Qormi Dialect

One of the dialects found in the Maltese language is the Qormi Dialect (in general Maltese termed as "Qormi" and by the speakers as "Qurmi", and affectionately as "it-Tuf", and standard Maltese is called "it-Taf". Literally, "Taf" is the Maltese word for "you know"). This dialect is used by many of the Qormi inhabitants and in other settlements around this city, that consists of around twenty-thousand people. The most distinctive feature of the Qormi dialect lies in its treatment of vowels.

Although there is no strict rule, generally the vowels in the dialect take the following forms. Vowels of first syllabes are the ones most affected, but sometimes medial vowels are changed as well. Final vowels, on the other hand, are usually identical to those of the Standard language.

The Vocal 'A'

The vocal 'A' changes into the vocals 'U'. If in the end, it becomes an 'O'.

The Vocal 'O'

The vocal 'O' in the Qormi dialect is also changed into 'U'. Example:

This form happens to roughly all of the words that have the vowel ' O ' in the first syllabe, although there may be exceptions.

Vowels after the Għ

The vowels after the 'Għ' change their sound as well.
*The syllabe "Għi", instead of an 'AJ' sound, takes an "EJ" sound. Example: "Għid il-Kbir" (Easter) would be pronounced as "ejd il-kbir" instead of "ajd il-kbir"
*The syllabe "Għe", instead of an 'E' sound, takes an 'A' sound. Example: "Qiegħed" (to stay) would be pronounced as "qijad" instead of "qijed".
*The syllabe "Għu", instead of an 'OW' sound, takes an 'EW' sound. Example: "Għuda" (piece of wood) would be pronounced as "ewda" instead of "owda".

Exceptions

Although there may be exceptions, such as "Kollha" (all of it) would be pronounced as "Killha", "Meta" (when) as "Mita", etc. one must note that the vowels are never lengthened, and their accent remains as the normal Maltese one.