Ħelow, kif int?
Ħelow, kif int? is the Maltese way to say 'hi, how are you?'
This phrase is a common greeting used to say hello and ask about someone's well-being.
Did you know?
- Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, which gives the greeting a completely different visual appearance than Arabic.
- In traditional Maltese culture, a greeting like kif int? is often the start of a longer social ritual where the speaker and listener exchange several reciprocal inquiries about family and health.
- Although it sounds like a greeting, the word ħelow is actually a direct loanword from the English 'hello'.
