Talking about the weather is a universal way to start a conversation. This chapter will give you the essential words to describe the weather and the four seasons in Malta.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The most common question is: Kif inhu t-temp illum? (Kif IN-oo t-temp il-LOOM?) - How is the weather today?
| Maltese Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| It-temp sabiħ. (it-temp sa-BEEH) | The weather is nice. |
| Qed tagħmel ix-xemx. ('ed TAA-mel ish-SHEMSH) | It is sunny. (Lit: It is making the sun) |
| Hemm is-sħab. (Emm is-SHAB) | It is cloudy. (Lit: There are the clouds) |
| Qed tagħmel ix-xita. ('ed TAA-mel ish-SHI-ta) | It is raining. (Lit: It is making the rain) |
| Hemm ir-riħ. (Emm ir-REEH) | It is windy. (Lit: There is the wind) |
| Maltese Phrase | English |
|---|---|
| Bis-sħana. (bis-SA-na) | It's hot. (Lit: With heat) |
| Bil-bard. (bil-BART) | It's cold. (Lit: With cold) |
| It-temp bnazzi. (it-temp BNATS-tsi) | The weather is clear/fair. |
| Maltese | Phonetic Guide | English |
|---|---|---|
| Ir-rebbiegħa | (ir-reb-BEE-aa) | Spring |
| Is-sajf | (is-SIFE) | Summer |
| Il-ħarifa | (il-ha-REE-fa) | Autumn |
| Ix-xitwa | (ish-SHIT-wa) | Winter |
Master the vocabulary for weather and seasons.
Import Chapter 33 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Match the weather condition to the most likely Maltese season.
Bis-sħana ħafna ( ) Ix-xitwa
Qed tagħmel ix-xita ( ) Ir-rebbiegħa
Fjuri sbieħ ( ) Is-sajf
Bis-sħana ħafna → Is-sajf (Very hot → Summer)
Qed tagħmel ix-xita → Ix-xitwa (It's raining → Winter)
Fjuri sbieħ → Ir-rebbiegħa (Beautiful flowers → Spring)
Look outside. How would you describe the weather in Maltese right now? Try to form a full sentence.
In a hot, dry country like Malta, the weather is more than just small talk. The first rain (`l-ewwel xita`) after the long, hot summer is a major event, welcomed for bringing life back to the parched landscape. Farmers eagerly await it to begin planting their crops.
The wind (`ir-riħ`) is also a constant topic of conversation. Malta is a windy place, and the direction of the wind determines a lot, from which beaches are safe for swimming to whether the Gozo ferry will run. Specific winds even have names, like the notorious `Grigal` (a cold, strong northeasterly wind) or the hot, humid `Xlokk` (Sirocco) blowing up from Africa.
David calls Anna to make plans, but the weather has other ideas.
David: Allo Anna. Għadek trid tmur il-baħar illum? (Allo AN-na. AA-dek treed tmoor il-ba-HAR il-LOOM?)
Anna: David, ħarist mit-tieqa? Kif inhu t-temp? (DA-vid, ha-RIST mit-TEE-'a? Kif IN-oo t-temp?)
David: Le, għadni. Għaliex? (Le, add-NI. aa-LEESH?)
Anna: Għax hemm ħafna sħab u qed iqawwi r-riħ. Naħseb li se tagħmel ix-xita. (Ash emm HAF-na shab oo 'ed i-'AW-wi r-REEH. NAH-seb li se TAA-mel ish-SHI-ta.)
David: Uff! Veru. Is-sajf spiċċa. Merħba, ħarifa! (Ooff! VE-roo. is-SIFE spich-CHA. MER-hba, ha-REE-fa!)
Anna: Mela, minflok il-baħar, forsi mmorru ċ-ċinema? (ME-la, min-FLOK il-ba-HAR, FOR-si mmoor-roo chich-chi-NE-ma?)
David: Idea tajba! Hemmhekk ma jimpurtax jekk it-temp hux bil-bard! (i-DE-ya TAI-ba! emm-EKK ma yim-poor-TASH yek it-temp hoosh bil-BART!)
David: Hello Anna. Do you still want to go to the sea today?
Anna: David, have you looked out the window? How is the weather?
David: No, not yet. Why?
Anna: Because it's very cloudy and the wind is getting stronger. I think it is going to rain.
David: Ugh! True. The summer is over. Welcome, autumn!
Anna: Well, instead of the sea, maybe we'll go to the cinema?
David: Good idea! There it doesn't matter if the weather is cold!
Weather: `temp`, `xemx` (sun), `sħab` (clouds), `xita` (rain), `riħ` (wind).
Temperature: `sħana` (hot), `bard` (cold).
Seasons: `rebbiegħa` (spring), `sajf` (summer), `ħarifa` (autumn), `xitwa` (winter).
`Kif inhu t-temp?`, `Qed tagħmel ix-xemx.`, `Qed tagħmel ix-xita.`
Prosit! You can now make small talk about one of the most common topics. In the next chapter, we will focus on `Konversazzjonijiet Kumplessi` (Complex Conversations), where we will practice combining multiple tenses and more advanced structures into longer, more fluid dialogues.