OED Recognises Maltese Influence on English with Support from University Linguists

English continues to grow as a global lingua franca, spoken by around 1.5 billion people worldwide, with approximately 25% of speakers using it as their native language.

As English evolves, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) plays a central role in documenting not only new vocabulary, but also the linguistic influences that have shaped the language through centuries of contact with other languages.

In a recent update, the OED has formally acknowledged Maltese as one of the languages that has contributed to English vocabulary, reflecting Malta’s long-standing historical and linguistic ties with Britain.

The update includes several words of clear Maltese origin that are now recognised as being used in English contexts: aljotta, bigilla, and pastizz/pastizzi. In addition, the dictionary now features a short description of what is widely referred to as Maltese English.

This recognition follows a consultation process with linguists from the University’s Institute of Linguistics and Language Technology (ILLT). At the request of OED lexicographers, Dr Sarah Grech and Professor Alexandra Vella reviewed the proposed entries, advising on pronunciation, usage, and linguistic context prior to their inclusion in the dictionary.

Commenting on the collaboration, Dr Grech noted that the inclusion “acknowledges the everyday linguistic realities of Maltese speakers and the ways in which local language practices can travel beyond national boundaries.”

Professor Vella added that the entries “highlight the importance of scholarly input in documenting language contact and ensuring that smaller languages and language varieties such as Maltese are accurately represented in global reference works.”

While many speakers may be familiar with other Maltese-derived words used in (Maltese) English in more localised or informal English settings, these entries represent some of the more recognisably Maltese contributions to English. Their inclusion underscores the growing international visibility of Maltese, including through Maltese English.