International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA) for Maltese language, according to the articles:
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_language Maltese language (en.wiki)].
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_alphabet Maltese alphabet (en.wiki)].
===Vowels===
==== Short vowels ====
*All vowels at the end of a word are short and unstressed.
*All vowels are short when they are stressed and are followed by more than one consonant.
*{{IPA|/ɐ/}} written ''a''
*{{IPA|/ɛ/}}, written ''e'' (ex: dell)
*{{IPA|/ɔ/}}, written ''o'' (ex: bott)
*{{IPA|/ʊ/}}, written ''u'' (ex: pulptu) as in the English word ''full''
*{{IPA|/ɪ/}}, written ''i'' (ex: fitt) as in the English word ''bit'', ''fit''
==== Long vowels ====
*All vowels are long (when they are stressed) and are followed by one consonant, or when they are after ''għ''.
*{{IPA|/ɐː/}}, written ''a'' (ex: mgħamudija): ma:mu'dija
*{{IPA|/ɛː/}}, written ''e'' (ex: ġelu, għeri)
*{{IPA|/ɔː/}}, written ''o'' (ex: sod)
*{{IPA|/ʊː/}}, written ''u'' (ex: hut)
*{{IPA|/iː/}}, written ''i'' (ex: ilu) as in the English word ''jeep''
*1. {{IPA|/ɪː/}}, written ''ie'' (ex: grieg)
*2. {{IPA|/iɛ/}} written ''ie'' (ex: [[tlieta]] {{IPA|/ˈtliɛtɐ/}}): no syllabation (there is one vowel "ie", not "i" and "e") żmien {{IPA|/ˈzmiɛn/}}
==== Diphtongs ====
*''aj'' {{IPA|/ɐɪ/}} ([[għajnuna]]) - {{IPA|/ɐʲ/|/ɐj/}} ([[tajba]])
*''aw'' {{IPA|/ɐʊ/}}
*''ej'' {{IPA|/ɛɪ/}} - {{IPA|/ɛʲ/|/ɛj/}} ([[fejn]])
*''ew'' {{IPA|/ɛʊ/}}
*''iw'' {{IPA|/ɪʊ/}}
*''oj'' {{IPA|/ɔɪ/}}
*''ow'' {{IPA|/ɔʊ/}}
*''għi'' {{IPA|/ɐˤɪ/}}
*''għi'' {{IPA|/ɛɪ/}}
*''għu'' {{IPA|/ɐʊ/}}
*''għu'' {{IPA|/ɔˤʊ/}}
Below is the Maltese alphabet, with [[Alfabet Fonetiku Internazzjonali|IPA]] symbols and approximate English pronunciation:
{|class="wikitable" cellpadding="3"
!Letter !! Name !! Maltese example !! IPA !! Approximate English pronunciation
|-
|''' A a'''||a || anġlu (angel)||{{IPA|ɐ}}||similar to 'u' in n'''u'''t in ([[Received Pronunciation|RP]]: /nʌt/) or to 'a' in f'''a'''ther (/ˈfɑː.ðə(ɹ)/)
|-
|''' B b '''|| be || ballun (ball)||{{IPA|b}}||'''b'''ar, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[p]}} as in "qalb" (qalp), it happens also before consonant as in "btieħi" (ptieħi).
|-
|''' Ċ ċ '''|| ċe || ċavetta (key)||{{IPA|t͡ʃ}}||'''ch'''urch (note: undotted 'c' has been replaced by 'k', so when 'c' does appear, it is to be spoken the same way as 'ċ')
|-
|''' D d '''||de || dar (home)||{{IPA|d}}||'''d'''ay, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[t]}} as in "ħadid" (ħadit)
|-
|''' E e '''|| e || envelopp (envelope)||{{IPA|ɛ}}||'''e'''nd
|-
|''' F f '''|| effe || fjura (flower)||{{IPA|f}}||'''f'''ar
|-
|''' Ġ ġ '''|| ġe || ġelat (ice-cream)||{{IPA|d͡ʒ}}||'''g'''em, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[tʃ]}} as in "tieġ" (tieċ), it happens also before consonant as in "ħriġt" (ħriċt).
|-
|''' G g '''||ge || gallettina (biscuit)|| {{IPA|ɡ}}||'''g'''ame, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[k]}}.
