the Latin alphabet. It is the official language of Malta, with Maltese and English being the two official languages of the country. Maltese is spoken by about 520,000 people, and about 451,000 live in Malta. The language has a rich history and is a blend of different languages such as Arabic, Italian, and Sicilian. In this lesson, you will learn some basic Maltese phrases that will help you in communicating with native speakers.

Greetings

Greetings are one of the most important phrases to learn when starting to study a new language, and Maltese is no exception. Here are some common Maltese greetings:

Maltese	Pronunciation	English
Salut	sah-loot	Hello
Bonġu	bon-joo	Good morning
Iebissħaħ	ee-bis-shaa	Good afternoon
Saħħa	saa-haa	Good health (used as cheers)
Lejl It-tajjeb	layl it-taa-yeb	Good night

It's important to note that in Maltese, the "g" is always pronounced as a "j." So "bonġu" would be pronounced as "bon-joo."

Introductions

When meeting someone for the first time, it's important to be able to introduce yourself and ask for someone's name. Here are some common Maltese phrases for introductions:

Maltese	Pronunciation	English
Jisimni	yisim-nee	My name is...
Kif inti?	keef in-tee?	How are you? (informal)
Kif intom?	keef in-tom?	How are you? (plural or formal)
Tajjeb, grazzi	taa-yeb, grat-tsee	Fine, thank you. (informal)
Tajjeb, grazzi ħafna	taa-yeb, grat-tsee haaf-naa	Very well, thank you. (formal)
Tħobb...	t-hobb...	I like...
Ma nafx	ma naafsh	I don't know

Polite Expressions

Politeness is important in any language, and Maltese is no exception. Here are some common Maltese polite expressions that you can use in different situations:

Maltese	Pronunciation	English
Jekk jogħġbok	yek jor-roob-ok	Please
Grazzi	grat-tsee	Thank you
Ħafna grazzi	haaf-na grat-tsee	Thank you very much
Skużani	skoo-zaan-ee	Excuse me
Ma jistax	ma yis-tash	I'm sorry

Conclusion

In this lesson, you have learned some basic Maltese phrases that will help you in communicating with native speakers. Remember, the more you practice, the better you'll get at speaking the language! Don't forget to use these phrases whenever you have the chance. The next lesson will cover Maltese Everyday Vocabulary.

Table of Contents - Maltese Course - 0 to A1

• Course Presentation

  ---

Introduction to Maltese Language

• Maltese Alphabet
• Basic Maltese Phrases

  ---

Everyday Vocabulary

• Colors
• Numbers
• Days of the Week
• Months of the Year

  ---

Basic Sentence Structure

• Subject-Verb-Object Order
• Negation
• Questions

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Nouns and Pronouns

• Gender and Plurals
• Personal Pronouns
• Possessive Pronouns
• Demonstrative Pronouns

  ---

Verbs

• Regular Verbs
• Irregular Verbs
• Past Tense
• Future Tense

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Adjectives and Adverbs

• Adjectives
• Comparatives and Superlatives
• Adverbs

  ---

Food and Drinks

• Fruits and Vegetables
• Meat, Fish, and Dairy
• Beverages

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Family and Relationships

• Family Members
• Relationships

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Hobbies and Leisure

• Sports
• Entertainment

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Maltese History and Traditions

• Historical Events
• Festivals and Celebrations

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Maltese Cuisine

• Traditional Dishes
• Eating Out

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Travel and Tourism

• Popular Destinations
• Travel Tips

Other Lessons

• Definite Articles in Maltese
• Past Tense
• Personal Pronouns
• Subject Verb Object Order
• Maltese Alphabet
• 0 to A1 Course
• Prepositions
• Possessive Pronouns
• How to Use Have

Sources

• Maltese language - Wikipedia
• 11 Maltese Words & Phrases You Need to Know to Get by in Malta ...
• Maltese Grammar | LEARN101.ORG

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