il-lejl it-tajjeb
The English phrase "good night" is translated into Maltese as il-lejl it-tajjeb. If unsure, use il-lejl it-tajjeb. Wiktionary also lists bonswa.
Meaning: a farewell (phrase)
Ways to say it
| Maltese | IPA |
|---|---|
| il-lejl it-tajjeb | |
| bonswa | /ˈbɔn.swa/ |
il-lejl it-tajjeb is used specifically as a farewell when someone is going to sleep or leaving for the night.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase il-lejl it-tajjeb literally translates to "the night the good" due to the way Maltese adjectives and nouns interact with definite articles.
Which one should you use?
While il-lejl it-tajjeb is used when someone is going to sleep or leaving for the night, bonswa is a general greeting used for "good evening" upon arrival or during the evening.
How does it change in a sentence?
In the phrase il-lejl it-tajjeb, both the noun lejl and the adjective tajjeb must take their own definite articles (il- and it-) to function together.
Did you know?
- Maltese is a Semitic language that uses Romance-style greetings, creating a unique hybrid structure where one sentence might use Semitic grammar and the next uses a French loanword.
- The word lejl for 'night' is a direct cognate of the Arabic word 'layl', marking the Semitic heart of the Maltese phrase.
- The Maltese word bonswa is a direct linguistic relative of the French 'bonsoir', showing the historical influence of French culture on the Maltese language.
Example sentences for Maltese are not verified yet.
Example conversation
Justin and Maria are saying goodbye before going to bed.
- JustinGħejja ħafna, qed nmur nrinek.I'm very tired, I'm going to sleep.
- MariaUpu, anja wkoll!Oh, me too!
- JustinIl-lejl it-tajjeb, Maria.Good night, Maria.
- MariaIl-lejl it-tajjeb, Justin.Good night, Justin.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “good night” translations and entries bonswa, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries bonswa, CC BY-SA 4.0.
