Learning a few basic phrases in Maltese can go a long way in enriching your experience in Malta. It demonstrates your interest in the local culture and can open doors to friendly interactions with the Maltese people. Here are some essential phrases to get you started:

Greetings:

• Bonġu (pronounced bon-joo): Good morning (until noon)
• Good afternoon: (not commonly used, but you can say “Tajjeb in-nhar” – pronounced tie-yeb in-nar)
• Bonsoir (pronounced bwn-swar): Good evening
• Aħna ħbieb (pronounced ah-na ħbieb): We are friends (use this if you’re traveling with a companion)

Common Courtesy:

• Grazzi (pronounced graht-see): Thank you
• Jekk jogħġbok (pronounced yek yock-job): Please
• Skużi (pronounced skoo-zee): Excuse me
• Le (pronounced leh): No
• Iva (pronounced ee-va): Yes

Basic Questions:

• Kem-il sena għandek? (pronounced kem-il sena għan-dek): How old are you?
• Kif int? (pronounced kif int): How are you? (informal)
• Kif qiegħed? (pronounced kif kee-ed): How are you? (formal)
• Fejn hu/hi/huma…? (pronounced fayn who/hee/hoo-ma…?): Where is he/she/they…?

Useful Phrases:

• Ma nifhimx (pronounced ma nee-fimx): I don’t understand.
• Titkellem bl-Ingliż? (pronounced tit-kel-lem bil-ing-leez): Do you speak English?
• Nista’ nħallas bil-karta? (pronounced nis-ta nħal-las bil-kar-ta): Can I pay by card?
• Kem jiswa dan? (pronounced kem jis-wa dan): How much does this cost?
• Fejn hu l-kamra tal-banju? (pronounced fayn who l-kam-ra tal-ban-yoo): Where is the bathroom?