Table of Contents What is Maltese? The Language between East and West Learning Maltese: Which Expats Should Bother? Language Course or Self-Study? Your Practical Learning Options Cost and Time Commitment: What Does Learning Maltese Really Take? Integrating without Malti: Why English Is Often Enough My Recommendation: When You Should Learn Maltese (and When Not to) Frequently Asked Questions Wondering if you should learn Maltese as an expat in Malta? Let me cut to the chase: For 90% of international expats, a Maltese course is a complete waste of time. But for the other 10%, it can be the key to real integration. After two years on the island and countless conversations with expats from all over the world, I know: The real question isn’t whether you can learn Maltese, but when it’s truly worth the effort. Spoiler alert: If your bus driver snaps at you in Malti because you’ve got the wrong change, no language course in the world will help you. What is Maltese? The Language between East and West Maltese – or Malti, as locals call it – is a linguistic Frankenstein’s monster. Imagine Arabic had a wild fling with Italian, with English watching and occasionally chiming in. The result? A Semitic language (yes, actually related to Arabic), written in Latin script, brimming with Italian and English loanwords. The Basics: Why Maltese Trips Up German Speakers Malti follows Semitic language patterns. This means: The root meaning sits in three consonants; the vowels you squeeze in between change the meaning completely. K-T-B, for example, relates to “writing” – kiteb (he wrote), ktieb (book), kitba (the act of writing). For native German speakers, it’s like trying to play the piano backward. Possible? Yes. Intuitive? Absolutely not. Pronunciation: When x Becomes sh Here’s where it gets fun: The Maltese “x” is pronounced “sh.” Mixli (to go) sounds like “mishli.” The “għ” is silent – għaqli (intelligence) is simply “akli.” Why? Ask the Maltese – they’ll just shrug. Maltese Letter Pronunciation (German Style) Example x sh xemx (sun) = shemsch għ silent għasfur (bird) = asfur ħ hard h ħobż (bread) = hobz q glottal stop qalb (heart) = alb Language Mixing in Daily Life The crazy part? In real life, most Maltese speak a wild mix of Malti and English anyway. A typical sentence: Ħa nimxi għas-shopping centre biex nixtri xi ħaġa nice. (Im going to the mall to buy something nice.) Its like saying, “I’m off to the supermarket pour acheter something nett.” Learning Maltese: Which Expats Should Bother? Now for the million-euro question: Who should actually bother with a Maltese course? I divide Malta’s expat community into three categories – and for only one does learning Maltese really make sense. Category 1: The Short-Termers (0-12 Months) You’re Anna, 29, remote project manager from Berlin, planning a quick ten-day sprint by the sea? Or Luca, 34, UX designer testing the waters for six months? Forget Maltese entirely. Why? Let’s do the math: A Maltese beginner’s course takes 3–6 months of intense learning All authorities operate in English Your Maltese landlord will much rather speak English (or Italian) with you Even if you use “Għandi bżonn tal-ħalib” (I need milk) at the supermarket, the guy at the register is from Bangladesh and wont understand you Invest your time in an Italian course instead – it’ll get you much further in Valletta and with older Maltese. Category 2: The Long-Term Optimisers (1–5 Years) Planning to stay a while, working remotely or landed a local job? Here’s where it gets interesting. Maltese can help you – but its not essential. Pros of Learning Maltese: Serious appreciation from locals (Malta has just 520,000 inhabitants; any foreigner who speaks Malti is a sensation) Access to local WhatsApp groups and Facebook communities Better bargaining power with tradesmen and local service providers Deeper understanding of local culture and humor Cons of Learning Maltese: Massive time investment for limited practical benefit Many young Maltese will still reply to you in English No need for it in international expat circles Category 3: The Permanent Residents (5+ Years or Forever) You’re Dr. Mara, 61, retired physician from Zurich, and have bought your dream sea-view apartment? Planning to grow old here? Then you should learn Maltese. Why? Because integration in Malta is a two-tier society. One group lives in the expat bubble and pays tourist prices for everything. The other gets accepted as “one of us” and gains access to local networks, better prices, and genuine community. The Special Case: Work Necessity Working in a Maltese firm with mostly local clients? Going into politics or the civil service? Running a B2B business with Maltese partners? Then you can’t avoid learning Maltese. A German lawyer I know told me: “Since I’ve been speaking Malti, I make 40% more. Not because I do better work, but because Maltese clients trust me more.” Language Course or Self-Study? Your Practical Learning Options Decided to learn Maltese? Respect. Here comes your next dilemma: What’s the most efficient way? Option 1: Traditional In-Person Language Course The University of Malta offers Maltese courses for foreigners. The linguistics institute has dedicated programs for international students. Cost: about €200–€400 per semester. Pros: Structured learning with an academic