Food & Drinks

1. Nixtieq il-fenek, jekk jogħġbok

   I would like the rabbit stew, please

   Usage

   Ordering fenek, the beloved Maltese rabbit dish

   Grammar Note

   "jekk jogħġbok" literally means "if it pleases you" — the polite form of please

2. Pastizzi tal-irkotta, jekk jogħġbok

   Ricotta pastizzi, please

   Usage

   Ordering pastizzi (flaky pastry) at a Maltese snack bar or stall

   Grammar Note

   "tal-" is a contraction of the preposition "ta'" (of) and the definite article

3. X'inhi s-speċjalità tal-post?

   What is the local specialty?

   Usage

   Asking a restaurant about their local specialty

   Grammar Note

   In Maltese "x" represents the "sh" sound, of Arabic origin; "x'inhi" means "what is it"

4. Ma nistax niekol laħam

   I cannot eat meat

   Usage

   Informing a restaurant about a dietary restriction or vegetarian diet

   Grammar Note

   "ma...x" is the Maltese negative circumfix, similar to Arabic negation

5. Ġib il-kont, jekk jogħġbok

   Please bring the bill

   Usage

   Standard way to ask for the check after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "ġib" is the imperative of "ġab" (to bring), used much like Italian "porta"

6. Ftaqar fil-majjal, jekk jogħġbok

   Please give me ftaqar fil-majjal (bread with pork fat)

   Usage

   Ordering ftaqar fil-majjal, a traditional Maltese bread roll with pork fat

   Grammar Note

   "majjal" is the Maltese word for pig/pork, of Arabic origin

7. Għandkom inbid lokali?

   Do you have local wine?

   Usage

   Asking a restaurant if they carry local Maltese wine

   Grammar Note

   "inbid" derives from Arabic "nabidh" (wine), a Semitic root in Maltese

8. Għandi allerġija għall-ġewż, il-lewż u l-ġellewż

   I have a nut allergy

   Usage

   An important phrase to inform a restaurant about a nut allergy

   Grammar Note

   "allerġija" is from Italian "allergia"; "għall-" is the preposition "for/to" with assimilation. Note that ġewż alone is walnut — lewż (almond) and ġellewż (hazelnut) are separate lexemes, not compounds of it, so ġewż alone would let them read as safe. Hence the enumeration

9. X'dessert għandkom?

   What desserts do you have?

   Usage

   Asking about dessert options after a meal

   Grammar Note

   "dessert" is borrowed directly from English, reflecting Maltese's extensive English vocabulary

10. Nixtieq niekol barra fil-bitħa

    I would like to eat outside on the terrace

    Usage

    Asking to be seated outside on the terrace when speaking to a waiter

    Grammar Note

    "bitħa" derives from Arabic "batha" (flat ground/courtyard), core Maltese vocabulary

11. ross

    Rice

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

12. ħobż

    Bread

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

13. għaġin

    Pasta

    Usage

    A staple to point at when ordering

14. nej

    Raw (uncooked)

    Usage

    For checking whether a dish is uncooked

15. pikkanti

    Spicy hot

    Usage

    Point at it to ask whether a dish is hot

16. soppa

    Soup

    Usage

    Point at it when ordering

17. ġobon

    Cheese

    Usage

    Point at it to order or to check ingredients

18. butir

    Butter

    Usage

    Also useful when avoiding dairy

19. tofu

    Tofu

    Usage

    For finding a vegetarian option

20. jogurt

    Yogurt

    Usage

    Point at it at breakfast or in a shop

21. frott

    Fruit

    Usage

    Point at it in a market or an eatery

22. ħalib

    Milk

    Usage

    Point at it to order or to check ingredients

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