The Particles (Il-Partiċeli)

The Particles are small words, frequently used in the  Maltese language, that show a relation between words,phrases and sentences.

Some of the most used particles are:

ma'      (with)
ta'         (of)

                     sa'         (until/as far as)

ġo         (in)

bi          (with)

fi           (in)

lil          (to)

bħal     (like)

għal      (from)

           xi          (some,any)

              minn    (by, from,than)

Some the particles take the article:

ma'     +     l-     =     mal-	with the
ta'     +     l-     =     tal-	of the
sa      +     l-      =     sal-	until the/far as the
ġo     +     l-      =     ġol-	in the
bi     +     l-     =     bil-	with the
fi     +     l-     =     fil-	in the
lil     +     l-     =     lill-	to the
bħal     +     l-     =     bħal-	like the
għal     +     l-      =     għal-	for the
minn     +     l-     =     mill-	from the

As we know already, the article assimilates with the sun consonants  

(ċ, d, n, r, s, t, x, ż, z). 

The same happens with the particles when they take the definite article and the following word starts with a sun consonant.

fil        ->     fix-xemx

ġol        ->     ġos-sodda

lil        ->     lix-xadin

       bħal     ->     bħaż - żunżan

għal     ->     għad-dar

Some of the particles can be shortened.

1. Particles bi and fi are shortened as b' and f' in front of words

- starting with one consonant or

- words that start with a vowel, għ or h:

f' dar kbira (in a big house)

b' ajruplan kbir (with a big airplane)

2. The particles sa, ma' and ta' can also be shortened 

in front of words starting with a vowel, għ or h

 (but its not compulsory):

ma' ommi     or     m'ommi

(with my mother)

sa Għawdex     or     s' Għawdex

(as far as Gozo)

ta' Anna     or     t'Anna

(belonging to Anna)