mela

From Arabic بَلَى (balā, “why, certainly!, yes, of course!”), in dialects also with prefixed m-. Compare North Levantine Arabic مبلا (mbala) and Gulf Arabic امبلة (ambala).


la

From Arabic لَا (lā). Doublet of le (“no”).

La tisraqx!

Used—optionally—with a negated second-person imperfect verb to express the negated imperative.


dari

Present participle of dara (“to get used to”). Diachronically from Arabic دَارٍ (dārin).


fik

second-person singular pronominal form of f’: in you


le

From Arabic لَا (lā). Cognate with Hebrew לא (lō).


ma

Illum ma nixrobx.

Qatt ma nixrob.

Kulħadd jibża’ u ħadd ma jabbuża jmissu!

2008, Trevor Żahra, Il-Ġenn li Jżommni f’Sikti, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:

not; used to negate verbs and pronominal adverbs


bina

first-person plural pronominal form of b’: with us


barra

From Arabic بَرًّا (barran, “outside”). Compare Egyptian Arabic برا (barra) and the same in many or most dialects.


donn

From Arabic. Probably the imperfect of ظَنَّ (ẓanna, “to think, opine, conjecture”) in a phrase like أَظُنُّهُم مُتَضايِقِين (ʔaẓunnuhum mutaḍāyiqīn, “I think them despondent”). Then reconstrued as an adverb (or false verb). Alternatively from the related noun ظَنّ (ẓann, “opinion, conjecture”), but this seems unlikely.

Kienu donnhom imdejqin.

(literally, “They were (by) their appearance despondent.”)

Donnok ma tifhimx.

(literally, “(By) your appearance you don’t understand.”)


hinn

From Arabic هُنَا (hunā, “here”) or a related form. Compare hawn.


anki

Borrowed from Sicilian anchi, from Latin hanc (“this”) + an uncertain word; see Italian anche for more.

Sadattant, mal-medda tas-snin dan l-antagoniżmu anti-Semitiku baqa’ dejjem jiżdied, anki fost il-Ġermaniżi.

2022, Alfred Massa, Il-Ħarba, Horizons, →ISBN, page 6:


minni

first-person singular pronominal form of minn: from me


kif

From Arabic كَيْفَ (kayfa). Compare Moroccan Arabic كيف (kīf).

Miexja fil-funeral ta’ kuġintha
mart it-tabib, li mietet fl-aħjar tagħha;
u f’moħħha ħsieb għaddej li t-tabib jista’
kif jgħaddi ftit taż-żmien, jitgħarras magħha.

1966, Anton Buttigieg, “Agnes”, in Ejjew Nidħku Ftit Ieħor:


fis

From Arabic فِي سَاعَة (fī sāʕa, “in a short time”). Compare Moroccan Arabic فيساع (fīsāʕ).

Lejn din l-għaqda fis nittajru,
 Xjuħ u żgħażagħ ħaddemin.
 Leħen sbejjaħ lilna jsejjaħ,
 Biex ningħaqdu f’dan il-ħin.

1930, “Innu tal-Partit Laburista”, Manwel Pace (lyrics), Ġużè Diacono (music):

To this union we all flock at once,
 Workers old and young.
 A beautiful voice calls out to us
 That at this time we shall unite.


llum

Contraction of il-jum (literally “the day”), from Arabic اَلْيَوْمَ (al-yawma).


fina

first-person plural pronominal form of f’: in us


fija

first-person singular pronominal form of f’: in me


spiss

Borrowed from Sicilian spissu (“often”, literally “thickly”), from Latin spissus.

bor+

Dal-lejl ħlomt ħolma.
Waħda ħelwa, imma stramba.
Fil-verità, waħda li qed noħlom ta’ spiss.

2019, Kristina Borg, Imkejjen u Rkejjen, Ede Books, →ISBN, page 18:

Last night I had a dream.
A pleasant dream, but strange.
Actually, it's a recurring dream.


bik

second-person singular pronominal form of b’: with you


minna

first-person plural pronominal form of minn: from us


rari

Borrowed from Sicilian raru and/or Italian raro, both from Latin rarus.


issa

Contraction of is-siegħa (“[at] the hour”), from Arabic اَلسّاعة (as-sāʕa). Compare Iraqi Arabic هسا (hassa, “now”), Egyptian Arabic لسا (lissa, “still”).

