One of the most common questions when meeting new people is "What do you do?". This chapter will give you the vocabulary to ask this question and to talk about various jobs.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
There are a few common ways to ask someone about their job.
Pay close attention to professions that have both masculine (m) and feminine (f) forms.
| English | Maltese (Masculine) | Maltese (Feminine) |
|---|---|---|
| teacher | għalliem (all-YEEM) | għalliema (all-YEE-ma) |
| doctor | tabib (ta-BEEB) | tabiba (ta-BEE-ba) |
| nurse | infermier (in-fer-MYER) | infermiera (in-fer-MYE-ra) |
| lawyer | avukat (a-voo-KAT) | avukata (a-voo-KA-ta) |
| engineer | inġinier (in-jin-YER) | inġiniera (in-jin-YE-ra) |
| worker | ħaddiem (had-DEEM) | ħaddiema (had-DEE-ma) |
| police officer | pulizija (poo-li-TSEE-ya) | pulizija (same) |
| student | student (stood-ENT) | studentessa (stood-en-TESS-sa) |
Example: `Oħti hija għalliema.` (My sister is a teacher.)
`Ħija huwa tabib.` (My brother is a doctor.)
Master the vocabulary for work and professions.
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Match the description to the profession.
Jien ngħin lin-nies morda fi sptar. (I help sick people in a hospital.) ( ) Għalliem
Jien ngħallem lit-tfal fl-iskola. (I teach children in school.) ( ) Avukat
Jien niddefendi lin-nies fil-qorti. (I defend people in court.) ( ) Tabib
Jien ngħin lin-nies morda fi sptar. → Tabib
Jien ngħallem lit-tfal fl-iskola. → Għalliem
Jien niddefendi lin-nies fil-qorti. → Avukat
Translate the following sentences, using the correct gender for the profession.
For centuries, the Maltese economy was based on its strategic position, with jobs centered around the dockyards and British military presence. However, since its independence and EU membership, the economy has diversified dramatically. Today, while traditional jobs remain, major sectors include tourism, financial services, and, most notably, iGaming (online gambling companies). It is very common to meet people, both Maltese and foreign, who work in these newer industries.
This has created a dynamic and multicultural work environment, especially in areas like Sliema and St. Julian's. Asking someone `X'xogħol tagħmel?` can lead to some very interesting conversations about the modern face of Malta.
Two old friends, Anna and David, catch up.
Anna: David! Kemm ili ma narak! Kif int? (DA-vid! Kemm EE-li ma na-RAK! Kif int?)
David: Anna! Tajjeb, grazzi. U int? Għadek studentessa? (AN-na! TAI-yeb, GRAT-si. Oo int? AA-dek stood-en-TESS-sa?)
Anna: Le, m'għadnix. Issa naħdem. Jien għalliema tal-Ingliż. (Le, ma-ad-NISH. IS-sa NAH-dem. Yen all-YEE-ma tal-in-GLEESH.)
David: Prosit! Jien għadni nistudja. Qed nistudja biex insir inġinier. (PRO-sit! Yen add-NI nis-TUD-ya. 'ed nis-TUD-ya byesh in-SEER in-jin-YER.)
Anna: Interessanti ħafna! U oħtok, x'tagħmel? (in-te-res-SAN-ti HAF-na! Oo OH-tok, sh'TAA-mel?)
David: Oħti hija tabiba. Taħdem fl-isptar. (OH-tee EE-ya ta-BEE-ba. TAH-dem flis-PTAR.)
Anna: David! I haven't seen you for ages! How are you?
David: Anna! Fine, thanks. And you? Are you still a student?
Anna: No, not anymore. Now I work. I am an English teacher.
David: Congratulations! I'm still studying. I'm studying to become an engineer.
Anna: Very interesting! And your sister, what does she do?
David: My sister is a doctor. She works at the hospital.
Remember that many professions have separate masculine (`-ier`, `-iem`) and feminine (`-iera`, `-iema`) forms.
`xogħol` (work), `professjoni` (profession), `għalliem/a` (teacher), `tabib/a` (doctor), `infermier/a` (nurse), `avukat/a` (lawyer), `inġinier/a` (engineer), `ħaddiem/a` (worker), `pulizija` (police officer), `student/essa` (student).
Prosit! You can now discuss what you and others do for a living. In the next chapter, we will learn about the Conditional (`Il-Kondizzjonal`), which will allow you to talk about hypothetical situations using "if" and "would".