What Language Do They Speak in Malta? Maltese & English Guide

If you’ve ever wondered what language they speak in Malta, here’s the short answer: you’ll hear Maltese and English almost everywhere you go. Malta holds a rare distinction in Europe—it hosts the only Semitic language officially written in the Latin alphabet. That fact alone makes Maltese one of the most unusual national tongues on the continent. Here’s what you need to know about getting by linguistically in this island nation.

Official languages: Maltese, English, and Maltese Sign Language · National language: Maltese · Language family: Semitic (Afroasiatic) · Maltese speakers: 94.7% (2011 census) · Alphabet: Latin

Two language systems dominate the Maltese landscape, backed by constitutional protection and centuries of layered history.

This table breaks down the language structure that defines Malta’s official and cultural identity.

What this means: Malta’s language policy creates practical accessibility across government, courts, and public signage for both Maltese and English speakers.

What language is mostly spoken in Malta?

Maltese holds the position of national language—the tongue that defines Maltese identity at its core. According to the 2011 census, 94.7% of people aged 10 and older spoke Maltese at least at an average level (Wikipedia). English operates as a co-official language, carrying equal weight in government, law, and public signage.

Article 5 of Malta’s Constitution states that “the Maltese and the English languages shall be the official languages of Malta” (Vertex Alliance). This dual-official status means every legal document, court proceeding, and parliamentary debate happens in both languages, with Maltese taking precedence if contradictions arise.

Official languages

Malta recognizes three official languages in formal terms. Maltese and English serve in government, courts, and education. Maltese Sign Language joined their ranks in 2016, granting official status to the deaf community’s native language for the first time (Study.com).

Daily usage

In practice, most Maltese people switch between languages throughout their day. You’ll hear Maltese at home, in local shops, and among friends. English dominates in business emails, university lectures, and tourist-facing services. The mixed hybrid known as Maltenglish has become increasingly common, particularly in Valletta and the northern resort areas (Wikipedia).

The implication: visitors can navigate nearly all situations in English alone, but learning a few Maltese phrases unlocks a warmer reception from locals who appreciate the effort.

How do you say “hi” in Malta?

Malta’s native tongue borrows freely from its neighbors, and greetings reflect that hybrid heritage. The most common formal greeting is Bongu, which covers “good morning” in the same way Italian uses buongiorno.

Common greetings

Basic Maltese greetings include:

• Bongu — Good morning / general hello
• Buonasera — Good evening (borrowed directly from Italian)
• Saħħa — Literally “health,” used casually like “hey” or “what’s up”
• Ħello — Direct English borrowing, common in tourist areas

Pronunciation guide

Maltese uses some consonant sounds unfamiliar to English speakers. The letter ħ represents a throatier version of “h” that has no English equivalent—imagine exhaling on a cold morning and holding that sound. The letter q marks a glottal stop, similar to the sound between “uh-oh.” When asking locals if they speak English, you can try “Tissejħil bl-Ingliż?” (Learn Maltese YouTube Channel).

What is thank you in Malta?

The Maltese word for thank you is grazzi—a near-identical twin to Italian grazie that reflects centuries of cultural exchange across the Mediterranean. You’ll hear it in shops, restaurants, and every interaction where politeness matters.

Essential phrases

Core polite expressions any visitor should know:

• Grazzi ħafna — Thank you very much
• Jekk jogħgbok — Please (literally: “if it pleases you”)
• Skuzi — Excuse me / Sorry
• Mela — So / Then (conversation filler)
• Le — No
• Iva — Yes

Polite expressions

Maltese culture values indirectness in formal requests. Rather than blunt commands, speakers layer phrases with conditional markers. A direct “give me water” becomes “jiena nixtieq il-ma,” using the polite “I would like” construction. Tourist-facing staff expect English, so code-switching to formal Maltese marks you as someone who respects local customs.

The catch: Dropping a grazzi after a transaction signals cultural awareness. Locals notice the effort, even if your pronunciation needs work.

Is Maltese the same as Italian?

Maltese and Italian share vocabulary but belong to entirely different language families. Maltese traces back to Siculo-Arabic, a dialect that arrived with North African traders and settlers during the medieval period. Italian, descended from Latin, entered Maltese through centuries of Sicilian and Italian cultural dominance (Britannica).

Vocabulary differences

Despite their different roots, roughly 40% of Maltese vocabulary derives from Italian or Sicilian. Words for food, family, and everyday objects often look Italian:

• Qawwa (power) — from Italian forza
• Dar (house) — from Arabic dar
• Kelma (word) — from Arabic kalima
• Ajruport (airport) — direct English borrowing

Grammar contrasts

Maltese grammar follows Semitic patterns that Italian never touches. Verb conjugation uses root systems where consonants carry core meaning and vowels slot in to mark tense. Arabic speakers pick up Maltese quickly; Italian speakers struggle with the grammar despite recognizing many words.

The pattern: Italian fluency gives you a vocabulary boost but not conversational competence. Maltese remains structurally distinct, placing it in its own linguistic category alongside Arabic and Hebrew.

Why do they speak English in Malta?

England’s arrival on the Maltese islands traces to 1800, when British forces ousted the French occupiers who had briefly seized Malta during the Napoleonic wars. British colonial administration ran from 1814 until independence in 1964, embedding English deeply into government, education, and commerce (Polilingua).

Historical reasons

Before British rule, Italian served as the language of administration, law, and the educated classes—a legacy of centuries under the Kingdom of Sicily and later Spanish Habsburg control. Italian held official status until 1934, when rising Maltese nationalism pushed the colonial administration to demote Italian in favor of English. By the 2011 census, only 8% of Maltese residents preferred Italian for daily conversation, mostly concentrated among elderly residents and newer Italian immigrants.

Modern bilingualism

Today’s Maltese navigate three languages with remarkable fluency. English dominates in higher education—all University of Malta programs use English as the primary instruction language, with the notable exception of Maltese literature and language studies. Secondary and tertiary education operates exclusively in English (Wikipedia).

For travelers, the practical benefit is clear: English works everywhere. For long-term residents, the trade-off involves maintaining Maltese cultural identity while operating in a globalized English-dominant economy.

Malta is the only Semitic language officially written in Latin script. — Britannica encyclopedia

The Maltese and the English languages shall be the official languages of Malta… — Malta Constitution Article 5

Malta’s multilingual reality shapes every visitor’s experience differently than most EU destinations. The island maintains its national language—not just a colonial inheritance—while offering the practical convenience of near-universal English. That combination explains why Malta functions as both a cultural bridge between Europe and North Africa and a gateway for international business requiring English proficiency without cultural isolation.

Related reading: New Forest National Park · V&A Museum London

Malta’s official languages—Maltese, English, and Sign Language—stem from its strategic history, as explored in depth by Coventry Wires Malta language guide amid the island’s cultural evolution.

Frequently asked questions