Jien, li fl-imħabba kelli biss sensiela twila ta’ diżappunti; jien li kont bdejt nemmen li qatt mhu se nsib lil min iħobbni, issa kont ħassejt li f’salt wieħed seħħ miraklu. Kont skirt bl-imħabba.


forsi

Borrowed from Sicilian forsi, from Latin forsit. Compare Italian forse.

kollox għafsa. kollox fastidju. forsi
għax għadu (wisq) kmieni. forsi.
għax dallejl xtaqt stajt nimtedd maġenbek
u dalgħodu stenbaħt
b’subgħajja mwebbla għal ponn ramel
u d-diqa mwebsa ma’ ħaddejja.

2022, Nadia Mifsud, meta tinfetaq il-folla, Ede Books, →ISBN:


mhux

From Arabic مَا هُوَ شَيْء (mā huwa šayʔ). By surface analysis, ma + hu + -x. Compare Egyptian Arabic مُشّ (mušš).

inh

مَا هُوَ شَيْء

Arabic مَا هُوَ شَيْء (mā huwa šayʔ)

“IMMA … mhux se teħlisha ħafif għal li għamilt, Amina. Ma nistax nibqa’ nwissik biss u int tibqa’ tagħmel ta’ rasek. Dawn il-jumejn, illum u għada, se tqattagħhom f’kamra waħdek, f’dan is-sular. Mhux se tattendi lezzjonijiet —”

2018, Antoinette Borg, Amina, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:

not; negates nominal sentences, adjectives, adverbs


ilu

ili (first-person singular)
ilna (first-person plural)
ilek (second-person singular)
ilkom (plural second-person)
ilu (masculine singular third-person)
ilha (feminine singular third-person)
ilhom (plural third-person)

Originally an alternative form of lilu (“to him”), etc., pronominal forms of Arabic لَ (la, “to, for”), إلَى (ʔilā, “to, towards”). The adverbial construction exists in several Arabic dialects; compare e.g. North Levantine Arabic إلي يومين ما نمت (ʔili yawmayn ma nimt, “I haven’t slept in two days”). The postpositional use is derived therefrom.

cog

إلي يومين ما نمت

Ili jumejn ma norqod.

(literally, “To me two days I don’t sleep.”)

Xmun ilu seba’ xhur fil-ħabs.

(literally, “Simon to him seven months in jail.”)

Simon has been in jail for seven months.

Expresses the time that something has been going on; takes personal suffixes according to subject of the phrase and is followed by a specification of time; (equivalent to English) for; in


illum

post-consonantal and alternative basic form of of llum


bija

first-person singular pronominal form of b’: with me


lura

Univerbation of il- + wara, literally “the back”.

univerbation

U l-mara ta’ Lot ħarset lura, minn warajh, u saret plier tal-melħ.

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 19:26:

New International Version translation: But Lot’s wife looked back, and she became a pillar of salt.

U l-ilmijiet bdew rieġgħa lura minn fuq l-art, u baqgħu sejrin lura sakemm naqsu għalkollox wara mija u ħamsin jum.

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 8:3:

New International Version translation: The water receded steadily from the earth. At the end of the hundred and fifty days the water had gone down,


addoċċ

Vera ssuq bl-addoċċ mill-Addolorata sa Birkirkara, imma llum m’iniex nagħti kas.


frak

From the Arabic root ف ر ك (f r k). Perhaps originally from a plural *أَفْراك (*ʔafrāk).

frak tari


hekk

Shortening of hekkda, from Arabic هٰكَذَا (hākaḏā). Immediately equivalent to Tunisian Arabic هكا (hakka). Compare also North Levantine Arabic هيك (hayk), Iraqi Arabic هيچي (hēči).


rarament

Borrowed from Italian raramente. By surface analysis, rari + -ment.


wara Kristu

Coordinate term: qabel Kristu


qabel Kristu

Coordinate term: wara Kristu


kemm

Kemm hi sabiħa l-ħajja!


biss

From dialectal Arabic بَسّ (bass, “only”, as an interjection also “enough!”), in all likelihood from Persian بس (bas, “enough”), from Middle Persian ws (/was/).

inh

Jikteb mhux biss poeżiji, iżda wkoll għanjiet.

