Vehicles

1. karozza

   Car

   Usage

   The plural is "karozzi". Malta drives on the left, and the roads are narrow with little parking

2. karozza tal-linja

   Public bus

   Usage

   Literally "the car of the line" — the backbone of Maltese public transport, with most routes running via Valletta or the Marsa interchange. A stop is "waqfa tal-karozza tal-linja", as in the nouns deck

3. tal-linja

   Tal-linja (what everyone calls the bus)

   Usage

   In speech the "karozza" is dropped and this alone means the bus — the travel card is even called the Tallinja Card. Safe with anyone

4. vapur

   Ferry / ship

   Usage

   The plural is "vapuri". The Gozo Channel ferry is the one you will take. Malta's railway, closed in 1931, was nicknamed "il-vapur tal-art" — the land ship

5. luzzu

   Luzzu (traditional fishing boat)

   Usage

   The plural is "luzzijiet". Painted yellow, red, blue and green with the Eye of Osiris on the prow — the row of them at Marsaxlokk is Malta's postcard image

6. dgħajsa

   Dgħajsa (traditional harbour boat)

   Usage

   Do not drop the "għ"; the plural is "dgħajjes". The slender water taxi that still ferries people across the Grand Harbour between Valletta and the Three Cities

7. karozzin

   Karozzin (horse-drawn cab)

   Usage

   The plural is "karozzini". The two-wheeled cab dating from the 19th century, now working for visitors in Valletta, Mdina and Victoria on Gozo

8. lift tal-Barrakka

   The Barrakka Lift

   Usage

   A public lift joining the Grand Harbour waterfront to the Upper Barrakka Gardens, rising some 58 metres in one go. A ferry ticket sometimes covers the ride up

9. taxi

   Taxi

   Usage

   The white cabs are the official ones, and airport fares are prepaid at a fixed rate. Pairs with "Hemm taxi fil-qrib?" in the transportation deck

10. mutur

    Motorbike

    Usage

    The plural is "muturi". The same word also means an engine

11. rota

    Bicycle

    Usage

    The root sense is "wheel"; the plural is "roti". Maltese roads are narrow and busy, so ride with care

12. ajruplan

    Airplane

    Usage

    The plural is "ajruplani". The airport is "ajruport", as in the nouns deck

13. ambulanza

    Ambulance

    Usage

    The emergency number is 112. "Ċempel ambulanza!" means "call an ambulance!" — note the ċ

14. karozza tal-pulizija

    Police car

    Usage

    "Pulizija" is the same word as in the nouns deck. Report a theft at the nearest "għassa tal-pulizija" (police station)

15. trakk

    Truck

    Usage

    The plural is "trakkijiet". On narrow village lanes, give way to oncoming lorries

16. karozza tal-kiri

    Hire car

    Usage

    "Kiri" means hire — the same root as "Nixtieq nikri karozza" in the transportation deck. Malta drives on the left

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