Shopping

1. Kemm tiswa din?

   How much is this?

   Usage

   Basic phrase to ask the price of an item in a shop

   Grammar Note

   Maltese has gender; "din" is feminine singular demonstrative, "dan" for masculine

2. Għalja wisq!

   Too expensive!

   Usage

   Spontaneous reaction when a price feels too high

   Grammar Note

   "wisq" derives from Arabic "wasq" and means "too much/excessively"

3. Hemm xi skont?

   Is there a discount?

   Usage

   Asking whether any discount is available

   Grammar Note

   "xi" functions like an indefinite marker "some/any"; in a question it means "is there any ...?"

4. Nieħu din

   I will take this one

   Usage

   Said when deciding to buy an item

   Grammar Note

   "ħa" (to take) is of Arabic origin; "nieħu" is its first person singular form

5. Qiegħed inħares biss

   I am just looking

   Usage

   Politely telling a shop assistant you are just browsing

   Grammar Note

   "qiegħed" is a progressive auxiliary similar to Italian "sto" (I am doing)

6. Għandek daqsijiet oħra?

   Do you have other sizes?

   Usage

   Asking for different sizes of clothing or shoes

   Grammar Note

   "oħra" means "other/another" (the feminine/plural form of "ieħor") and follows the noun

7. Tista' tagħmilli pakkett rigal?

   Can you gift-wrap this for me?

   Usage

   Requesting gift wrapping for a purchase

   Grammar Note

   "rigal" derives from Italian "regalo" (gift/present)

8. Fejn hu l-ATM l-eqreb?

   Where is the nearest ATM?

   Usage

   Finding the nearest cash machine before shopping

   Grammar Note

   "eqreb" derives from Arabic "aqrab" (closest), a Semitic superlative in Maltese

9. Tista' tagħmilha anqas?

   Can you make it a bit cheaper?

   Usage

   Phrase for negotiating a lower price at a market or souvenir shop

   Grammar Note

   "anqas" derives from Arabic "anqas" (less), used as a comparative in Maltese

10. Nixtieq riċevuta, jekk jogħġbok

    I would like a receipt, please

    Usage

    Asking for a receipt after making a purchase

    Grammar Note

    riċevuta = receipt, from Italian ricevuta, one of many Italian loans in Maltese. Nixtieq + noun = I would like …, a polite request.

11. M'għandix bżonn ir-riċevuta

    I don't need a receipt

    Usage

    Declining a receipt, the answer to "Trid ir-riċevuta?" (Do you want the receipt?)

    Grammar Note

    għandi bżonn X / m'għandix bżonn = I have need of X / I do not need; negation wraps the verb in ma …x. il- → ir- + riċevuta = the article assimilates before sun letters, becoming ir- before r. Compare it-triq, is-suq and iċ-ċavetta.

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