He doesn’t only write poems, but also songs.

“Jgħidilhom dwar Doris?!” sploda s-Surmast. “Niftaħlu rasu ktieb! Dan mnejn safejn ixandar l-affarijiet privati tiegħi?! Intom għidtuli li se jitkellem biss dwar il-kotba tiegħu!”

Lanqas ħallejtni biss inbus is-subien u l-bniet tiegħi. Imxejt tassew ta’ iblah!

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 31:28:

New International Version translation: You didn’t even let me kiss my grandchildren and my daughters goodbye. You have done a foolish thing.

Kulħadd jimxi, kollox lajma,
jirkeb biss xi sinjur kbir:
bini l-għatx u tawni nixrob
minn ġos-satal fuq il-bir.

1970, Anton Buttigieg, “Il-Pjazza”, in Fl-Arena:


naturalment

Borrowed from Italian naturalmente. By surface analysis, naturali + -ment.


ġeneralment

Borrowed from Italian generalmente. By surface analysis, ġenerali + -ment.


sesswalment

Borrowed from Italian sessualmente. By surface analysis, sesswali + -ment.

Dan ir-ritratt huwa sesswalment espliċitu.


soċjalment

Borrowed from Italian socialmente. By surface analysis, soċjali + -ment.


litteralment

Borrowed from Italian letteralmente. By surface analysis, litterali + -ment.


speċifikament

Borrowed from Italian specificamente. By surface analysis, speċifiku + -ment.


teknoloġikament

Borrowed from Italian tecnologicamente. By surface analysis, teknoloġiku + -ment.


bażikament

Borrowed from Italian basicamente. By surface analysis, bażiku + -ment.


tradizzjonalment

Borrowed from Italian tradizionalmente. By surface analysis, tradizzjonali + -ment.


xjentifikament

Borrowed from Italian scientificamente. By surface analysis, xjentifiku + -ment.


emozzjonalment

Borrowed from Italian emozionalmente. By surface analysis, emozzjonali + -ment.


sekwenzjalment

Borrowed from Italian sequenzialmente. By surface analysis, sekwenzjali + -ment.


essenzjalment

Borrowed from Italian essenzialmente. By surface analysis, essenzjali + -ment.


uffiċjalment

Borrowed from Italian ufficialmente and/or Sicilian ufficialmenti. By surface analysis, uffiċjali + -ment.


tassew

Univerbation of tas-sewwa, literally “of the truth”.


demokratikament

Borrowed from Italian democraticamente. By surface analysis, demokratiku + -ment.


kundizzjonalment

Borrowed from Sicilian cundizzionalmenti. By surface analysis, kundizzjonali + -ment.


kulturalment

Borrowed from Italian culturalmente. By surface analysis, kulturali + -ment.


ħażin

From Arabic حَزِين (ḥazīn, “sad”). The semantic development was probably influenced by Sicilian tristu (“evil”) and tristi (“sad”), a doublet pair from Latin tristis (“sad”). Generally such a development is understandable from contexts like “sad news” and “bad news”, where they are more or less synonymous.


okkażjonalment

Borrowed from Italian occasionalmente. By surface analysis, okkażjonali + -ment.


vjolentement

Borrowed from Italian violentemente. By surface analysis, vjolent + -ment.


hemm

From Arabic ثَمَّ (ṯamma). Compare Tunisian Arabic فمة (famma, “there is”) and Moroccan Arabic تم (tamm), تمة (tamma, “there”).

Il-ktieb hemm.

hemm isfel

Hemm ħafna djar kbar fuq din it-triq.

There are many large houses on this street.

M’hemmx kotba hawn.


faċli

From Sicilian facili and/or Italian facile, both from Latin facilis.

