Language/Maltese/Grammar/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.