Karl Stennienibarra
A foreigner is repeatedly misusing the word ‘mela’ like an absolute moron, according to her Maltese work colleagues.
The woman in question, 27-year-old Finnish national Aada Häininäininäinen, had been working in the marketing department of igaming company MegaBettingSlots for two months when she misused the word for the first time last week.
“When Aada said “Mela ta, pass me the mayonnaise please” in the canteen, us Maltese all looked at each other as if to say, ‘Oh Christ, here we go again’,” said graphic designer Noel Abela.
Mr Abela claimed Ms Häininäininäinen went on to say the word ‘mela’ a further 53 times that day alone.
“Whenever she uses it incorrectly, which is always, I laugh and say she’s cute, but secretly I want to throw her out the window ,” said her desk neighbour Krista Muscat.
“I keep telling her that ‘mela’ is used conversationally at the beginning or end of sentences, and depending on context, tone of voice and what other words you use with it, can mean ‘So’; ‘then’; ‘of course’; ‘of course not’; ‘sure’; ‘yeah right’; ‘yes, really’; ‘I know right?’; ‘Are you crazy?’, and is also the word for ‘he filled’, but she just doesn’t get it,” said copywriter Ivan Fenech.
“I think she might be, you know…slow,” he whispered.
“Mela ta, I know I’m misusing it, but making Maltese people angry is a lot of fun,” Ms Häininäininäinen said.
At the time of writing, the Finn had just discovered ‘u ejja’.
