How to pronounce Maltese
Say it like mawl-TEEZ. Maltese has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEZ).
Click the play button next to American or British to hear how to pronounce Maltese. Choose Slow to hear each sound clearly.
- mawl
- TEEZ
- Main stress
- Lighter stress
- Unstressed
Maltese pronunciation, sound by sound
Read the parts left to right, then blend them together without pausing.
- mawlKeep this part quick and light. The vowel is the "aw" in law.
- TEEZSay this part loudest and longest. The vowel is the "ee" in see.
American vs British pronunciation of Maltese
American and British speakers say Maltese in essentially the same way: /mɔlˈtiz/ in the US and /mɔːlˈtiːz/ in the UK.
British respelling: mawl-TEEZ.
What does Maltese mean?
- a native or inhabitant of Malta
- the national language of the Republic of Malta; a Semitic language derived from Arabic but with many loan words from Italian, Spanish, and Norman-French
- a term applied indiscriminately in the United States to any short-haired bluish-grey cat
- of or relating to the island or republic of Malta or its inhabitants“Maltese customs officers”
Words that rhyme with Maltese
Practicing rhymes is a quick way to lock in the vowel sound of Maltese.
Questions about saying Maltese
How do you pronounce Maltese?
Say mawl-TEEZ. The American pronunciation is /mɔlˈtiz/. In British English it is /mɔːlˈtiːz/. Press play above to hear it at normal speed or slowly.
How many syllables are in Maltese?
Maltese has two syllables, and the main stress falls on the second one (TEEZ). Broken into parts: mawl · TEEZ.
Do Americans and Brits say Maltese the same way?
Almost exactly. The American form is /mɔlˈtiz/ and the British form is /mɔːlˈtiːz/, so you can use either pronunciation with any listener.