Culture
Uwejja! These are the Maltese phrases you must learn, marelli!
Talk like a local in no time with these nifty words and phrases.

Rebecca Anastasi

Sara Cardoso/Unsplash

Exchanging pleasantries:

Bongu Siehbi (bon-ju seeh-bi) or bongu habib (bon-ju ha-bib): Good morning, my friend.

Kif int’illum? (kiff int ill-um): How are you today?

Titkellem bl-Ingliz? (tit-kell-em blin-gleez): Do you speak English?

One word wonders:

Uwejja (oo-wei-ya): C’mon

Uwejja (oo-wei-ya): Hurry up

Uwejja (oo-wei-ya): You’ve got to be kidding me!

Mela (me-la)…: So…

Mela! (me-la): Yes, really!

Mela, mela (me-la, me-la): Yes, yes, I agree.

When socialising:

Marelli (ma-rel-li): Good Lord!

Pinta lager jekk joghgbok (pin-ta lager yekk yoj-bok): A pint of beer, please.

Tnejn irkotta jew pizelli! (t-ney-n ir-kot-ta yew pi-ze-lli): Two cheese or peacakes (pastizzi)!

Impress your friends:

Aw gobon (auw jo-bon): Directly translated as ‘hey cheese’ but used to call out someone you know (also commonly used: aw lily; aw king; aw kugin [hey cousin]; and the classic aw spice)

Xita (shit-a): rain

Fartas (pronounced with stress on both syllables): bald head (ironic, that)

Ghandi qtugh ta’ laham: I’ve got cut of the meat (used when your muscles are aching after some physical exercise). 

Hemm il-frisk: No, it’s not you’re feeling frisky, but ‘it’s a bit chilly’.

And finally:

Ma nafx nitkellem bil-Malti (ma naf-sh nit-kel-lem bil-mal-ti): I don’t speak Maltese.


Rebecca Anastasi
Written by
Rebecca Anastasi
Rebecca has dedicated her career to writing and filmmaking, and is committed to telling stories from this little rock in the Mediterranean.

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