English to MalteseThis article contains IPA phonetic symbols. Without proper rendering support, you may see question marks, boxes, or other symbols instead of Unicode characters. For an introductory guide on IPA symbols, see Help:IPA.Maltese (Maltese: Malti, also L-Ilsien Malti or Lingwa Maltija) is a Semitic language derived from late medieval Sicilian Arabic with Romance superstrata. It is spoken by the Maltese people and is the national language of Malta, and the only official Semitic and Afroasiatic language of the European Union. Maltese is a variety of spoken historical Arabic through its descent from Siculo-Arabic, which developed as a Maghrebi Arabic dialect in the between 831 and 1091. As a result of the Norman invasion of Malta and the subsequent re-Christianization of the islands, Maltese evolved independently of Classical Arabic in a gradual process of latinisation. It is therefore exceptional as a variety of historical Arabic that has no diglossic relationship with Classical or Modern Standard Arabic. Maltese is thus separately from the 30 varieties constituting the modern Arabic macrolanguage. Maltese is also distinguished from Arabic and other Semitic languages since its morphology has been deeply influenced by Romance languages, namely Italian and Sicilian.The original Arabic base comprises around one-third of the Maltese vocabulary, especially words that denote basic ideas and the , but about half of the vocabulary is derived from standard Italian and Sicilian; and English words make up between 6% and 20% of the vocabulary. A 2016 study shows that, in terms of basic everyday language, speakers of Maltese are able to understand around a third of what is said to them in Tunisian Arabic and Libyan Arabic, which are Maghrebi Arabic dialects related to Siculo-Arabic, whereas speakers of Tunisian Arabic and Libyan Arabic are able to understand about 40% of what is said to them English to Maltese in Maltese. This reported level of asymmetric intelligibility is considerably lower than the mutual intelligibility found between other varieties of Arabic.Maltese has always been written in the Latin script, the earliest surviving English to Mal……
Malta has two official languages: Maltese and English. Maltese is the national language. Until 1934, Italian was also an official language in Malta, and in the 19th and 20th centuries there was a linguistic and political debate known as the Language Question about the roles of these three languages. The Maltese population is generally able to converse in languages which are not native to the country, particularly English and Italian. They can also somewhat understand .In 2022, Malta National Statistics Office states that 90 percent of the Maltese population has at least a basic knowledge of Maltese. Also, 96 percent of the population has at least a basic knowledge of English, 62 percent of Italian, and 20 percent of French. According to the Eurobarometer poll conducted in 2012, 98% of Maltese people can speak Maltese, 88% can speak English, 66% can speak Italian, and more than 17% speak French. This shows a recent increase in fluency in languages, since in 1995, while 98% of the population spoke Maltese, only 76% spoke English, 36% Italian, and 10% French. It shows an increase in Italian fluency, compared to when Italian was an official language of Malta, due to Italian television broadcasts reaching Malta.According to the 2011 census, there were 377,952 people aged 10 and over, of whom 357,692 people (94.7%) declared that they spoke Maltese at least at an average level, 248,570 (82.1%) that they spoke English at least at an average level and 93,401 (43.7%) that they spoke Italian at least at an average level, out of a scale made of “Well”, “Average”, “A little” and “Not at all”. French, Russian, Spanish, and German are the other main languages studied in secondary and tertiary education.Greek was made an official language of Malta in 553 AD as part of Sicily by . Though Siculo-Arabic became officially used, Greek remained in use by the upper class until which ended in 1194. Greek started to be replaced by Latin around 1130. English to MalteseFor several centuries, Malta was ruled by the order of the , with members coming from different parts of Europe, when, beside Tuscan Italian, Latin was commonly used for official purposes such as at the Castellania.During the rule……
If you’re visiting Malta and really want to immerse yourself in the culture, then picking up a few basic Maltese phrases is a great way to make connections with the locals and strike up meaningful conversations.Maltese is a truly unique language, being the only spoken historical Arabic language to have been Latinised, with a healthy mix of English, Italian, and French influences thrown in for good measure. While it may not be the easiest language to master, we’ve compiled a list of essential and easy-to-remember Maltese phrases that are sure to English to Maltese enhance your experience on the island.So, before you set off on your sun-soaked adventures, take a few minutes to brush up on these essential Maltese phrases that every traveller should know.“Iva” and “Le”PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: ee-vah / lehLet’s start with the basics. “Iva” and “le” simply mean “yes” and “no,” respectively. These two simple phrases can really come in handy in all sorts of situations, whether you’re deciding to take up an offer to try a traditional Maltese dish, or someone is asking if you’re having a good time exploring the island. English to Maltese So, make sure to have these two phrases ready to go in your Maltese arsenal.“Jekk jogħġbok”PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: yeck yawj-bock“Jekk jogħġbok” means “please.” This is a phrase that can come in useful when exploring the vibrant markets or seeking help from friendly locals. So, whether you’re ordering some food or asking for directions, remember to sprinkle some “jekk jogħġbok” into your conversations to make a positive impression on the people you meet.“Grazzi ħafna”PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: grat-see huff-naAnd following on from the above, you can simply follow up any request or nice gesture with a “grazzi ħafna” or, in other words, “thank you very much.” This phrase can make someone’s day, especially after receiving assistance or interacting with locals in shops or restaurants.“Mhux problema”PHONETIC PRONUNCIATION: moosh prob-leh-ma“Mhux problema” is a versatile phrase that means “no problem” and can come in handy in a variety of situations. For example, if a waiter apologises for a delay in your meal, you can respond with “mhux problema” to l……