ZQ-XUReply to a Birthday Party Invitation
Scenario: Mark accepts Anna's birthday invitation and asks whether he can help.
Full Email
Għażiża Anna,
Grazzi ħafna tal-istedina.
Iva, nixtieq niġi għall-festa nhar is-Sibt.
Se nkun hemm fis-sebgħa.
Nista' nġib xi ħaġa miegħi?
Nista' nġib kejk żgħir.
Għidli jekk għandek bżonn l-għajnuna.
Nistenna bil-ħerqa li narak.
Tiegħek, Mark
Sentence-by-Sentence Translation and Word Notes
Malti: Għażiża Anna,
Translation: Dear Anna,
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Għażiża | dear | Feminine singular form used to address a woman |
| Anna | Anna | Name |
1.
Malti: Grazzi ħafna tal-istedina.
Translation: Thank you very much for the invitation.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Grazzi | thank you | Polite expression |
| ħafna | very; a lot | Adverb of degree |
| tal-istedina | for the invitation; of the invitation | Contracted ta' + l-istedina |
2.
Malti: Iva, nixtieq niġi għall-festa nhar is-Sibt.
Translation: Yes, I would like to come to the party on Saturday.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Iva | yes; all right | Affirmative response |
| nixtieq | I would like; I want | Polite expression of a wish |
| niġi | I come | First-person singular form |
| għall-festa | to the party; for the party | Contracted għal + il-festa |
| nhar | on the day of | Introduces a weekday/date |
| is-Sibt | Saturday | Weekday with the definite article |
3.
Malti: Se nkun hemm fis-sebgħa.
Translation: I will be there at seven.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Se | will; going to | Future marker |
| nkun | I will be | First-person singular form |
| hemm | there; present | Place adverb |
| fis-sebgħa | at seven | Contracted f' + definite clock-hour form |
4.
Malti: Nista' nġib xi ħaġa miegħi?
Translation: Can I bring something with me?
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nista' | can I? | First-person singular form |
| nġib | I bring | First-person singular form |
| xi | some; a certain | Indefinite determiner |
| ħaġa | thing | Feminine noun |
| miegħi | with me; along with me | miegħ “with” + -i “me” |
5.
Malti: Nista' nġib kejk żgħir.
Translation: I can bring a small cake.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nista' | I can | First-person singular form |
| nġib | I bring | First-person singular form |
| kejk | cake | Masculine noun |
| żgħir | small | Masculine singular form agreeing with kejk |
6.
Malti: Għidli jekk għandek bżonn l-għajnuna.
Translation: Tell me if you need help.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Għidli | tell me | għid “tell” + -li “me” |
| jekk | if | Conjunction |
| għandek | you have | Second-person singular form of għand |
| bżonn | need | għandek bżonn means “you need” |
| l-għajnuna | the help; help | Feminine noun with the definite article |
7.
Malti: Nistenna bil-ħerqa li narak.
Translation: I look forward to seeing you.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Nistenna | I wait; I look forward | First-person singular form |
| bil-ħerqa | eagerly; with anticipation | Fixed adverbial phrase |
| li | to; introduces a clause | Conjunction |
| narak | I see you | nara “I see” + -k “you” |
Malti: Tiegħek, Mark
Translation: Yours, Mark.
| Maltese | English meaning | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Tiegħek | yours; sincerely | Email closing |
| Mark | Mark | Name |