le
/lɛː/
The English word "no" is translated into Maltese as le.
le is a particle used to express disagreement or negation.
Meaning: used to show disagreement or negation (particle)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
le is a particle used for negation and cannot be used as a noun meaning "nothing".
How do you pronounce it?
/lɛː/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Do not use le as a noun to mean "nothing". Instead, use the related forms xejn or ebda for "not any".
Did you know?
- Maltese speakers sometimes use le in a rhetorical way that functions more like 'really?' or 'is that so?' depending on the rising intonation.
- The word le is a linguistic bridge between two major language families, as it is cognate with both the Arabic lā and the Hebrew lō.
- In Maltese, a common way to emphasize a 'no' is to repeat the word as le, le, which adds a layer of insistence or emotional weight to the refusal.
Examples in context
- Kieku kien għalina, konna ngħidu le.If it were up to us, we'd say no.This sentence shows the use of le in a conditional context.Tatoeba #2321882 by scutajar, translation #1897677 by CK
- Le, grazzi.No, thank you.This sentence shows how to use le to politely decline something.Tatoeba #1387556 by enteka, translation #31390 by CK
- B'kundizzjonijiet.Under conditions.
- Tgħallimna diversi tekniki tat-trasferiment tan-nar.Teach us different fire transfer techniques.
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Elena asks Paul if he wants more coffee.
- ElenaTrid aktar kafè, Paul?Do you want more coffee, Paul?
- PaulLe, jbżaġħni.No, it makes me nervous.
- ElenaTrid ilma invece?Do you want water instead?
- PaulIva, jekk rak.Yes, please.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “no” translations and entries le, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries le, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
