Key facts
- Official languages
- Maltese and English
- Also widely understood
- Italian
- Business and law
- Conducted in English and Maltese
- Maltese
- A Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet
Two official languages
Maltese and English are both official languages. Government services, contracts, banking and most workplaces operate in English, and nearly everyone speaks it.
Maltese
Maltese is a Semitic language — with roots in Arabic and many words from Italian, Sicilian and English — and the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet. Its modern written form owes much to Mikiel Anton Vassalli.
Italian and others
Many Maltese understand Italian, and Malta’s international community brings many other languages.
Learning Maltese
Courses are available for adults, and children learn Maltese at school. A few words — bonġu (good morning), grazzi (thank you) — go a long way.
See living in Malta.
