A petition has recently been launched calling for Italian to be reintroduced as Malta’s third official language, and it’s already gaining attention online with 7,847 signatures already. Supporters argue that Italian isn’t just a language, but a living part of Maltese culture, history, and daily life, from school lessons to street signs and even family surnames.
The campaign encourages people to sign and share if they believe Malta should officially recognise the language that has been spoken here for centuries.
Malta has a long and complicated love affair with Italian. Once the official language of the island (thanks to the Knights of St. John from 1530), Italian ruled Maltese streets, schools, and government offices, until 1936, when the British swapped it out for Maltese and English to curb Italian influence.
Fast forward to today, and Italian is still very much alive on the islands. Around 41% of Maltese people speak it fluently, and according to other estimates, 86% can speak it at some level, whether it’s fluency, basics, or even as a native language. Public signs, restaurant menus, and even official celebrations like Sette Giugno still show the Italian influence loud and clear.
Even Malta’s very own President of the European Parliament, Roberta Metsola, recently reminded everyone just how ingrained Italian is in Maltese life.
In a video broadcast on the Italian Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ channels during the Week of the Italian Language in the World, she said:
“Italian has been spoken in Malta, my country, for centuries. The Italian language is the third most widespread language in Malta, and is spoken by more than half of Maltese citizens. The language we speak is the medium through which our culture, our history, our values, and our vision of the world are conveyed. Long live the Italian language, long live Italy, and long live Europe.”
Italian culture isn’t just in language, it’s in our surnames, our history, and our education. The Dante Alighieri Society runs courses for hundreds of students each year, Italian is taught in all 30 public schools, and the University of Malta even has an Italian Studies department. Online media isn’t left out either, with Corriere di Malta delivering news in Italian since 2017.
So, could Malta reintroduce Italian as a third official language? Technically, yes, Article 5 of the Constitution leaves the door open. And for those who feel passionately about it, petitions are circulating to make it happen.
Whether you’re a fluent speaker, a learner, or just love the cultural connection, one thing’s clear: Italian is woven into the very fabric of Malta, and maybe it’s time it got its official seat at the table again.
Do you think Italian should be added as an official language?
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Gabriel Falzon is the social media executive at Lovin Malta, with a keen interest in digital media, local businesses, and the natural world. Outside of work, you’ll often find him baking up a storm, diving into video games, or exploring the endless corners of YouTube.
