After learning "to be," the next most essential verb is "to have." In Maltese, `għandi` is used not just for possession, but also for many common expressions about feelings and states of being.
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
The verb `għandi` conjugates by changing its ending for each person. Notice how the `għ` at the beginning is silent and affects the vowel sound.
| Pronoun | Conjugation | Phonetic Guide | Translation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jien (I) | għandi | (AN-dee) | I have |
| Int (You, sing.) | għandek | (AN-dek) | You have |
| Huwa (He) | għandu | (AN-doo) | He has |
| Hija (She) | għandha | (AN-da) | She has |
| Aħna (We) | għandna | (AN-dna) | We have |
| Intom (You, pl.) | għandkom | (AND-kom) | You have |
| Huma (They) | għandhom | (AND-hom) | They have |
The most direct use is to say you possess something. The structure is simple: `Subject + għandi (conjugated) + object`.
This is a very important concept. In English, we say "I **am** hungry," but in Maltese, you say "I **have** hunger." You use `għandi` for many feelings and states.
| Maltese Phrase | Literal Meaning | Actual Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| Għandi l-ġuħ (AN-dee il-jooh) | I have the hunger. | I am hungry. |
| Għandi l-għatx (AN-dee l-aatch) | I have the thirst. | I am thirsty. |
| Għandi s-sħana (AN-dee is-SA-na) | I have the heat. | I am hot. |
| Għandi l-bard (AN-dee il-bart) | I have the cold. | I am cold. |
| Għandi bżonn... (AN-dee bzonn) | I have need... | I need... |
| Għandi ... snin. (AN-dee ... sneen) | I have ... years. | I am ... years old. |
Example: To say "He is 20 years old," you would say: `Huwa għandu għoxrin sena.` (OO-wa AN-doo osh-REEN SEN-a.) (He has twenty years.)
Master the verb `għandi` and its many uses.
Import Chapter 6 Flashcards(Requires login to import/study)
Match the subject pronoun to the correct form of `għandi`.
Jien ( ) għandu
Hija ( ) għandhom
Huma ( ) għandi
Huwa ( ) għandna
Aħna ( ) għandhaJien → għandi
Hija → għandha
Huma → għandhom
Huwa → għandu
Aħna → għandnaTranslate the following English sentences into Maltese.
The use of `għandi` for physical states (like being hungry or cold) reveals a different worldview embedded in the language. Instead of *being* the state, you *possess* it. This Semitic structure is a core part of what makes Maltese distinct from the purely Romance languages like Italian.
This concept extends to social interactions. A common way to ask "Do you need anything?" is `Għandek bżonn xi ħaġa?`, which literally means "Do you have a need of something?". It’s a very common phrase in shops and among friends, reflecting the helpful and hospitable nature of Maltese culture. Understanding that you "have" a need, rather than just "needing," can help you form sentences more naturally.
Let's read a short story using the different forms of `għandi`.
Jien jisimni Pawlu u għandi għaxar snin. (Yen yis-IM-nee PAW-loo oo AN-dee ASH-ar sneen.)
Oħti, Marija, għandha tmien snin. (OH-tee, Ma-REE-ya, AN-da tmeen sneen.)
Aħna ninsabu fil-kċina. Jien għandi l-ġuħ. (AH-na nin-SA-boo fil-KCHEE-na. Yen AN-dee il-jooh.)
"Marija, għandek il-ġuħ int ukoll?" nistaqsi jien. (Ma-REE-ya, AN-dek il-jooh int oo-KOLL? nis-TA'-si yen.)
"Le," tgħid hi. "Imma għandi l-għatx. Għandna xi ħaġa x'nixorbu?" (Le, taid ee. IM-ma AN-dee l-aatch. AND-na shi HA-ja shnish-OR-boo?)
Il-kelb tagħna, Rex, għandu ġugarell. Huwa kuntent. (il-KELP TAH-na, Rex, AN-doo joo-ga-RELL. OO-wa kun-TENT.)
My name is Pawlu and I am ten years old.
My sister, Marija, is eight years old.
We are in the kitchen. I am hungry.
"Marija, are you hungry too?" I ask.
"No," she says. "But I am thirsty. Do we have anything to drink?"
Our dog, Rex, has a toy. He is happy.
The verb `għandi` is used for possession (`I have a car`) and for idiomatic states (`I am hungry`, `I am ... years old`).
għandi, għandek, għandu, għandha, għandna, għandkom, għandhom.
Prosit! With `kien` and `għandi`, you now know two of the most important verbs in Maltese. In the next chapter, we will learn how to ask simple questions using words like "Min?" (Who?), "Xiex?" (What?), and "Fejn?" (Where?), allowing you to gather information and make your conversations more interactive.