Learn Maltese: Family & People
omm
mother
from Arabic أم (umm)
missier
father
from Sicilian misseri
bint
daughter
from Arabic بنت (bint)
ibn
son
from Arabic ابن (ibn)
ħu
brother
from Arabic أخ (akh)
oħt
sister
from Arabic أخت (ukht)
kuġin
cousin (male)
from Sicilian/Italian cuscinu/cugino
kuġina
cousin (female)
from Sicilian/Italian cuscina/cugina
ziju
uncle
from Sicilian ziu
zija
aunt
from Sicilian zia
nannu
grandfather
from Sicilian nannu
nanna
grandmother
from Sicilian nanna
Despite being a Semitic language related to Arabic and Hebrew, Maltese has borrowed many terms from Sicilian to refer to family members. Some Arabic-derived terms for family members have fallen into disuse in Modern Maltese [1] [2] [3]:
ab/bu/abu (father)
għamm (paternal uncle)
għamma (paternal aunt)
ħal (maternal uncle)
ħala (maternal aunt)
ġidd (paternal grandfather)
Even some Romance-derived terms are no longer used [4]:
barba (maternal uncle)
ab/bu/abu (father)
għamm (paternal uncle)
għamma (paternal aunt)
ħal (maternal uncle)
ħala (maternal aunt)
ġidd (paternal grandfather)
Even some Romance-derived terms are no longer used [4]:
barba (maternal uncle)