Original Photo by Ray Attard

Democratic Party MP Marlene Farrugia made headlines this week when she called Parliamentary Secretary for agriculture Clint Camilleri a ġbejna. Delicious as the traditional round cheese typically associated with Gozo might be, Camilleri hit back by implying that Farrugia’s words were discriminatory against Gozitans… racist, even.

The undisputed WTF News of the Week has, as expected, sparked a great deal of controversy – and satire – among Maltese people, and ġbejna is already set to be the hottest 2018 insult of the year, joining last year’s piżella in the hall of fame.

And while there are already enough food-themed insults to go around, here are six other ‘racist’ things you can start calling people. The meanings behind them, of course, are purely a suggestion.

1. Aljotta

A Maltese fish soup, this one’s very straightforward.

Use aljotta (or aljottu, because why not?) to refer to anyone who lives within walking distance of the sea. Coastal towns, we’re looking at you.

Example: “Kellna niltaqgħu fil-ħamsa il-Mosta imma dam xi nofs siegħa ġej, li ma kienx aljottu!”

Pictured here: A particularly careless aljottu

2. Soppa

Malta has a ton of different soups, but this term doesn’t discriminate against any one of them.

Instead, seeing as we have soppa tal-broccoli, soppa tal-qarabagħli and soppa tal-pastard, it could instead be used to refer to vegetarians. 

Example: “Kul xi biċċa laħam jaħasra, qisek soppa!” 

Ugh, classic soppa talk

3. Maqrut

The delicious imqaret are traditional Maltese sweets made with pastry and a filling of dates.

Introduced on the islands during the period of Arab invasion between the 9th and 11th centuries, the food could be used to refer to anyone who gets particularly tanned in summer. 

Example: “Għedtlek tidlek jien, ara kif sirt issa maqrut!”

This maqrut clearly didn’t put any sunscreen on

4. Bigilla

This one’s already technically used by some people, but we’re sure it could be given a bit of a ‘racist’ treatment.

A traditional local dish made of mashed beans, bigilla is essentially a dip. That means it’s not really consumed without something like a piece of bread or a cracker. 

Enter the term being used to mean someone who has any sort of significant other. Hey presto.

Example: “Rajthom jitbewwsu fil-pjazza ilbieraħ? Kif saru hux, par bigilla.”

A bigilla and her bigillu

5. Karrotta

While this is not in any way a traditional Maltese food or dish, our word for ‘carrot’ just sounds too funny not to have on this list.

Made famous over two years ago with Emmy Bezzina’s karrotta calls (not to mention the cult legend ‘Karrotti!’ guy in front of the Law Courts), this can easily be used to refer to anyone who lives next to a field. You know, those green squares you rarely find in between apartment blocks?

Example: “Ija dak fadallu biex jasal Tas-Sliema mid-dar ta’, dak karrotta.”

A karrotta making her way to the island’s urban centre

6. Figolla

A Maltese cake filled with almonds which makes for perfect seasonal racism anyone.

The rarest one on this list, figolla can only be used (a) during the Easter period and (b) to refer to people who go to the Easter Sunday procession. Talk about exclusivity. 

Example: “Kellna noqogħdu nistennewh jiġi lura mill-knisja qabel ma bdejna nieklu, ja figolla.”

You had to go and make all your friends and family wait for you until they could start Sunday lunch, you Easter-loving figolla

Can you think of other ‘racist’ Maltese food-themed insults? Let us know in the comments and tag an aljottu!

READ NEXT: 9 Delicious Maltese Insults

David Grech Urpani

Lovin Malta's Head of Content, Dave has been in journalism for the better half of the last decade. Prefers Instagram, but has been known to doomscroll on TikTok. Loves chicken, women's clothes and Kanye West (most of the time).