Speak Maltese?
| Beg your pardon"
How many times have we heard this phrase when we
happened to be talking to our children or non-Maltese speaking friends. Most of us,
regardless of how multilingual we are, have at one time or another been guilty of
slipping in the odd Maltese word or phrase while conversing in other language. This page
is dedicated to all those who we frequently confuse or did so in the past.
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NORTH = TRAMUNTANA NORTH-EAST = GRIGAL SOUTH = NOFS-IN-NHAR SOUTH-EAST = XLOKK SOUTH-WEST = ILBIC EAST = ILVANT WEST = PUNENT |
| Maltese word | Pronunciation | English translation |
| abjad | ab-yud | white |
| ahbar | ah-bar | news |
| akbar | ach-bar | bigger |
| ahmar | ah-mar | red |
| arja | are-ya | air / atmosphere |
| antik | un-teak | ancient |
| ara | ah-ra | look |
| ajma | i-ma | ouch |
| bank | bunk | bank |
|
belt |
belt |
city |
|
berdej |
bird-day |
birthday |
|
bicca |
bit-cha |
towell |
|
Birra |
beer-rah |
beer |
|
bitha |
bit-ha |
backyard |
|
dar |
dar as in dart |
house |
|
dghajsa |
dye-sa |
boat |
|
doxxa |
dosh-sha |
shower |
|
dwana |
duan-na |
customs |
|
ejja |
ay-ya |
come |
|
fatta |
fat-ta |
bingo |
|
fenek |
fenech |
rabbit |
|
festa |
fes-ta |
feast |
|
fjuri |
few-re |
flowers |
|
flus |
flues |
Money |
|
frigg |
fridge |
refrigerator |
|
furketta |
foor-cat-ta |
fork |
|
ghagin |
ah-gene |
pasta, noodles |
|
gita |
gee-ta |
trip, tour |
|
grazzi |
grut-tse |
thanks |
|
grokk |
grog |
shot of whisky, spirit |
|
habib |
ha-beeb |
male friend |
|
habib |
ha-beeb |
friend |
|
habiba |
ha-beeb-ha |
female friend |
|
hanut |
ha-noot |
shop, bar |
|
haxix |
hasheesh |
vegetables, grass |
|
helu |
hell-loo |
Lollies |
|
hobz |
hobs |
bread |
|
hut |
hoot |
fish |
|
ilma |
ill-ma |
water |
|
iva |
Eva |
yes |
|
kif inti |
key-fin-tee |
hi, how are you |
|
kikkra |
kick-ra |
cup |
|
kont |
cont |
bill |
|
kuccarina |
kooch-cha-rena |
teaspoon |
|
laham |
la-hum |
meat |
|
lanca |
La'n-cha |
ferry boat |
|
le |
le (as in let) |
no |
|
Lira |
lira |
Maltese currency |
|
lukanda |
loo-cun-dah |
hotel |
|
mama' |
Mum-ha |
mum |
|
merhba |
merh-bah |
welcome |
|
merhba |
merh-ba |
welcome |
|
mgharfa |
mar-fa |
spoon |
|
mur |
moor |
go |
|
murtali |
moor-ta-lee |
fireworks |
|
nanna |
nun-ha |
Granny |
|
nannu |
nun-u |
Grandad |
|
nuccali |
nu-cha-lee |
spectacles also sun glasses |
|
numru |
noom-roo |
number |
| officju | off-fich-you | office |
|
papa' |
papa |
dad |
|
papocc |
pa-poch |
slippers |
|
passaport |
pass-ha-port |
passport |
|
pastizzi |
past-it-see |
Maltese pasties |
|
platt |
plat |
plate |
|
posta |
pos-ta |
post office |
|
pulizija |
pulitsi'ya |
police |
|
Putirjal |
Putirial |
Valletta's central bus terminal |
|
rahal |
ra-hull |
village |
|
ruggata |
rhu-gia-ta |
almond soft drink |
|
sahha |
sah-ha |
bye |
|
sajd |
Said (as in Port Said) |
fishing |
|
sapun |
Sa-poon |
soap |
|
sigra |
seeg-rah |
tree |
|
sikkina |
sick-key-na |
knife |
|
stage |
stage |
bus stop |
|
sufan |
sue-fan |
sofa |
|
tajba |
Thai-bah |
good (feminine) |
|
tajjeb |
Thai-yep |
good (masculine) |
|
tifel |
tea-fel |
boy |
|
tifla |
tiff-la |
girl |
|
tikka |
tick-a |
speck, dot, just a little |
|
triq |
tree-k |
street |
|
vapur |
va-pur |
ship |
|
xarabank |
charabank |
bus |
|
xejn |
sheyn |
nothing |
|
x'hemm |
shem |
hello |
|
xita |
she-ta |
rain |
|
xorb |
shorb |
alcohol |
|
xugaman |
shoroo-ga-man |
bath towel |