The humble pastizz has officially earned its place in one of the world’s most authoritative language references. The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) has added the word in its latest update, along with three other entries linked to Malta: “aljotta”, “bigilla”, and the term “Maltese English” itself.
According to the OED, pastizz was first recorded in English in 1910 and refers to the iconic Maltese savoury pastry, usually filled with ricotta or curried peas.
While deeply associated with Malta, the dictionary notes that both the food and the word have travelled internationally, reflecting the Maltese diaspora in countries like Australia and Canada.
The term originates from an 18th-century Maltese word, likely derived from Italian pasticcio or Sicilian pastizzu, both meaning “pie.”
The other additions highlight Malta’s culinary and linguistic heritage. “Aljotta”, first recorded in English in 1970, is a traditional Maltese fish soup with Sicilian roots.
Bigilla, noted in English in 1998, is a broad bean dip with origins tracing back to Ottoman Turkish or Arabic words.
Meanwhile, Maltese English is defined as the variety of English influenced by Maltese, including words adapted from Maltese into English. The update also introduces a new pronunciation model for Maltese English, developed by OED phonetics expert Matthew Moreland, placing Maltese contributions firmly on the global linguistic map.
What other words do you think should be added?