Why are you learning Maltese? This is the question people will ask you most often. Most people in Malta also speak English, and it’s a relatively small language. But the answer is also simple: why not? You’ll show respect to Maltese nationals and it’s a good idea anyway to learn languages.
How can I learn Maltese?
Finding decent courses, books or other materials is challenging. There aren’t many around. Luckily, here‘s a list of all the Maltese courses you can follow, both online and offline. There’s also a compilation of books to learn Maltese here.
What languages are closest to Maltese?
Maltese is mostly a mix of Arabic, Italian and English. Maltese uses the Latin alphabet, unlike Arabic. Which is good news for non-Arabic speaking students! However, the grammar is largely based on Arabic. Get a taste of Maltese verbs here: you’ll directly notice the conjugations aren’t based on English. But many words are taken over from other languages. For example, the ‘grazzi’ in the words below is very similar to the Italian ‘grazie.’
Is Maltese easy to learn?
The short answer: it depends. There aren’t many opportunities to speak Maltese, and Maltese nationals usually answer in English to foreigners. It also depends on how experienced you are as a language learner and if you can mix with Maltese speakers. Immersion is really important. Plus, if know Arabic and Italian in addition to English, it will be really easy.
How long does it take to learn Maltese?
Again: it depends. However, most students will take more time to learn Maltese than ‘bigger’ languages like Spanish, due to the lack of materials and the limited opportunities to surround yourself with Maltese. Most students also have no knowledge of Arabic, which has a large influence on the Maltese language. You may see the influence in the following sentences.
Is Maltese a dying language?
There are about half a million native speakers. Most of them are located in Malta, and speak in Maltese to their children. Public schools in Malta also teach most classes in Maltese, which means the language won’t disappear in the near future. Malta also has Maltese as an official language, together with English.
More Maltese
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