Faċli li hu ġej


internazzjonalment

Borrowed from Italian internazionalmente. By surface analysis, internazzjonali + -ment.


nazzjonalment

Borrowed from Italian nazionalmente. By surface analysis, nazzjonali + -ment.


sistematikament

Borrowed from Italian sistematicamente. By surface analysis, sistematiku + -ment.


filli

filli kont hawn, u filli spiċċajt hemm

One minute I was here, the next minute I ended up there


għandi

first-person singular pronominal form of għand:


għandek

second-person singular pronominal form of għand:


għandu

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of għand:


għandha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of għand:


għandna

first-person plural pronominal form of għand:


għandkom

second-person plural pronominal form of għand:


għandhom

third-person plural pronominal form of għand:


intensament

Borrowed from Italian intensamente. By surface analysis, intens + -ment.


bih

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of b’: with him (it)


hawn

From Arabic هَاهُنَا (hāhunā), emphatic form of هُنَا (hunā). Compare North Levantine Arabic هون (hawn, hōn).

Madankollu, aġġustament tali ma kienx meqjus meħtieġ hawn.

However, such an adjustment was not considered necessary here.


fejn

From Arabic فِي أَيْنَ (fī ʔayna). By surface analysis, f’ + *ejn. Compare Tunisian Arabic فين (fīn/fāyn), Moroccan Arabic فين (fīn), فاين (fāyin), Hijazi Arabic فين (fēn) and Egyptian Arabic فين (fēn).

U waqt li nħares fuq ta’ qalbi x-xitla
tat-tifkiriet tinbet tifkira ġdida,
b’warda ta’ swied il-qalb fejn tilma demgħa
minn ħbub għajnejja.

1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Fuq Qabar Oħti”, in Fanali bil-Lejl:


qas

(colloquial) Contraction of lanqas: not even, nor


għadu

See the etymology of the corresponding lemma form.


mqar

The same word as Greek μακάρι (makári), Romanian măcar, Italian magari, Spanish maguer, Andalusian Arabic مكار (ma(k)kār, “even, at least”). Probably from Ancient Greek μακάριος (makários), perhaps through the interjection ὦ μακάριε (ô makárie, “lucky you!”). While this etymology is generally accepted, compare also Persian مگر (magar, “but, unless, perhaps”), whence Ottoman Turkish مگر (meger).


madankollu

Univerbation of ma’ (“with”) + dan (“this”) + kollu (“all of it”), literally “with all of this”. Compare the same in Egyptian Arabic مع دا كلو (maʕ da kullu). See also Arabic مَعَ ذٰلِكَ (maʕa ḏālika).


dejjem

Dan minħabba l-interess li dejjem wera għat-tagħlim ferm qabel il-Griegi u r-Rumani.

2022, Alfred Massa, Il-Ħarba, Horizons, →ISBN, page 5:

Sadattant, mal-medda tas-snin dan l-antagoniżmu anti-Semitiku baqa’ dejjem jiżdied, anki fost il-Ġermaniżi.

Qalbi xebgħet bil-bejta
li dejjem ta’ kull sena
titwaqqa’ kull ħarifa,
u kull April tinbena,

1949-1952, Anton Buttigieg, “Il-Bejta ta’ Dejjem”, in Qasba mar-Riħ, published 1977:


kważi

Borrowed from Italian quasi and/or Sicilian quasi, both from Latin quasi.

Kważi qatluh.


possibilment

Borrowed from Italian possibilmente. By surface analysis, possibbli + -ment.


aggressivament

Borrowed from Italian aggressivamente. By surface analysis, aggressiv + -ment.


flimkien

From underlying fl-mkien (“in the place, on the spot”), from Arabic فِي الْمَكان (fī al-makān). Probably from such collocations as ilkoll flimkien, originally “everybody in the place” and hence “all those present together”.

der

فِي الْمَكان


ilbieraħ

post-consonantal and alternative basic form of lbieraħ


għada

From Arabic غَدًا (ḡadan). Most Arabic dialects have replaced the word with بُكْرة (bukra, “[in the] morning”), but Maghrebi dialects, to which Maltese is closely related, have preserved it.


minn bejn l-imwiet

From Arabic مِنْ بَيْنِ الْأَمْواتِ (min bayni al-ʔamwāti, “from the dead”), used with the same wording by Arabic-speaking Christians. It preserves an old broken plural of mejjet (“dead”), which has otherwise been regularized to mejtin in Maltese.

inh

مِنْ بَيْنِ الْأَمْواتِ

Sidna Ġesù Kristu qam minn bejn l-imwiet.

