Il-

The prefix Il- serves as the definite article in the Maltese language, which can be translated as the in the English language. Il- derives from Arabic Al-, and has more or less the same function and dynamics.

The Maltese definite article is L- when in front of a word that starts with a vowel and Il- when in front of a word that starts with a consonant.

l-omm (the mother)
il-missier (the father)

Much like in Arabic, the Maltese definite article assimilates when in front of solar consonants (konsonanti xemxin), that are: Ċ, D, N, R, S, T, X, Ż and Z.

iċ-ċikkulata (the chocolate)
id-dar (the house)
in-nar (the fire)
ir-razzett (the farm)
is-serrieq (the saw)
it-tifel (the boy)
ix-xemx (the sun)
iż-żarbun (the shoe)
iz-zalzetta (the sausage)

When the word before the article ends with a vowel, the I of Il-, that is, l-i tal-leħen (the voice's I), is dropped.

Rajna l-Papa (we saw the Pope)
Smajtu l-ħsejjes (you heard the noises)