简介
马尔他语起源于古代迦太基语(一种闪米特语言)9~11世纪，阿拉伯人佔领马尔他，阿拉伯语对岛上原有的迦太基语产生巨大影响，形成含有迦太基语成分的阿拉伯语。在此以后的几个世纪，马尔他多次为外来势力所侵佔，从义大利语、法语和英语裏吸收了大量外来词语，并逐渐脱离阿拉伯语成为一种独立语言。马尔他语使用者可以与北非阿拉伯人作一般交谈，使其在某种程度上仍可被视为一种西部阿拉伯语方言。在很长一段时期内，马尔他语只是口头语言，没有文字。18世纪末、19世纪初，马尔他出现了用拉丁字母编纂的第一部马尔他语词典。1934年，马尔他文字形式经过修改定型马尔他语用拉丁字母，但不用Y(y)，增加了带点的(Ġ)和(Ż)、不发音的Ħ(ħ)和在词首不发音但在词尾发音的GĦ(għ)等4个字母。
除英语与马尔他语这两种官方语言外，义大利语在马尔他也非常流行，不少超市和零售店的员工都会说马尔他语、英语和义大利语这三种语言。走在大街也上经常会看到说着义大利语的游客与当地人交流。
马尔他语日常
| 英语 | 马尔他语 |
|---|---|
| Welcome | Merħba |
| Hello | Ħello / Hawn / Aw |
| How are you? I'm fine, thanks. And you? | Kif int? |
| Jien tajjeb grazzi. U int? | |
| Long time no see | Ilni ma narak |
| What's your name? My name is ... | X'jismek? |
| Jien jisimni ... | |
| Where are you from? I'm from ... | Minn fejn int? |
| Jien minn ... | |
| Pleased to meet you | Għandi pjaċir (bil-konoxxenza) |
| Good morning | Bonġu |
| Good afternoon | Wara nofs in-nar it-tajjeb |
| Good evening/night | Bonswa |
| Goodbye | Ċaw |
| Good luck | Xewqat sbieħ / Awguri |
| Cheers/Good health! | Evviva! Ċirs! |
| Have a nice day | Il-gurnata t-tajba |
| Bon appetit | L-ikla t-tajba |
| Bon voyage | Il-vjaġġ it-tajjeb! |
| Do you understand? | Fhimt? |
| I understand | Fhimt |
| I don't understand | M'inix nifhem / Mhux qiegħed nifhem / Ma nifhimx / Mhux nifhem |
| I don't know | Ma nafx |
| Please speak more slowly | Jekk jogħġbok, tkellem iktar bil-mod |
| Please say that again | Erġa għidli jekk jogħġbok |
| Please write it down | Iktibha jekk jogħġbok |
| Do you speak Maltese? Yes, a little | Titkellem bil-Malti? |
| Ftit | |
| How do you say ... in Maltese? | Kif tgħid ... bil-Malti? |
| Excuse me | Skużi! Skużani! |
| How much is this? | Kemm jiswa dan? |
| Sorry | Skużani! Jiddispjaċini! Ahfirli! |
| Please | Jekk jogħġbok |
Thank you Not at all | Grazzi |
| Merħba bik | |
| Where's the toilet? | Fejn hu t-tojlit? |
| This gentleman/lady will pay for everything | Se jħallas is-sinjur/is-sinjura ta' kollox |
| Would you like to dance with me? | Tixtieq tiżfen miegħi? Għandek pjaċir tizfen miegħi? |
| I miss you | Nimmissjak |
| I love you | Inħobbok |
| Get well soon | Nawguralek fejqan ta' malajr |
| Go away! | Itlaq! |
| Leave me alone! | Ħallini kwiet |
| Help! Fire! Stop! | Ajjut! Ħruq! Ieqaf! |
| Call the police! | Ċempel lill-pulizija! |
| Merry Christmas and Happy New Year | Il-Milied Ħieni u s-Sena t-Tajba Awguri għas-sena l-ġdida |
| Happy Easter | L-Għid it-tajjeb |
| Happy Birthday | Heppi berdej / Nixtieqlek jum għeluq sninek sabiħ |
| One language is never enough | Dejjem tajjeb li tkun taf iżjed minn ilsien wieħed |
| My hovercraft is full of eels | Il-hovercraft tiegħi hu mimli sallur |
