alla
/ˈal.la/masculine
The Maltese word for god is alla.
alla is a masculine noun used to refer to a deity.
Meaning: deity (noun)
Which one should you use?
The lowercase alla refers generally to a deity, while the capitalized Alla is used as a name to refer specifically to the single deity of monotheism or the single male deity of duotheism.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈal.la/. It has two syllables, and the stress is on the first syllable.
Did you know?
- Maltese is a unique case where a predominantly Roman Catholic population uses a word derived from Arabic to refer to the Christian God in daily prayer and speech.
- In Maltese, Alla is frequently used in everyday idioms to express shock or distress, functioning similarly to the English phrase 'Oh my God' even by non-religious speakers.
- While Alla is the word for 'God', the word for 'religion' in Maltese can be reliġjon, showing the deep Latin influence on the language's spiritual vocabulary.
Examples in context
- Fil-bidu Alla ħalaq is-sema u l-art.In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.This sentence is useful for showing how to use alla in a creation context.Tatoeba #7745934 by abadf, translation #1103202 by supplementfacts
- Il-Musulman it-tajjeb jipprova jogħġob lil Alla, mhux lin-nies.A good Muslim tries to please God, not people.This sentence is useful for showing how to use alla in a religious context regarding pleasing God.Tatoeba #11655579 by Amastan, translation #11352420 by Amastan
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Kurt and Elena are talking about their hopes for the future.
- KurtSfid kbir, imma nistammu f'Alla.It is a big challenge, but we trust in God.
- ElenaIyeh, Alla huwa magħna dejjem.Yes, God is always with us.
- KurtSestu, Kurt, it-tali huwa l-uniku.Truly, Kurt, He is the only one.
- ElenaSinu l-aktar sabiħ minn kull ma nimmagginaw.He is more beautiful than anything we imagine.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “god” translations and entries alla, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