Our Lord Jesus Christ has risen from the dead.

(Christianity) from the dead (construed with qam)


ħafna

From Arabic حَفْنة (ḥafna, “a handful”). The word refers to a small amount in Arabic, but developed the sense “much, many” over time; compare English pretty, rather (both “somewhat”, but also “very”), or quite a few.


kullimkien

From Arabic كُلِّ مَكَان (kulli makān, “everywhere”, literally “in every place”). By surface analysis, kull + mkien.

كُلِّ مَكَان


ftit

From Arabic فَتِيت (fatīt, “crumbs”, collective).


lanqas

From la (“not”) + anqas (“less”). Originally either “not A, and no less not B”, or else “not A, and no, even less B”.


fis-skiet

fl-iskiet

grammatically just as correct, but rare in this case

Used other than figuratively or idiomatically: see f’, il-, skiet.

Jaħdem fis-skiet.

(idiomatic) in silence; silently; quietly; without speaking (during something or about something)


qatt

Jien, li fl-imħabba kelli biss sensiela twila ta’ diżappunti; jien li kont bdejt nemmen li qatt mhu se nsib lil min iħobbni, issa kont ħassejt li f’salt wieħed seħħ miraklu. Kont skirt bl-imħabba.

Pereżempju qatt innutajtu s-simetrija bilaterali perfetta tal-ġwienaħ ta’ farfett, tad-denb ta’ pagun, jew għall-inqas tal-wiċċ uman?

For example, have you ever noticed the perfect bilateral symmetry of a butterfly’s wings, a peacock’s tail, or at least the human face?


wisq

Possibly from Arabic وُسْع (wusʕ, “that of which one is capable, one's capacity, power”), with a rare shift from għ to q, which however could be accounted for in this phonetic position. Alternatively from وَسْق (wasq, “freight, load”); compare semantically English a load of (“much”).

kollox għafsa. kollox fastidju. forsi
għax għadu (wisq) kmieni. forsi.
għax dallejl xtaqt stajt nimtedd maġenbek
u dalgħodu stenbaħt
b’subgħajja mwebbla għal ponn ramel
u d-diqa mwebsa ma’ ħaddejja.

Wara l-bibien,
fit-tul tat-toroq twal,
batejt
il-għeja
il-qtigħ ta’ qalb,
batejt fuq kollox il-mistħija;
iżda ġarrabt ukoll
il-ferħ u l-għaxqa
li kull tallab iħoss
x’ħin jasal wisq għajjien bil-ħorġa f’idu
bil-ħobż għand ommu mġewħa.

1970, Anton Buttigieg, “It-Tallab”, in Fl-Arena:

U tela’ għas-sur, wisq imgħaddab,
u kaxkar kull xitla, kull żrara,
u l-bejta dlonk ħataf, ġarr miegħu
bl-għasafar, jaħasra xi ħsara!

1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Il-Bejta fis-Sur”, in Mill-Gallerija ta’ Żgħożiti:

too, too much (more than is appropriate)


bilqiegħda

sitting; in a sitting position (used with verbs like qagħad, poġġa)


iebes

From Arabic يَابِس (yābis). The initial /j/ was lost. Irregularities involving this consonant in initial position are common; compare jiena, jew with unetymological j-.


qablu

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of of qabel: before him


qabilha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of qabel: before her


biex

Inherited from dialectal North African Arabic. By surface analysis, b’ + *iex. Cognate with Moroccan Arabic باش (bāš, “so that”). Compare Maltese għax (“because”), which is from Arabic عَلَى شَأْنِ (ʕalā šaʔni, literally “on the issue of”), which is also present in Egyptian Arabic. Biex may be a similar formation.

m+

عَلَى شَأْنِ


daqshekk

(with past verb) enough; for far too long already; to the limit (such that one must stop now)


għalhekk

Univerbation of għal (“for”) + hekk (“thus, so”).


