kiel
/kɪːl/
The English verb "eat" translates to Maltese as kiel.
kiel is used to describe the action of eating a meal.
Meaning: eat a meal (verb)
How does it change in a sentence?
When addressing one person informally, the second person singular form tiekol is used to mean "you eat".
How do you pronounce it?
/kɪːl/
Did you know?
- Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, meaning the word kiel uses a script more familiar to English speakers than its Arabic relative ʔakala.
- Maltese culture places a high value on hospitality, and it is common for a host to insist you kiel even if you have already eaten.
- Because Maltese is a Semitic language, the root of kiel functions like a mathematical formula where consonants stay the same but vowels change to create new related words.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry kiel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
