The Three Official Languages Of Malta: Why This Tiny Island Speaks A Unique Blend Of Arabic, English, And Italian

The linguistic landscape of Malta is one of the most unique and captivating in the entire European Union, a direct result of the island nation’s strategic location and millennia of foreign rule. As of late 2025, Malta officially recognizes three languages, but the true story of communication on this Mediterranean archipelago—which includes the main island of Malta and its sister island, Gozo—is a complex and fascinating blend of cultures. Visitors are often surprised to find that while English is an official language, the national tongue is a Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, a true anomaly on the European continent.

The constitutional status of language in the Republic of Malta is clear, yet the everyday use and historical influences paint a much richer picture. Understanding the island's languages requires a deep dive into its Punic, Arab, Sicilian, and British past, revealing how each colonial power left an indelible mark on the way the Maltese people speak today.

The Official Trio: Maltese, English, and Maltese Sign Language

Malta’s constitution establishes a trilingual framework, acknowledging three official means of communication that serve the government, education system, and public life. This structure ensures that the nation’s diverse heritage and community needs are legally protected.

• Shania Twains Bold Statement Why The Star Chose Nude Photoshoots At 57 Qf9cg

1. Maltese (Malti): The National Language

Maltese, or Malti, is the national language and the primary language of the Maltese people. It is a linguistic marvel that stands alone as the only Semitic language to be written entirely in the Latin script. This singular feature immediately distinguishes it from other Semitic languages like Arabic, Hebrew, and Aramaic.

• Origin and Classification: Maltese is classified as a Central Semitic language, specifically a descendant of late medieval Sicilian Arabic. This Arabic dialect was brought to the islands during the period of Fatimid rule, which began in the 11th century.
• The Romance Superstrata: What makes Maltese truly unique is its massive vocabulary borrowing from Romance languages, known as the Romance superstrata. Centuries of close contact with Sicily and mainland Italy, followed by the rule of the Knights of St. John, led to a significant influx of vocabulary, particularly from Sicilian and Italian. While the grammar and core structure remain Semitic, an estimated 50% or more of the lexicon is of Romance origin.
• Prevalence: According to data, over 94% of the population speaks Maltese, and a 2012 Eurobarometer poll indicated that 98% of the population could speak it. It is the language of identity, culture, and most local media.

2. English: The Legacy of the British Colonial Era

The English language has been an official language of Malta since the island became a British colony in 1814. Even after Malta gained independence in 1964, English retained its official status, a testament to its deep entrenchment in the nation's institutions.

• Role in Society: English is the primary language of business, law, and higher education. All official government documents are published in both Maltese and English, ensuring complete accessibility.
• Fluency: The vast majority of the population is highly fluent in English. A 2012 Eurobarometer survey found that 88% of Maltese citizens could speak English. For tourists and international residents, this high level of bilingualism makes communication exceptionally easy. Malta is often cited as the only genuinely bilingual country in the European Union where English is an official language.

3. Maltese Sign Language (LSM): The New Official Language

A significant and recent development in Malta's language policy was the official recognition of Maltese Sign Language (Lingwa tas-Sinjali Maltija, or LSM). In March 2016, the Parliament of Malta approved a bill declaring LSM an official language, a landmark decision that promotes the rights and inclusion of the Deaf community. LSM is a stable, indigenous sign language used daily by hundreds of people across Malta and Gozo for communication, education, and cultural expression.

• The Surprise Vegas Wedding And Shared Grief 5 Shocking Details Of John Schneider And Dee Dee Sorvinos Whirlwind Romance Ohirf

The Surprising Resurgence of Italian and Other Influences

While only three languages hold official status, the linguistic reality of Malta is far more multilingual, particularly due to the enduring influence of Italian and the increasing diversity from global migration.

The Enduring Power of the Italian Language

Italian holds a unique and powerful position in Malta, despite losing its official status in 1934. The historical, geographical, and cultural proximity to Italy has ensured that a large segment of the population remains fluent in the language.

• Historical Context: Italian (and its precursor, Sicilian) was the language of the educated class, the law courts, and the administration for centuries, especially during the rule of the Knights of St. John.
• Current Fluency: The ability to speak Italian is surprisingly high. Recent data from the National Statistics Office (NSO) in 2023 indicated that approximately 62% of the Maltese population understands Italian. This figure is largely maintained through cultural exposure.
• Media and Education: The widespread availability of Italian television channels and radio broadcasts is a major factor in maintaining this high level of understanding, especially among older generations. Italian also remains the most popular foreign language studied in local schools, highlighting its continued commercial and cultural importance.

Siculo-Arabic: The Deep Root of Malti

To truly appreciate Maltese, one must look back to the Siculo-Arabic dialect. This dialect, which developed in Malta and Sicily after the Arab conquest, is the foundation of the Maltese language. The Semitic core provides the basic vocabulary, grammatical structure, and phonology. For instance, the structure of verb roots (the three-consonant root system common to Semitic languages) is still entirely intact in Maltese, even with the massive Romance vocabulary overlay.

• 7 Shocking Things Jessica Capshaw Revealed About Growing Up With Steven Spielberg As Her Stepfather 892ho

Other Languages and the Modern Maltese Melting Pot

As a popular tourist destination and a member of the European Union, Malta's population is becoming increasingly diverse, leading to the presence of many other languages in the urban centers of Valletta and Sliema.

• European Languages: Due to its EU membership and strong ties to the continent, other European languages like French, German, and Spanish are commonly taught in schools and spoken by a smaller but significant portion of the population.
• Global Community: Recent years have seen an increase in speakers of languages from various global communities, including Tagalog (Filipino), Serbian, and various African languages, reflecting the island’s growing international workforce.

Linguistic Entities and Key Facts About Malta's Languages

The unique linguistic situation in Malta is a continuous topic of study and policy-making. The blend of languages impacts everything from street signs to political discourse.

• The Latin Script: Maltese is the only Semitic language to exclusively use the Latin alphabet, a feature that was officially standardized in 1924, replacing earlier attempts to use Arabic or a mix of scripts.
• The National Council for the Maltese Language (Il-Kunsill Nazzjonali tal-Ilsien Malti): This body is responsible for regulating the language, its spelling, and its development, ensuring its continued relevance in a digital world.
• Bilingual Education: The Maltese education system is largely bilingual, with children being taught in both Maltese and English from a young age, contributing to the nation's high rate of functional bilingualism.
• Gozo's Dialect: The inhabitants of Gozo, the sister island, speak a dialect of Maltese that is subtly distinct from the one spoken on the main island, adding another layer to the linguistic tapestry.
• Phoenician/Punic Roots: While the current language is Arabic-derived, the earliest language spoken on the island was likely Punic, a Semitic language brought by the Phoenicians, who settled the islands thousands of years ago.

In conclusion, the answer to "What language do they speak in Malta?" is a testament to the island's incredible history. It is a place where a unique Semitic language, born from Sicilian Arabic and enriched by Romance vocabulary, sits comfortably alongside the global lingua franca of English, all while officially recognizing the rights of its Deaf community through Maltese Sign Language. This tri-lingual, multi-cultural environment is precisely what makes Malta such a dynamic and accessible destination for travelers and a fascinating case study for linguists.