Basic Nouns

1. l-ilma

   Water

   Usage

   The basic word for drinking water; works with pointing

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; the article "il-" reduces to "l-" before a vowel

2. l-ikel

   Food

   Usage

   The general word when you are looking for something to eat

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; it shares a root with "kiel" (ate)

3. il-flus

   Money

   Usage

   Comes up when paying or changing currency

   Grammar Note

   Always plural in Maltese

4. it-tojlit

   Toilet

   Usage

   The word alone is enough to ask for directions

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; "t" is a sun letter, so "il-" assimilates to "it-"

5. il-maktur tal-karta

   Tissue

   Usage

   For asking at a shop or a diner

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; "tal-karta" means "of paper"

6. il-mediċina

   Medicine

   Usage

   The core word at a pharmacy, paired with your symptom

   Grammar Note

   Feminine — most "-a" nouns are; a pharmacy is "l-ispiżerija"

7. il-bagalji

   Luggage

   Usage

   For checking in, picking up, or storing bags

   Grammar Note

   Plural; one piece is "il-bagalja" (feminine)

8. iċ-ċavetta

   Key

   Usage

   For collecting or returning it at hotel reception

   Grammar Note

   Feminine; "ċ" is a sun letter, so "il-" assimilates to "iċ-"

9. il-biljett

   Ticket

   Usage

   The base word for transport and admission tickets

   Grammar Note

   Masculine; plural "il-biljetti"

10. il-passaport

    Passport

    Usage

    Comes up at every check-in and border control

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "il-passaporti"

11. it-telefon

    Phone

    Usage

    Refers to the device and to making a call

    Grammar Note

    Masculine with sun-letter assimilation; a mobile is "il-mowbajl"

12. iċ-ċarġer

    Charger

    Usage

    When you want to borrow one at a hotel or café

    Grammar Note

    Masculine, a loan from English "charger"; "ċ" is a sun letter

13. l-istazzjon

    Station

    Usage

    The easiest landmark to name when asking directions

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; words starting with "s" take a prosthetic "i-", giving "l-is-"

14. l-isptar

    Hospital

    Usage

    The first word you need if you fall ill

    Grammar Note

    Masculine with the same prosthetic "i-"; plural "l-isptarijiet"

15. il-pulizija

    Police

    Usage

    For theft or accidents; the word alone gets help

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, the police force; an individual officer is also "pulizija"

16. il-ħanut

    Shop

    Usage

    The general word when hunting for somewhere to buy things

    Grammar Note

    Masculine; plural "il-ħwienet"

17. il-kamra

    Room

    Usage

    For negotiating a stay or confirming a room number

    Grammar Note

    Feminine, used for hotel rooms; plural "il-kmamar"

18. it-triq

    Road

    Usage

    Used when asking directions, often over a map

    Grammar Note

    Feminine with sun-letter assimilation; plural "it-toroq"

19. il-familja

    Family

    Usage

    Comes up in small talk about who you are travelling with

    Grammar Note

    Feminine; plural "il-familji"

20. l-isem

    Name

    Usage

    For confirming a booking or introducing yourself

    Grammar Note

    Masculine with a prosthetic "i-"; a surname is "il-kunjom"

21. ras

    Head

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

22. għajn

    Eye

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

23. sinna

    Tooth

    Usage

    Shows where it hurts at a dentist or pharmacy

24. griżmejn

    Throat

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

25. żaqq

    Stomach (belly)

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

26. dahar

    Back

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

27. qadd

    Lower back (waist)

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

28. sieq

    Leg

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts; Maltese uses one word for leg and foot

29. id

    Hand

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

30. sider

    Chest

    Usage

    For chest pain or tightness; refers to the front of the torso

31. widna

    Ear

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

32. għonq

    Neck

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

33. spalla

    Shoulder

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

34. rkoppa

    Knee

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

35. saba'

    Finger

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

36. ġilda

    Skin

    Usage

    For rashes, itching, or burns

37. driegħ

    Arm

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

38. imnieħer

    Nose

    Usage

    Point at it to show where it hurts

39. lukanda

    Hotel

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

40. ajruport

    Airport

    Usage

    Point at it to show a driver where you are going

41. waqfa tal-karozza tal-linja

    Bus stop

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

42. ambaxxata

    Embassy

    Usage

    For getting there after losing a passport

43. ATM

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

44. uffiċċju tal-kambju

    Currency exchange

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

45. lavanderija

    Laundromat

    Usage

    Point at it when asking where one is

46. spiżerija

    Pharmacy

    Usage

    The word alone is enough to ask where one is

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