Chapter 2: Tislijiet u Introduzzjonijiet (Greetings & Introductions)

Now that you're comfortable with the sounds of Maltese, let's learn the essential phrases for meeting and greeting people.

Objectives

By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:

Greet people at different times of the day.
Say goodbye in various ways.
Ask someone how they are and provide a simple response.
Introduce yourself and ask for someone else's name.

Common Phrases for Everyday Interaction

Common Greetings (Tislijiet Komuni)

Bonġu (BON-joo)
Meaning: Hello / Good morning. This is the most common, all-purpose greeting.
Bonswa (bon-SWA)
Meaning: Good evening. Used in the late afternoon and evening.
Il-lejl it-tajjeb (il-LEYL it-TAI-yeb)
Meaning: Good night. Used when leaving for the night or going to bed.

Asking "How are you?"

Kif int? (kif int?)
Meaning: How are you? (Informal)
Tajjeb, grazzi. (TAI-yeb, GRAT-si)
Meaning: Fine, thanks.
Mhux ħażin. (moosh ha-ZEEN)
Meaning: Not bad.
Kollox sew. (KOL-losh sew)
Meaning: Everything's well.
U int? (oo int?)
Meaning: And you?

Introductions (Introduzzjonijiet)

X'jismek? (shiss-MEK?)
Meaning: What's your name?
Jisimni [your name]. (yis-IM-nee...)
Meaning: My name is [your name]. Jisimni Marija. (My name is Marija.)

Saying Goodbye (Tislijiet tal-Addi)

Saħħa (SAH-ha)
Meaning: Goodbye / Cheers. A very common way to say bye.
Ċaw (chow)
Meaning: Bye. (Informal, from Italian 'ciao')
Narak iktar tard. (na-RAK IK-tar tart)
Meaning: See you later.

Practice Activities

Recognition Practice:

Exercise 1: Match the Greeting to the Time of Day

Match the Maltese greeting to its most appropriate use.

 Bonġu         ( ) When leaving for the night
 Bonswa        ( ) In the morning
 Il-lejl it-tajjeb ( ) In the evening

Bonġu → In the morning
Bonswa → In the evening
Il-lejl it-tajjeb → When leaving for the night

Production Practice:

Exercise 2: Create a Mini-Dialogue

Write a short dialogue (2-3 lines) where one person asks another their name and how they are. Practice reading it aloud.

Example:
Pawlu: "Bonġu! X'jismek?"
Marija: "Jisimni Marija. Kif int?"
Pawlu: "Tajjeb, grazzi. U int?"

Cultural Insight

Maltese people are known for their friendliness and hospitality. A simple "Bonġu" when entering a shop or "Saħħa" when leaving is considered polite and is always appreciated. Don't be shy to try out your new phrases! Even a small effort to speak the language is often met with a warm and encouraging response.

Il-Ħin tal-Istorja (Story Time)

Let's read a simple conversation between two new friends, Pawlu and Marija.

L-Ewwel Laqgħa (The First Meeting)

Pawlu: Bonġu! (BON-joo!)

Marija: Bonġu. Kif int? (BON-joo. Kif int?)

Pawlu: Tajjeb, grazzi. U int? (TAI-yeb, GRAT-si. Oo int?)

Marija: Mhux ħażin, grazzi. Jisimni Marija. X'jismek? (Moosh ha-ZEEN, GRAT-si. Yis-IM-nee Ma-REE-ya. Shiss-MEK?)

Pawlu: Jisimni Pawlu. Għandi pjaċir. (Yis-IM-nee PAW-loo. AN-dee pya-CHEER.)

Marija: Jien ukoll. Saħħa, Pawlu. (Yen oo-KOLL. SAH-ha, PAW-loo.)

Pawlu: Saħħa! (SAH-ha!)

The First Meeting (Translation)

Pawlu: Hello!

Marija: Hello. How are you?

Pawlu: Fine, thanks. And you?

Marija: Not bad, thanks. My name is Marija. What's your name?

Pawlu: My name is Pawlu. It's a pleasure to meet you.

Marija: Me too. Goodbye, Pawlu.

Pawlu: Goodbye!

Review and Consolidation

Key Vocabulary:

Greetings: Bonġu, Bonswa, Il-lejl it-tajjeb.
Well-being: Kif int?, Tajjeb, Mhux ħażin, Kollox sew, Grazzi, U int?.
Introductions: X'jismek?, Jisimni..., Għandi pjaċir.
Goodbyes: Saħħa, Ċaw, Narak iktar tard.

Self-Assessment:

Can you greet someone in the morning and evening in Maltese?
Can you ask "How are you?" and give at least one answer?
Can you introduce yourself and ask for someone else's name?

Looking Ahead

Prosit! You can now handle basic greetings. In the next chapter, we will begin building your vocabulary by learning about the Maltese definite article ('il-') and some essential nouns for objects you see every day.

Previous Chapter: Alphabet Next Chapter: The Article & Nouns