Part 2 🌍How Arabic Shaped the Maltese Language 🌍 Once upon a time, in the 9th century, Arabs sailed into Malta. ⛵🏝️ They ruled the island for over 200 years, and during that time, their language—Siculo-Arabic (the Arabic spoken in Sicily and North Africa)—became the tongue of the locals. Even after the Arabs left, the language stayed. Maltese people kept speaking it, but as centuries passed, new rulers arrived—Normans, Italians, French, and the British. Each left a mark: Italian added food & daily life words, English added modern terms. But the foundation remained Arabic. 💪✨ That’s why today: • Everyday Maltese sentences sound so Arabic, just with a twist. • Grammar structure is Semitic, same as Arabic. • Core vocabulary is still 60–70% Arabic. Examples: • Tifel 👦 → “boy” (طفل) • Tifla 👧 → “girl” (طفلة) • Kelb 🐕 → “dog” (كلب) • Baħar 🌊 → “sea” (بحر) • Xemx ☀️ → “sun” (شمس) So Maltese isn’t just influenced by Arabic—Maltese is Arabic at its heart, dressed up with Italian style and English modernity.