|-
|''' GĦ għ '''||[[ayin|ajn]] ||għasfur (bird)||
*{{IPA|ˤː}}
*{{IPA|ħː}}
||
*Mute
*When found at the end of a word or immediately before 'h' it has the sound of a 'ħ' (see smigħ and magħhom).
|-
|''' H h '''|| akka || hu (he)|| ||not pronounced unless it is at the end of a word, in which case it has the sound of 'ħ'.
|-
|''' Ħ ħ '''|| ħe || ħanut (shop)||{{IPA|ħ}}||no English equivalent; sounds similar to {{IPA|/h/}} but is articulated with a lowered [[larynx]].
|-
|''' I i '''||i || ikel (food)||{{IPA|ɪ}}||b'''i'''t
|-
|''' IE ie '''|| ie || ieqaf (stop)||{{IPA|iɛ}}, {{IPA|iː}}||no English equivalent; sounds similar to {{IPA|/i/}}, as in y'''ie'''ld, but opened up slightly towards towards {{IPA|/ɛ/}}
|-
|''' J j '''||je || jum (day)||{{IPA|j}}||'''y'''ard
|-
|''' K k '''|| ke || kelb (dog)||{{IPA|k}}||'''k'''ettle
|-
|''' L l '''|| elle || libsa (dress)||{{IPA|l}}||'''l'''ine
|-
|''' M m '''|| emme || mara (woman) || {{IPA|m}} || '''m'''arch
|-
|''' N n '''|| enne || nanna (granny)||{{IPA|n}}||'''n'''ext
|-
|''' O o '''||o || ors (bear)||{{IPA|ɔ}}||like 'aw' in l'''aw''', but shorter.
|-
|''' P p '''||pe || paġna (page, sheet)||{{IPA|p}}||'''p'''art
|-
|''' Q q '''||qe || qattus (cat)||{{IPA|ʔ}}||glottal stop, found in the Cockney English pronunciation of "bo'''tt'''le" or the phrase "uh-oh" /ʔʌʔoʊ/.
|-
|''' R r '''||erre ||re (king)||{{IPA|r}}||'''r'''oad
|-
|''' S s '''||esse || [[sliem]] (peace)||{{IPA|s}}||'''s'''and
|-
|''' T t '''||te || tieqa (window)||{{IPA|t}}||'''t'''ired
|-
|''' U u '''||u || uviera (egg-cup)||{{IPA|ʊ}}||p'''u'''t
|-
|''' V v '''||ve || vjola (violet)||{{IPA|v}}||'''v'''ast, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[f]}}.
|-
|''' W w '''||we || widna (ear)||{{IPA|w}}||'''w'''est
|-
|''' X x '''||exxe || xadina (monkey)||{{IPA|ʃ / ʒ}}||'''sh'''ade, sometimes as mea'''s'''ure; when doubled the sound is elongated, as in "Ca'''sh sh'''in" vs. "Ca'''sh''' in."
|-
|''' Z z '''||ze || zalza (sauce)||{{IPA|t͡s / d͡z}}||pi'''zz'''a
|-
|''' Ż ż '''||że || żraben (shoes)||{{IPA|z}}||ma'''z'''e, but at the end of a word it is devoiced to {{IPA|[s]}} as in "franċiż" (franċis), it happens also before consonant as in "sbieħ" (żbieħ).
|}
== Stress rule ==
==== Vowels at the end ====
abbat'''i'''ja, abbrevjazzj'''o'''ni, kap'''a'''ċi, '''sa'''ta (èssiri capaci), abb'''u'''ża (abbusari)
==== Consonants at the end ====
*h: stk'''e'''rrah
*q: t'''e'''laq (abbannunari)
*r: h'''a'''ssar (abbuliri), ims'''ie'''fer
*s: n'''ie'''qes (assenti), abb'''i'''ss
== Sources ==
*[http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maltese_language Maltese language (en.wiki)]
*[http://www.aboutmalta.com/language/maltesegrammar.htm Alphabet and sounds]
*[http://aboutmalta.com/language/engmal.htm General rules governing the length of vowels]
*[http://www.omniglot.com/writing/maltese.htm Maltese pronunciation, Maltese alphabet]
*[http://www.maltesering.com/maltese_language.asp Approximate English pronunciation]
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