foundation Native-speaking teachers Meeting other motivated learners Official certificates possible Cons: Fixed times (often mornings – tricky if you work) Academic approach, not much everyday language Slow progress Waitlists, especially in autumn Option 2: Private Teachers On platforms like Preply or local Facebook groups, you’ll find Maltese tutors. Rates: €15–€30 per hour. My tip: Look for a retired teacher or linguistics student. They tend to have patience and teaching experience. Steer clear of “native speakers” with no teaching background – speaking your language isn’t the same as teaching it. Option 3: Self-Study with Digital Resources This is where it gets tough. Maltese isn’t a mainstream language, so resources are limited. Platform Quality Cost My Verdict Duolingo Doesn’t exist – Sadly, no Babbel Doesn’t exist – Sadly, no Memrise Basic vocabulary Free Okay for starters YouTube (Learn Maltese) So-so Free Not structured, but better than nothing Gabra Dictionary Excellent Free Indispensable as a reference Option 4: Immersion via Local Contacts The most effective, but hardest route: Make friends with a Maltese family. Join a hobby club, go to a local church (yes, even if you’re an atheist), or sign up for a village festa committee. Upside: You’ll learn real Maltese, not textbook phrases. Downside: You need a thick skin for cultural faux pas and lots of time for small talk about football and politics. My Hybrid Approach If you’re truly serious about learning Maltese: Months 1–3: Private tutor for basics and pronunciation Months 4–6: University course for grammar structure Months 7+: Local contacts for practice and dialects Cost and Time Commitment: What Does Learning Maltese Really Take? Let’s be honest about the numbers. Learning Maltese is like a relationship: At the start, you’ll underestimate the effort; at the end, you’ll wonder if it was worth it. The Bare Numbers Direct costs for 12 months of learning: University course (2 semesters): €400–€800 Private lessons (once a week): €720–€1,440 Books & materials: €100–€200 Online platforms: €50–€100 Total: €1,270–€2,540 The Hidden Costs Here’s where it stings: Your time. Realistic study time for basic level: 300–500 hours. At one hour per day, that’s 10–16 months. At a conservative hourly rate of €30, learning Maltese adds €9,000–€15,000 in lost opportunity costs. For comparison: With the same investment, you could be fluent in Italian or Spanish – languages useful far beyond Malta. The Return on Investment When does it pay off? I asked three Maltese-speaking expats about their “break-even point”: “I save about €100 a month with tradesmen, because they don’t charge me tourist prices. Plus, through Maltese friends I found a €200 cheaper apartment. I recouped my course costs in eight months.” – Sarah, 32, marketing manager from Munich “It paid off professionally right away. I can now win Maltese companies as clients, who I’d never reached before. Increased revenue in year one: about €15,000.” – Thomas, 41, IT consultant from Hamburg “Honestly? Financially, it’s not worth it. But I feel at home here since I can talk to my neighbours in Malti. That’s priceless.” – Elena, 58, retiree from Bologna Trap: The “I’ll Just Do This on the Side” Pitfall Many expats start with free YouTube videos and a used grammar book from a flea market. After six months of frustration, they give up – wasting both time and motivation. My advice: Go all in or not at all. You can’t “pick up” Maltese on the side like Italian basics for a holiday. Integrating without Malti: Why English Is Often Enough Here’s a dose of reality: You can live a fully integrated life in Malta without speaking a word of Maltese. I know Germans who’ve lived here for ten years, run local businesses, have Maltese partners – and apart from “Grazzi” (thanks) and “Bonġu” (good morning), don’t speak any Malti. Why English’s Role in Malta Is Different Malta isn’t like other Mediterranean countries where English is a foreign language. Here, English has been an official language since 1936. That means: All laws and contracts are available in English Universities teach in English International companies operate in English Many young Maltese speak English among themselves All official processes work in English The Expat Bubble: Blessing and Curse Malta has a huge international community. In Sliema, St. Julian’s, and partly Valletta, you practically live in an English-speaking parallel world. You’ll find: German doctors and lawyers International supermarkets with German products Expat WhatsApp groups for everything (housing, babysitting, restaurant tips) Networking events and social clubs German/Austrian/Swiss meetups The problem? You live in a bubble. You pay higher prices, miss out on local secrets, and remain “the foreigner.” The Italian Alternative Here’s a secret tip no one tells you: Italian will get you further in Malta than Maltese in many situations. Why? Up until 1964, Malta was basically part of the Italian cultural sphere. Older Maltese (50+) speak fluent Italian, watch Italian TV, and have family ties to Sicily. Especially in traditional sectors like trades, hospitality, and local administration, Italian opens doors. Bonus: Italian is easier to learn and is useful all over Europe. When English Isn’t Enough But there are situations where not