nsellimlek
In Maltese, 'hello' can be expressed as nsellimlek. Wiktionary also lists nsellmilkom and nsellmulek.
Meaning: greeting (intj)
Ways to say it
| Maltese | IPA |
|---|---|
| nsellimlek | |
| nsellmilkom | |
| nsellmulek | |
| nsellmulkom | |
| ħelow | /ˈħɛ.lɔw/ |
The primary way to say hello is through a verb construction that translates to 'I greet you'.
What does it mean word for word?
The form nsellimlek is a verb construction meaning 'I greet you'.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
The verb-based forms like nsellimlek are more formal and traditional than the informal loanword ħelow. Additionally, the word Merħba can be used as a formal greeting meaning 'Welcome' or 'Hello'.
How does it change in a sentence?
The form nsellimlek is used when addressing one person.
Did you know?
- Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, which gives its greetings a unique visual appearance compared to Arabic.
- The word ħelow is actually the Maltese way of saying 'sweet' or 'cute', which is used as a modern, slangy greeting similar to 'hello'.
- Because Maltese is Semitic, the root of the greeting nsellimlek is tied to the concept of 'peace', similar to the Arabic 'salaam'.
Examples in context
- Merħba fil-konferenzaWelcome to the conference
Example conversation
Elena and Justin meet for the first time at a cafe.
- ElenaNsellimlek, jien Elena.Hello, I am Elena.
- JustinNsellimlek, Elena. Jien Justin.Hello, Elena. I am Justin.
- ElenaTħobb il-kaffi?Do you like coffee?
- JustinIyeh, tħobb ukoll!Yes, I love it too!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “hello” translations and entries ħelow, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
