Numbers and Numeral Grammar ​

1. Numbers from 0 to 20 ​

2. Tens and Larger Numbers ​

3. Compound Numbers ​

A common pattern for 21–99 is “unit + u + ten.” Here u means “and”: ħamsa u għoxrin (25). Hundreds and thousands have their own forms, so do not apply this pattern mechanically to every number.

• 21: wieħed u għoxrin
• 22: tnejn u għoxrin
• 35: ħamsa u tletin
• 48: tmienja u erbgħin
• 99: disgħa u disgħin

Common forms for hundreds and thousands include mija (one hundred, when stated on its own), mitt (one hundred before a noun), mitejn (two hundred), tliet mija (three hundred), elf (one thousand), elfejn (two thousand), and tlitt elef (three thousand). Short and long numeral forms may occur in context; forms used for dates, time, and counting are not always interchangeable.

4. Gender and Numeral Forms ​

• wieħed is commonly associated with masculine nouns and waħda with feminine nouns: raġel wieħed (one man), dar waħda (one house).
• Numerals may contract or take special forms when used with nouns, such as żewġt iklieb (two dogs) and żewġt itfal (two children). Do not assume every numeral can simply be placed before a noun unchanged.
• Forms for 2–10 follow historical patterns involving noun number and gender. Learn common combinations as phrases; the forms here are standalone numerals for beginners.

Tip: tlieta is the standalone form for “three,” as in Wieħed, tnejn, tlieta (one, two, three). Before nouns, the modifying form is usually tliet: tliet sigħat (three hours), tliet ġimgħat (three weeks). jiem (days) is an exception: use tlett ijiem (three days). Do not use standalone tlieta directly before these nouns.

5. Ordinal Numbers ​

Ordinal numbers express position (“which one in order”). Common forms usually take the definite article and precede the noun, as in l-ewwel jum (the first day) and it-tieni darba (the second time).

These forms are a beginner reference. With a noun, the definite article is generally retained; learn the whole phrase together.

Fractions and decimals depend on the mathematical, monetary, or measurement context. When shopping, beginners can write the number or ask the other person to repeat it if unsure.

6. Prices and Quantities ​

• Kemm jiswa dan?: How much is this? (masculine noun)
• Kemm tiswa din?: How much is this? (feminine noun)
• Żewġ kafejiet, jekk jogħġbok.: Two coffees, please. (The plural of kafè varies by usage; this is a common expression.)
• Għandi tliet kotba.: I have three books.

Numeral-noun combinations are not entirely regular. Learn common combinations as units and check an unfamiliar plural in a dictionary.

7. Ten Examples of Large Numbers ​

These examples use common counting forms. mija is used alone or in compound numbers; mitt is the form used before a noun.

8. References ​

• Omniglot: Maltese numbers
• Wiktionary: mija
• Wiktionary: ewwel