Animals

1. kelb

   Dog

   Usage

   The plural is "klieb". The native hunting hound "Kelb tal-Fenek" (rabbit dog) is Malta's national dog

2. qattus

   Cat

   Usage

   The plural is "qtates". Malta is full of community cats — Sliema's Independence Garden has a famous cat village

3. għasfur

   Bird

   Usage

   Do not drop the initial "għ"; the plural is "għasafar". Malta is a migration stopover, busiest in spring and autumn

4. ħuta

   Fish

   Usage

   The ħ is a distinct letter from h; the plural is "ħut". Use it at the Marsaxlokk fish market — the celebrated dorado is "lampuki"

5. żiemel

   Horse

   Usage

   The ż is a distinct letter from z; the plural is "żwiemel". Harness racing is a Maltese passion

6. ħmar

   Donkey

   Usage

   The ħ is a distinct letter from h; the plural is "ħmir". Once the mainstay of farm work. Applied to a person it is an insult, so keep it to the animal

7. baqra

   Cow

   Usage

   The plural is "baqar". Beef is "laħam taċ-ċanga"

8. ħanżir

   Pig

   Usage

   Both ħ and ż are distinct letters; the plural is "ħnieżer". Pork is "laħam tal-majjal" — show it to decline pork for religious reasons

9. tiġieġa

   Hen / chicken

   Usage

   The ġ is a distinct letter from g; the plural is "tiġieġ". A rooster is "serduk"

10. papra

    Duck

    Usage

    The plural is "papri"; the same word appears on menus

11. mogħża

    Goat

    Usage

    Keep the "għ" and the "ż"; the plural is "mogħoż". Goat and sheep milk make the local cheeselets, "ġbejniet"

12. nagħġa

    Sheep

    Usage

    Keep the "għ" and the "ġ"; the plural is "ngħaġ". Grazed on the terraced fields of Gozo

13. fenek

    Rabbit

    Usage

    The plural is "fniek". The star of the "fenkata", Malta's national feast — look for "stuffat tal-fenek" (rabbit stew) on menus

14. ġurdien

    Mouse / rat

    Usage

    The ġ is a distinct letter from g; the plural is "ġrieden". The word to report one at your lodging

15. qanfuda

    Hedgehog

    Usage

    The plural is "qniefed". Malta's is the Algerian hedgehog — nocturnal, seen on farmland and in gardens

16. farfett il-lejl

    Bat

    Usage

    Literally "the butterfly of the night". Flies over towns at dusk and roosts in caves and old buildings

17. serp

    Snake

    Usage

    The plural is "sriep". Malta has no venomous snakes — one on the path is nothing to worry about

18. gremxula

    Lizard

    Usage

    The plural is "gremxul". The Maltese wall lizard is endemic and everywhere on the rubble walls. Harmless

19. fekruna

    Turtle / tortoise

    Usage

    The plural is "fkieren". A sea turtle is "fekruna tal-baħar" — loggerheads occasionally nest on the beaches

20. gawwija

    Seagull

    Usage

    The plural is "gawwi". They raid seafront terrace tables

21. ħamiema

    Pigeon / dove

    Usage

    The ħ is a distinct letter from h; the plural is "ħamiem". Everywhere in Valletta and the squares

22. qarnita

    Octopus

    Usage

    The plural is "qarniti". A Maltese staple — "stuffat tal-qarnita" (octopus stew) is common on menus

23. granċ

    Crab

    Usage

    The ċ is a distinct letter from c; the plural is "granċijiet". Found in the rock pools

24. brama

    Jellyfish

    Usage

    The plural is "bram". They appear in the summer Mediterranean; rinse a sting with seawater, never fresh water

25. nemusa

    Mosquito

    Usage

    The collective plural is "nemus". Everywhere on summer evenings; repellent is "sprej kontra n-nemus"

26. wirdiena

    Cockroach

    Usage

    The plural is "wirdien". They come out on summer nights — use it to report one at your lodging

27. nemla

    Ant

    Usage

    The collective plural is "nemel". They arrive if food is left out

28. naħla

    Bee

    Usage

    The ħ is a distinct letter from h; the plural is "naħal". Honey is "għasel" — Malta's ancient name Melita is often traced to it

29. żunżana

    Wasp

    Usage

    The ż is a distinct letter from z, and this word has two of them; the plural is "żunżan". Drawn to outdoor drinks in summer

30. brimba

    Spider

    Usage

    The plural is "brimb". House spiders here are harmless

31. farfett

    Butterfly

    Usage

    The plural is "friefet". The bat is named from this word: "farfett il-lejl", the butterfly of the night

32. dubbiena

    Fly

    Usage

    The collective plural is "dubbien". Point at this if flies are a problem at an outdoor eatery

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