adjective

Maltese

mol-TEEZ

Maltese (adjective) means relating to Malta, its people, or its language. Example: “They sampled traditional Maltese cuisine on their trip.”

adjective

Relating to Malta, its people, or its language.

"They sampled traditional Maltese cuisine on their trip."

noun

A small toy dog breed with a long, silky white coat.

"Her Maltese slept curled up on the sofa all day."

name

The Semitic language spoken in Malta.

"Maltese is unusual as the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet."

How to use Maltese

Learner’s notes

In plain EnglishCan mean "from Malta," the Maltese language, or the small white lapdog breed.

Word forms

Maltese plural, Malteses plural

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Etymology

From "Malta" plus the suffix "-ese," as in Chinese or Japanese.

Origin: Chinese

Rhymes for Maltese

ese obese Reese cheese Cleese Chinese Burmese diocese Siamese Japanese Sudanese Lebanese

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Frequently asked questions

What does “Maltese” mean?

The word “Maltese” means relating to Malta, its people, or its language. In plain terms, can mean "from Malta," the Maltese language, or the small white lapdog breed.

How do you pronounce “Maltese”?

“Maltese” is pronounced mol-TEEZ (/mɑlˈtiz/ in IPA).

How do you use “Maltese” in a sentence?

Here is “Maltese” used in a sentence: “They sampled traditional Maltese cuisine on their trip.”

What part of speech is “Maltese”?

Depending on how it is used, “Maltese” can be an adjective, a noun and a name.

Where does the word “Maltese” come from?

The word “Maltese” comes from Chinese. From "Malta" plus the suffix "-ese," as in Chinese or Japanese.

How many meanings does “Maltese” have?

“Maltese” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: relating to Malta, its people, or its language.

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Vocabulary lists that include Maltese:

Words with Chinese origins