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Is English widely spoken in Malta?
Today, 88% of Malta’s population speak English (about 400,000 people). However, only about 10% speak English as a first language (about 48,000), as the majority speak Maltese as a first language. The variety of English commonly spoken in Malta is based on British English.
How many languages are spoken in Malta?
Languages in Malta Malta, although a very small country, adopts two languages as its official languages, one is the native Maltese and the other one is English. The Maltese language is considered as the national language and is also an official language of the European Union.
Is Maltese language similar to Italian?
Its language is the sole survivor of the Arabic dialects spoken in Spain and Sicily in the Middle Ages and the only Semitic language written in the Latin script. When spoken, Maltese sounds like Arabic with a sprinkling of English phrases. When written it looks like Italian with a blend of some peculiar symbols.
How is English used in Malta?
English is almost universally spoken in Malta since it is a co-official language alongside Maltese and is taught to youngsters in schools from an early age. Around 88% of the population can speak English, with Maltese English being closely based on British English.
Is Maltese closer to Italian or Arabic?
The historical source of modern Maltese vocabulary is 52% Italian/Sicilian, 32% Siculo-Arabic, and 6% English, with some of the remainder being French. Today, most function words are Semitic, so despite only making up about a third, they are the most used among Maltese people when conversing.
Does it get cold in Malta?
In general, daytime winter temperatures in Malta are very mild and range from 15°C to 20°C. This comfortable temperature is perfect if you want to escape the bleak frosty weather of winter. Some winter days in Malta tend to be even warmer than summer days in some European countries!
What is main religion in Malta?
The majority of the Maltese are Roman Catholic, but many other religious denominations are also represented on the islands with small but well established and active communities.
Is Malta a safe country?
Malta is generally a very safe place to visit, but like anywhere with visitors, bag-snatching, pickpocketing and other petty crime can occur particularly in nightclubs, on the beach and at markets and transport hubs. Thieves might also target ATMs and parked cars.