Iranian American Writer Can’t Believe the Fact that More People Don’t Know Pete Buttigieg’s Last Name is Arabic

Alex Shams, an Iranian-American writer and PhD student of Anthropology at the University of Chicago has tweeted about it. Shams, who is based in Tehran, wrote on Twitter Wednesday, “I still can’t believe the fact that Pete Buttigieg’s last name is Arabic hasn’t become more common knowledge over the last year. Buttigieg means “Father of the Chicken” – ابو دجاج. A quick thread on Malta and why they speak Arabic: Buttigieg’s father is from Malta, an island between Tunisia and Italy where they speak an Arabic dialect called Malti. And his last name – Buttigieg? It’s pronounced “Bu-dgaga” – and its synonymous with Arabic, “Abu Djadja,” meaning “The Father of the Chicken” – ابو دجاج.”

Buttigieg (Maltese: Buttiġieġ [butːid͡ʒɪːt͡ʃ]) is a Maltese surname, derived from Sicilian Arabic Abu-l-dajāj(i), meaning chicken owner or poulterer. … Pete Buttigieg (born 1982), American politician, mayor of South Bend, Indiana (2012–2020), presidential candidate. Ray Buttigieg (born 1955), Maltese poet and musician. Wikipedia

It’s interesting that it hasn’t become more common knowledge given the race baiting and overt Islamophobic slurs that have become all too common place. Buttigieg was raised Catholic and has embraced Unitarian tenants and doesn’t practice the Islamic faith but his ancestry hails from a place that does.

I still can't believe the fact that Pete Buttigieg's last name is Arabic hasn't become more common knowledge over the last year.

Buttigieg means "Father of the Chicken" – ابو دجاج.

A quick thread on Malta and why they speak Arabic:

— Alex Shams (@alexshams_) January 22, 2020

“Malta was part of the Arab World from the 800s until 1091. After the Normans invaded, classical written Arabic was no longer used and Maltese spoken Arabic over time became a separate language – albeit one that is highly similar to the spoken Arabic of nearby Tunisia or Lebanon.”

Malta was part of the Arab World from the 800s until 1091.

After the Normans invaded, classical written Arabic was no longer used and Maltese spoken Arabic over time became a separate language – albeit one that is highly similar to the spoken Arabic of nearby Tunisia or Lebanon.

— Alex Shams (@alexshams_) January 22, 2020

“Because Malta no longer used written Arabic, it lost the glue that binds together the different dialects we call Arabic -the mutually intelligible written language they all use. So although Maltese speak Arabic, they can’t write it; and they’ve added lots of English and Italian.”

Because Malta no longer used written Arabic, it lost the glue that binds together the different dialects we call Arabic -the mutually intelligible written language they all use.

So although Maltese speak Arabic, they can't write it; and they've added lots of English and Italian.

— Alex Shams (@alexshams_) January 22, 2020

Shams hilariously concludes however, “Also just to be very clear, this is not an endorsement of Buttigieg in any way, shape, or form. #ILikeBernie!”

Also just to be very clear, this is not an endorsement of Buttigieg in any way, shape, or form.#ILikeBernie!

— Alex Shams (@alexshams_) January 22, 2020