Now that you can identify and count things, let's learn how to describe them! This chapter introduces basic colors and adjectives, along with a fundamental grammar rule: adjective agreement.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
| Maltese | Phonetic Guide | English |
|---|---|---|
| aħmar / ħamra | (AH-mar / HAM-ra) | red (m/f) |
| blu | (bloo) | blue |
| isfar / safra | (IS-far / SAF-ra) | yellow (m/f) |
| aħdar / ħadra | (AH-dar / HAD-ra) | green (m/f) |
| iswed / sewda | (IS-wet / SEW-da) | black (m/f) |
| abjad / bajda | (AB-yat / BAI-da) | white (m/f) |
| Maltese (Masculine / Feminine) | Phonetic Guide (m/f) | English |
|---|---|---|
| kbir / kbira | (kbeer / KBEE-ra) | big |
| żgħir / żgħira | (zeer / ZAI-ra) | small |
| tajjeb / tajba | (TAI-yeb / TAI-ba) | good |
| ħażin / ħażina | (ha-ZEEN / ha-ZEE-na) | bad |
| ġdid / ġdida | (jdeed / JDEE-da) | new |
| antik / antika | (an-TEEK / an-TEE-ka) | old |
You might have noticed that `blu` (blue) doesn't have a separate feminine form, while `aħmar` (red) does (`ħamra`). This is a common feature in languages with grammatical gender.
The simple rule: If an adjective has a listed feminine form, you must use it with feminine nouns. If it doesn't, you use the same form for both genders!
In Maltese, adjectives almost always come **AFTER** the noun they describe. This is the opposite of English.
Notice how `kbir` changes to `kbira` to match the feminine noun `karozza`.
Match the Maltese adjective to its opposite.
kbir ( ) ħażin
tajjeb ( ) żgħir
ġdid ( ) antikkbir → żgħir
tajjeb → ħażin
ġdid → antikCombine the noun and adjective, making sure the adjective agrees in gender. The gender is provided for you.
Colors are deeply woven into Maltese identity. The national flag itself is simply `abjad u aħmar` (white and red). The vibrant `blu` (blue) of the Mediterranean Sea and the sky is a constant backdrop to island life. The traditional Maltese fishing boats, known as the `Luzzu`, are famously painted in bright primary colors—`isfar`, `aħmar`, `aħdar`, and `blu`—and feature the Eye of Osiris painted on the bow to ward off evil spirits.
The color of the landscape itself is dominated by the `abjad` and `isfar` of the limestone used in almost all traditional architecture, giving the villages a warm, honey-colored glow, especially at sunrise and sunset.
Marija describes her new car to Pawlu.
Pawlu: Bonġu Marija! Għandek karozza ġdida! (BON-joo Ma-REE-ya! AN-dek ka-ROTS-tsa JDEE-da!)
Marija: Iva, Pawlu! Din hija l-karozza l-ġdida tiegħi. (EE-va, PAW-loo! Deen EE-ya il-ka-ROTS-tsa l-JDEE-da TEE-eye.)
Pawlu: Hija sabiħa! Il-kulur huwa aħmar. (EE-ya sa-BEEH-a! il-koo-LOOR OO-wa AH-mar.)
Marija: Grazzi. Hija karozza żgħira imma tajba ħafna. (GRAT-si. EE-ya ka-ROTS-tsa ZAI-ra IM-ma TAI-ba HAF-na.)
Pawlu: Il-karozza l-antika tiegħek kienet blu, hux? (il-ka-ROTS-tsa l-an-TEE-ka TEE-ek KEE-net bloo, hoosh?)
Marija: Iva, kienet blu u kbira. Din l-ħamra hija aħjar. (EE-va, KEE-net bloo oo KBEE-ra. Deen l-HAM-ra EE-ya ah-YAR.)
Pawlu: Hello Marija! You have a new car!
Marija: Yes, Pawlu! This is my new car.
Pawlu: It is beautiful! The color is red.
Marija: Thanks. It is a small but very good car.
Pawlu: Your old car was blue, right?
Marija: Yes, it was blue and big. This red one is better.
Adjectives come **after** the noun and must **agree in gender** (e.g., `kbir` for masculine nouns, `kbira` for feminine nouns). Some adjectives, often loanwords, do not change.
Colors: `aħmar`, `blu`, `isfar`, `aħdar`, `iswed`, `abjad`.
Adjectives: `kbir/kbira`, `żgħir/żgħira`, `tajjeb/tajba`, `ħażin/ħażina`, `ġdid/ġdida`, `antik/antika`.
Other: `iva` (yes), `hux?` (right?), `aħjar` (better).
Prosit! You can now describe the world around you in more detail. In the next chapter, we will focus on family vocabulary, learning the words for mother, father, brother, sister, and more, so you can start describing the important people in your life.