Languages in Malta: English, Maltese & What You Need to Know

Last updated: February 2026 – Malta has two official languages: Maltese (Malti) and English. In daily life, English dominates — 89% of the population can hold a conversation in English (Special Eurobarometer 386, EU Commission). For English-speaking expats, this makes Malta one of the most accessible locations in Southern Europe.

A question I get asked at the firm almost every week is: "Philipp, do I really need to learn Maltese to live there?"

I understand the concern. When you think of the Mediterranean, you think of language barriers. Spain, France, Italy — without the local language, you quickly hit a wall. Dealing with authorities, seeing a doctor, or sometimes just buying bread can be a struggle.

Malta is different. Fundamentally different.

When I moved to Malta from London in 2011, language was the one thing I didn't have to worry about. English isn't just "widely spoken" here — it is deeply rooted in everyday life. From the supermarket to the notary, from the tax office to your GP. This is the result of over 160 years of British colonial history, which has left a mark that shapes daily life to this day.

In this article, I'll cover everything you need to know about the language situation in Malta: which languages are spoken, how good the standard of English really is, what Maltese is all about, and how this affects your move.

Philipp M. Sauerborn

Last updated: February 2026

What Languages Are Spoken in Malta?

Malta has two official languages: Maltese (Malti) and English. Both are enshrined in the Constitution of Malta — Article 5 establishes Maltese as the national language, while English stands alongside it as a second official language (Eurydice, EU Commission).

This bilingualism is no accident. It is the result of British rule from 1800 to 1964. When Malta became independent in 1964, English was kept as a language of administration and education. And not just on paper.

What this means for you as an expat: You can get by in English in almost every situation. No language course required beforehand, no frantic dictionary flipping at the doctor's office. Malta is an absolute exception in the Mediterranean region.

Here are the areas where English clearly dominates:

• Business World: Contracts, business correspondence, accounting, and banking are all conducted in English
• Education System: English is a compulsory subject from kindergarten (age 3), and at the University of Malta, English is the language of instruction
• Media: A large proportion of newspapers, TV channels, and news websites are published in English
• Legal System: All laws exist in English, and court proceedings can be conducted in English
• Administration: All government forms are available in English

How Well Do the Maltese Speak English?

Excellently. According to the Special Eurobarometer 386 by the EU Commission, 89% of the Maltese population can hold a conversation in English. Malta ranks 2nd in the EU — only the Netherlands (90%) scores higher. Sweden and Denmark follow with 86% each.

In practice, you'll notice this from day one. The delivery driver speaks English. The officer at Identity Malta speaks English. The technician fixing your air conditioning speaks English. There is practically no situation in daily life where you will face a language barrier.

And that is the crucial difference compared to other Mediterranean countries:

The reason for this high standard: English isn't just taught as a foreign language in secondary school; it's introduced from age three in kindergarten. The Maltese education system follows a bilingual approach — the so-called CLIL approach (Content and Language Integrated Learning), where subjects are partly taught in English. The University of Malta, the country's oldest university (founded 1592), teaches entirely in English.

Malta is also a global hub for English language learning: 38 licensed language schools (regulated by the ELT Council Malta) welcomed over 80,000 international students in 2024 (NSO Malta, 2024).

What About Italian?

Surprisingly, many Maltese people also speak Italian. While there isn't an exact, verified percentage, the prevalence is obvious — especially among the older generation.

The reasons for this:

• Geography: Malta is only 93 kilometres south of Sicily. Italian television was the main source of entertainment on the island for decades.
• History: Until 1934, Italian was the official language of administration in Malta. It was only replaced by Maltese and English in that year.
• Linguistic Roots: About 52% of Maltese vocabulary comes from Romance languages, mainly Italian and Sicilian (Linguistic Analysis, University of Malta). This makes understanding easier for speakers of Romance languages.

For your daily life in Malta, Italian doesn't play a critical practical role, but it's a nice bonus. You'll hear it when older Maltese people chat or when a TV in a café is tuned to Rai Uno. But no government appointment, bank meeting, or doctor's visit requires Italian.

Maltese — A Unique Language

Maltese (Malti) is the mother tongue of the approximately 400,000 inhabitants of Malta and Gozo — and a true linguistic curiosity. It is the only Semitic language written in the Latin script and simultaneously the only Semitic official language of the European Union (European Youth Portal, EU Commission).

What does that mean in practice?

Maltese descends from Siculo-Arabic, an Arabic dialect that came to Malta with the Arab conquest around 1000 CE. Prof. Joseph M. Brincat, the leading expert on Maltese linguistics at the University of Malta, describes the development: Malta lost contact with Arabic native speakers in 1446, and from that point on, Maltese developed independently — with simplified grammar and increasing Romanisation through Italian and Sicilian influence (Brincat, "Maltese and other languages: A Linguistic History of Malta", 2011).

