Congratulations on making it this far! This chapter is all about synthesis. We won't introduce new grammar; instead, we'll read a short text and see how all the concepts you've learned work together in a real context.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
Read the following text about a trip to Gozo. Don't worry if you don't understand every single word at first. Focus on recognizing the grammar and vocabulary you already know.
Il-ġimgħa li għaddiet, jien u l-familja tiegħi morna Għawdex għal vaganza qasira. Għawdex hija gżira sabiħa u kwieta, iktar kwieta minn Malta. (il-JIM-aa li add-DEET, yen oo l-fa-MIL-ya TEE-eye MOR-na Awdex aal va-GAN-tsa 'AS-ee-ra. Awdex EE-ya GZEE-ra sa-BEE-ha oo kWEE-ta, IK-tar kWEE-ta minn MAL-ta.)
Kuljum, kont inqum kmieni u kont immur mixja. Żort iċ-Ċittadella fir-Rabat u għoġobni ħafna l-kulur tal-baħar fil-bajja ta' Ramla. (Kool-YOOM, kont in-'OOM KMIE-ni oo kont mmoor MISH-ya. Zort ich-chit-ta-DEL-la fir-ra-BAT oo o-JOB-ni HAF-na l-koo-LOOR tal-ba-HAR fil-BAI-ya ta' RAM-la.)
Filgħaxija, konna nieklu f'ristorant żgħir. Kilt ħafna ikel tajjeb, speċjalment il-ħut frisk. (fil-ash-EE-ya, KON-na NEEK-loo f'ris-to-RANT za-YEER. Kilt HAF-na I-kel TAI-yeb, spe-chyal-MENT il-hoot frishk.)
Is-sena d-dieħla, se nerġa' mmur żgur. Kieku nista', kont noqgħod hemm għal dejjem! (is-SE-na d-DEE-la, se NER-ja mmoor zgoor. KYE-koo NIS-ta, kont no'-OOT emm aal DEY-yem!)
Last week, my family and I went to Gozo for a short holiday. Gozo is a beautiful and quiet island, quieter than Malta.
Every day, I used to wake up early and I would go for a walk. I visited the Citadel in Rabat and I really liked the color of the sea at Ramla bay.
In the evening, we used to eat in a small restaurant. I ate a lot of good food, especially the fresh fish.
Next year, I will go again for sure. If I could, I would stay there forever!
Review the new vocabulary from this chapter's text.
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Gozo, or `Għawdex` in Maltese, is Malta's smaller sister island. It's known for its more tranquil, rural atmosphere compared to the bustling main island of Malta. For the Maltese, Gozo is the quintessential weekend getaway or short holiday destination, a place to escape the traffic and crowds.
It boasts significant historical sites, including the Ġgantija Temples (older than the pyramids of Egypt) and the magnificent Ċittadella in its capital, Rabat (also known as Victoria). Ramla l-Ħamra, with its unique red-orange sand, is one of the most beautiful beaches in the entire archipelago. The text you read reflects a very typical and cherished Maltese experience: a relaxing break in Gozo.
Prosit! Reading and understanding a full paragraph is a major achievement. Now that you're comfortable with standard grammar, the next chapter will introduce you to `Idjomi Komuni` (Common Idioms), which will help you understand the more colorful, figurative side of the Maltese language.