How to Say “Good Afternoon” in Maltese

By Derek Declan • Updated October 1, 2026

Wara nofsinhar it-tajjeb

Wara nofsinhar it-tajjeb is the Maltese way to say good afternoon.

This phrase is used as a greeting during the afternoon hours.

Meaning: greeting said in the afternoon (phrase)

Did you know?

Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, meaning this phrase looks more like an Italian or English sentence than an Arabic one.
The word wara in this greeting literally means 'behind', which provides a unique way of conceptualizing time as being 'behind' the midday point.
The word nofsinhar breaks down into nofs, meaning 'half', and nhar, meaning 'day'.

Example conversation

Justin and Elena meet at a cafe in the afternoon.

Justin

Wara nofsinhar it-tajjeb, Elena!
Good afternoon, Elena!
Elena

Grazzi, Justin! Int kif dejjel?
Thanks, Justin! How are you?
Justin

Tajjeb, grazzi ħafna.
Good, thank you very much.
Elena

Il-ġurnata qed tkun sbieħ.
The day is being beautiful.

Sources

Word origins: Wiktionary entries nofsinhar, wara, CC BY-SA 4.0.

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About The Author

Derek Declan

مرحبًا (Hello), I am Derek. As a lover of languages and cultures, I have an unstoppable passion for the Arabic culture and language. My wanderlust often takes me on journeys across the Arab world. Also, a self-proclaimed foodie, unleashing my culinary skills to recreate traditional dishes like hummus and bread, is my favourite pastime. My interest in Arabic also led me to Maltese, its Mediterranean relative written in Latin letters, and I now write guides on Maltese too. My interest in Arabic is not merely linguistic, but I indulge in breaking down societal norms and cultural subtleties.

Derek DeclanHelp make this guide better. Spot a mistake, know another way to say it, or have an example from real life? Share it below.

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