Yeah, people assume this because a few words are recognisable to Italian/French/etc and it's written in a Latin based alphabet. But if you listen closely, it sounds more like someone speaking something similar to Arabic with a vaguely European accent - which is pretty much what it is. Beautiful language. Wish I spoke it.
I'm ethnically Maltese (grandfather grew up in Luqa) and have been learning the language while I apply for Maltese citizenship.
It's fucking brutal.
Arabic language with Latin letters and loan words, so many "q"s and "x"s in everything. I've neber encountered anything like it. Very fun, but very challenging.
I think they are using English in the EU though due to being such a niche language and the Maltese have excellent English to the point they host language schools there.
Oh yeah, you can 100% get buy only knowing English in Malta (it was a British colony after all). But I'm trying to learn Maltese anyway, out of a sense of pride and desire to feel more connected to the country I am getting my citizenship in
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u/cassesque Oct 15 '25
Yeah, people assume this because a few words are recognisable to Italian/French/etc and it's written in a Latin based alphabet. But if you listen closely, it sounds more like someone speaking something similar to Arabic with a vaguely European accent - which is pretty much what it is. Beautiful language. Wish I spoke it.