The result is a fascinating mix: Around 52% of the vocabulary is of Romance origin (mainly Italian and Sicilian), while around 48% is Semitic (Arabic) — yet the grammar remains fundamentally Semitic (University of Malta, Faculty of Linguistics). So if you hear an Arabic word and recognise an Italian word in the same sentence, that's classic Maltese.

The oldest known written text in Maltese is "Il-Kantilena" from the 15th century. Maltese was only officially recognised as an official language in 1934, when it replaced the previously dominant Italian alongside English. Since Malta joined the EU in 2004, Maltese has been one of the 24 official EU languages — with around 300 Maltese-speaking staff in the language services of EU institutions.

Can I be honest? In all my years in Malta, I haven't learned Maltese. Not because I'm not interested, but because it simply wasn't necessary. Still, the language has always fascinated me.

An interesting phenomenon in everyday life is code-switching: Maltese people often switch spontaneously between Maltese and English — sometimes mid-sentence. Research shows this is a "typical feature of bilingual communication" in Malta (Milroy & Muysken, 1995). So if you're sitting in a café and the conversation at the next table sounds partly Arabic, partly English, and partly Italian: that's Maltese in action.

Maltese Examples for Everyday Life

Special Letters in Maltese

Maltese uses a few special characters that don't exist in English. If you want to decipher street signs or menus, here are the most important ones:

• Ċ / ċ — pronounced like "ch" in "church" (Example: Ċirkewwa, the ferry port in the north)
• Ġ / ġ — pronounced like "j" in "job" (Example: Bonġu, Good morning)
• Ħ / ħ — a strongly aspirated "h" (Example: Saħħa, Cheers/Bye)
• Ż / ż — pronounced like "z" in "fuzz" (Example: żebbuġ, olive)
• Għ — usually silent or lengthens the vowel before it (Example: għażżiża, dear)

These five special characters make Maltese look unusual at first glance. In practice, you'll only really need them when typing an address into your sat-nav.

Support for English Speakers in Malta

Since English is an official language, you won't find yourself isolated in an "expat bubble" — the whole island is accessible to you. However, there is still a distinct and supportive community for English speakers.

• Expat Community: There are active expat groups in Malta, with regular meetups and social events. Whether you're from the UK, Ireland, the US, or elsewhere, you'll find a welcoming community.
• British High Commission: Malta maintains strong diplomatic ties with the UK. The British High Commission in Malta is located in Ta' Xbiex and supports British nationals living on the island.
• International Schools: If you have children, you have excellent options. While state schools teach in Maltese and English, there are several independent schools and international schools (like Verdala International School or St. Edward's College) that follow the British curriculum or the IB programme.
• Professional Services: At Dr. Werner & Partners, we specialise in advising international clients. Whether it's tax planning, company formation, or relocation, we handle everything in English. You don't need to worry about translating legal documents or navigating foreign bureaucracy alone.

Do I Need Maltese to Move to Malta?

No. If you want to live, work, or run a business in Malta permanently, English is all you need. Rental contracts, insurance policies, opening bank accounts, doctor visits — all of this happens in English.

The good news: You don't need to be a linguist. The Maltese are patient, speak clearly, and are used to communicating with non-Maltese speakers. After all, a significant part of the population consists of expats — around 20% of registered residents in Malta are foreign nationals (National Statistics Office Malta, 2024).

What Language is Used for Government Business?

English is fully sufficient. All government departments in Malta operate bilingually (Maltese and English). In practice, English often dominates because many official forms and websites are primarily accessed in English. I don't know of a single case in my entire time in Malta where a client or I faced a language barrier with a government agency.

Do I Need Maltese for the Malta ID Card?

No. The entire process at Identity Malta — from submitting documents online to email correspondence and the appointment on-site — runs in English. The application itself is an English form. You can find more about the ID card process and requirements in our Moving to Malta Guide.

In my experience, Identity Malta is one of the more professional agencies on the island when it comes to communication. The officers are used to working with EU citizens from all over the continent.

And Tax Returns?

Everything is in English. The Commissioner for Revenue (Malta's tax authority, cfr.gov.mt) works exclusively with English forms. If you run a Malta Limited, your annual tax return is submitted in English. The same applies to the financial statements that must be filed with the Malta Business Registry.

If you work with our firm, we handle the correspondence with the Maltese authorities for you. But rest assured, you will always be able to read and understand the documents you are signing.

Languages in Malta: Summary

For English-speaking expats, Malta is linguistically one of the easiest locations in Southern Europe. You don't need Maltese, you don't need Italian — English is enough for every aspect of life. The level of English among the population is outstanding, the entire administration functions in English, and specialized service providers are ready to help with tax and business matters.

If you are considering Malta not just as a place to live, but also as a business location, you benefit even more: The English-speaking business world makes Malta an attractive hub for international companies. Combined with the 5% effective tax rate of the Malta Limited, you get a package that is hard to beat in the EU.

Frequently Asked Questions about Languages in Malta