Article · Wikipedia archive · Last revised Jul 28, 2026

Għarb dialect

The Għarb dialect is a critically endangered dialect of Maltese spoken in Għarb, Gozo Region, Malta.

Last revised
Jul 28, 2026
Read time
≈ 1 min
Length
282 w
Citations
8
Source
Wikipedia ↗
Għarb dialect
RegionGħarb
Native speakers
A handful
Early form
Old Maltese
Maltese alphabet
Language codes
ISO 639-3–
Glottologzurr1238
Għarb in Malta

The Għarb dialect is a critically endangered dialect of Maltese spoken in Għarb, Gozo Region, Malta.2

Features

One of the dialect's most distinctive features is how għ (referred to as għajn) is also pronounced as r, for example "dgħajsa" (boat), is pronounced as drajsa.3 it is also known for being a very archaic dialect reminiscent of Old Maltese.456

Example

Għarb7 IPA transcription7
It-tila ma tobrom xejn, punt wara punt, u din tobrom allura tiġi, tiġi turnetta jgħidulha, inkella mbagħad tal wara tista’ tgħallimha taħdim it-testa, dit-testa tkun, turnetta u mat-turnetta taħdim ċumbatur… fit-tarf. Ċumbatur tiġi, ċumbatur jiġi tahamżu fit-tarf fil-labra u jiġi testa, ngħidu aħna żgħar. ɪtˈtiːlɐ mɐ ˈtʊbrʊm ʃɛjn pʊnt wɐrɐ pʊnt ʊ dɪn ˈtʊbrʊm ɐlˈluːrɐ ˈtɪʤɪ ˈtɪʤɪ tʊrˈnɛttɐ jɛˈduːlɐ ɪnˈkɛllɐ ˈɪmbɐːd tɐl ˈwɐrɐ ˈtɪstɐ tɐlˈlɪmɐ ˈtɐhdɪm ɪtˈtɛstɐ dɪtˈtɛstɐ tkuːn tʊrˈnɛttɐ ʊ mɐt tʊrˈnɛttɐ ˈtɐhdɪm ʧʊmbɐˈtuːr fɪt tɐrf ʧʊmbɐˈtuːr ˈtɪʤɪ ʧʊmbɐˈtuːr ˈjɪʤɪ tɐˈhɐmzʊ fɪt tɐrf fɪl ˈlɐbrɐ ʊ ˈjɪʤɪ ˈtɛstɐ ˈnɐjdʊ ˈɐhnɐ zɐːr
References

References

  1. Martine Vanhove, « De quelques traits prehilaliens en maltais », in: Peuplement et arabisation au Maghreb cccidental : dialectologie et histoire, Casa Velazquez - Universidad de Zaragoza (1998), pp.97-108
  2. Antoinette Camilleri Grima (2020-06-08). "The Vitality of Maltese Dialects in Gozo" (PDF). The Gozo Observer. 41: 8–18. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  3. Vella, Sasha (2021-12-12). "Il-Malti: A Glimpse Into The Fading World Of Gozitan Dialects". Lovin Malta. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  4. "L-Għarb". Visit Gozo. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  5. "About Għarb". gharbnet.com. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  6. "Spotlight on: Għarb, Gozo". Oh My Malta (in French). 2021-11-03. Retrieved 2025-01-02.
  7. "Djaletti - Isma'". Malti (in English and Maltese). Department of Maltese at the University of Malta. Retrieved 14 July 2024.