Why Malta is the only European nation with a historically Semitic national language

Countries & Cities · Published 3 October 2026 Swipe more like this →

In short: Malta is a linguistic crossroads where a Semitic tongue thrives alongside European influences. While Maltese serves as the national language, its vocabulary is heavily shaped by Sicilian and Italian, reflecting centuries of Mediterranean exchange. This unique blend persists today, even as English remains a dominant force in education and government.

Maltese is a Semitic language derived from Siculo-Arabic, yet it holds a unique position in Europe. Linguist May Butcher notes that over half of its vocabulary originates from Latin, specifically through Sicilian and Italian influence. This linguistic character is preserved in a modified Latin alphabet that incorporates distinct graphemes such as ż, ċ, ġ, ħ, and għ. Despite its Semitic roots, the language has absorbed centuries of contact with various ruling powers, including the French and British.

The role of Italian in Malta has shifted dramatically over time. Once the official language of culture and administration, Italian was central to a fierce political debate known as the Language Question during the 19th and 20th centuries. Tensions peaked in 1933 when the constitution was suspended following a dispute over funding for Italian instruction in elementary schools. Although Italian is no longer an official language, its presence remains strong; roughly 66 percent of the population speaks it today, largely due to the reach of Italian media broadcasts.

English became an official language following Malta's long history as a British possession, culminating in independence in 1964. Today, it is the primary language for secondary and tertiary education and government business. While 88 percent of the population reports speaking English, only about 10 percent use it as a first language. This environment has fostered a mixed dialect known as Maltenglish, characterized by code-switching and the influence of Maltese and Italian phonology, though Received Pronunciation remains the standard for many in higher socioeconomic brackets.

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