il-lejl it-tajjeb
The phrase "have a good night" in Maltese is il-lejl it-tajjeb.
il-lejl it-tajjeb is used to wish someone a pleasant night as a parting greeting. While it can be used as a parting greeting, it is most commonly used when someone is actually going to sleep or at the end of the evening.
Did you know?
- The definite article il in il-lejl changes its sound depending on whether the following letter is a 'sun letter' or 'moon letter', a trait inherited from Arabic grammar.
- In some traditional households, a good night's wish is accompanied by a sign of the cross, blending the Semitic language with the island's strong Catholic heritage.
- The word tajjeb is also used in Maltese to describe food that is 'tasty', making the phrase literally 'the tasty night' if translated too strictly.
Example conversation
Maria and Andre are saying goodbye after dinner.
- MariaGrazzi għaċ-ċena, Andre.Thanks for the dinner, Andre.
- AndreM'għandek x'tgħid, Maria.You're welcome, Maria.
- MariaIl-lejl it-tajjeb!Have a good night!
- AndreIntu wkifaq, saħħa!You too, bye!