speaking Maltese becomes a problem: Local trades: Especially older electricians, plumbers etc., often only speak Malti and a bit of Italian Rural areas: In Gozo or Maltese villages, English sometimes gets you nowhere Emergencies: Under stress, many Maltese revert to Malti Festa culture: At village feasts and traditional events, no one will speak English with you Family and friendships: Maltese grandparents usually don’t speak English The Compromise: Survival Maltese Instead of a full-blown language course, often 20–30 basic phrases for daily life are enough: Situation Maltese Pronunciation Greeting Bonġu / Bonswa Bon-ju / Bon-sua Thank you / Please Grazzi / Jekk jogħġbok Grat-si / Jek joi-bok Sorry Skużi Sku-si I don’t understand Ma nifhimx Ma ni-fim-sh Where is…? Fejn hu…? Fayn hoo…? These basics show respect, win you sympathy, and only cost you an afternoon’s study. My Recommendation: When You Should Learn Maltese (and When Not to) After two years in Malta and heaps of conversations with expats, my verdict is: For most international expats, learning Maltese is an expensive hobby with little practical value. But there are exceptions. Here’s my brutal decision matrix: You SHOULD learn Maltese if… You plan to stay at least five years and want genuine local integration You work with Maltese companies or in the public sector You have a Maltese partner and want to join in with their family You live in rural areas or on Gozo You run a local business with Maltese customers You love languages and see it as an interesting intellectual challenge You should SKIP it if… You’re staying less than two years – not worth the learning curve You work remotely or for international companies You live in the expat bubble of Sliema/St. Julian’s You’re short on time or have other priorities You already speak Italian – you’ll get further with that You see it as “nice to have” – without real motivation, you’ll fail The Golden Middle: Step-by-Step Strategy For most expats, I recommend the three-stage model: Stage 1 (first 6 months): Learn 30 survival phrases. Time investment: 2–3 hours. Stage 2 (after 1 year): If you stay, pick up basic vocabulary and simple grammar. Investment: 50–100 hours. Stage 3 (after 2 years): If you stay long-term, invest in a professional course. Investment: 300+ hours. This way, you won’t waste time or money on something you may never need – but you’re prepared if plans change. What I’d Do in Your Shoes Honestly? I’d spend a year with English and basic Italian. Test Malta, see if it’s really for you. Build local contacts. Then decide. Because lets be real: If after six months you realize Malta isn’t right, you may have spent €500 on Italian courses – but that’ll be useful anywhere. €500 on Maltese? Gone. If you do go for Maltese: Respect. You’re in that 10% of expats who really want to integrate. It’s a wonderful path – but not for everyone. Frequently Asked Questions about Learning Maltese Is Maltese harder to learn than other languages? Yes, definitely. As a Semitic language with Arabic roots, Maltese is one of the most challenging European languages for Germans. Complex grammar, unusual pronunciation, and limited learning resources make it a real challenge. How long will it take to be able to speak Maltese? For basic skills, plan on 6–12 months of intense study (one hour daily). For fluent conversation, expect 2–3 years. That’s much longer than with Romance languages like Italian or Spanish. Can I work in Malta without speaking Maltese? Absolutely. Most international companies, tech firms, and service providers operate entirely in English. You’ll only need Maltese for local businesses, traditional sectors, or the public sector. Which language is more useful in Malta: Italian or Maltese? Depends on your goals. More Maltese (especially older generations) understand Italian, and you can use it all over Europe. Maltese unlocks authentic local contacts, but is only useful in Malta. Are there good online courses for Maltese? Options are very limited. Duolingo and Babbel don’t offer Maltese. The best options are private teachers on Preply or in-person courses at the University of Malta. YouTube videos are free, but unstructured. Do young Maltese speak Maltese or English with each other? Both. Many young Maltese switch back and forth between languages or speak “Manglish” – a mix of Maltese and English. In urban areas, English often dominates; in rural areas, more Maltese is spoken. Do I need Maltese for citizenship? No, Maltese is not a requirement for citizenship. Language requirements focus on English as the official language. Maltese skills are valued, however. How much does a Maltese language course cost? University courses cost €200–€400 per semester; private lessons €15–€30 per hour. For a year of intensive learning, budget €1,000–€2,500, plus your study time as a hidden cost. Is Maltese really related to Arabic? Yes, Maltese is a Semitic language with Arabic roots, but heavily influenced by Italian and English. Its structure is Arabic, but it’s written in Latin letters and borrows many words from European languages. Can I get by as a tourist in Malta without Maltese? No problem at all. All tourist areas operate in English. Even bus drivers, restaurant owners, and shopkeepers speak English. As a tourist, you definitely won’t need Maltese.