lbieraħ

From Arabic اَلْبارِح (al-bāriḥ, “yesterday”). Compare Moroccan Arabic البارح (el-bāriḥ), Egyptian Arabic امبارح (imbāriḥ).


ukoll

Apparently from u + koll (literally “and all”). Probably used at first as a filler at the end of enumerations and then reinterpreted as “too, as well”. Compare the same development in dialectal British English and all.


filgħodu

From Arabic فِي الْغُدُوِّ (fī l-ḡuduwwi), from غُدُوّ (ḡuduww, “morning time”).

der

فِي الْغُدُوِّ


mbagħad

From Arabic مِنْ بَعْدِ (min baʕdi). Compare Tunisian Arabic مبعد (mbaʕd, “then”).

Naqbeż għal fuq saqajja u mbagħad Miss Camilleri teħodli b’idi mingħajr ma tħares lejja.


imbagħad

post-consonantal and alternative basic form of mbagħad


għad

From Arabic عَادَ (ʕāda, “he returned, did again”). Compare مَا عادَ (mā ʕāda, “he stopped, did no more”), which has also become an adverb in many dialects and may be construed with pronominal suffixes in some of them. Compare Moroccan Arabic عاد (ʕād) and Hebrew עוד (ʿōd, “still”).


jiġifieri

/jɪ.d͡ʒɪˈfɪː.rɪ/

Probably from a contraction of jiġi affari ta’ (literally “it comes [to] a bargain of”), a phrase said by Joseph Aquilina to mean “it amounts to [a price]”. Or, according to Martin Zammit, from a contraction of jiġi fir-raj (literally “̳it comes to the mind”).


għaliex

From underlying Arabic عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء (ʕalā ʔayyi šayʔ, literally “on what thing”). By surface analysis, għal (“for”) + *iex (“what”); see xiex for the latter. Cognate with Moroccan Arabic علاش (ʕlāš, “why”).

der

عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء


fuq

From Arabic فَوْقَ (fawqa, preposition), فَوْقُ (fawqu, adverb). The Arabic words mean only “over, above”, but the Maltese preposition gained additional senses from għal (now only “for, to”).


kmieni

Uncertain, but probably from Latin mane (“early in the morning”). The k- is explained by Joseph Aquilina as the preposition cum (“with”), as if from a Vulgar Latin phrase *cum mane (literally “with the early morning”).
Otherwise compare the Arabic root ك م ن (k m n) related to concealment and ambush; thus speculatively from the notion of getting up very early in order to do something in secret. Phonetically the word is quite reminiscent of dialectal Arabic كَمان (kamān, “also, as well”), from classical كَمَا أَنَّ (kamā ʔanna), but a semantic relation is hard to see.

Setgħet ġibdet lejn il-Mellieħa, mit-triq jew mill-passaġġ, jew qabdet it-triq tal-Imġiebaħ, inkella minn ħdejn il-lukanda għan-naħa t’Għajn Ħadid, jew jista’ jkun anke telqet lejn Forti Campbell iktar kmieni, qabel ma wasalt jien.


biżżejjed

From underlying Arabic بِالزَّائِدِ (bi-z-zāʔidi), from زَائِد (zāʔid, “extra, surplus”), thus originally “more than enough”.

der

بِالزَّائِدِ

“Għomt biżżejjed. Fil-fatt kont qed nixxemmex ftit bil-ħsieb li wara mmur lura lejn id-dar”, weġibtu; u dikment qomt minfejn kont u ħejjejt ruħi biex nilbes.

2018 [1977], Alfred Massa, L-Istar tal-Imgħoddi, 2nd edition, Horizons, page 19:


sewwa

From Arabic سَوَاء (sawāʔ, “evenness, smoothness”).


'l fuq u 'l isfel

LL-Q9166 (mlt)-GħawdxiVeru-'l fuq u 'l isfel.wav


isfel

’l isfel

għal isfel

Missieri kien niżel jiġri isfel, ħareġ fuq l-għatba u beda jsejjaħ lill-pulizija biex iwissihom b’dan il-periklu.

2008, Trevor Żahra, Il-Ġenn li Jżommni f’Sikti, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:


inkella

Probably from an underlying Arabic إن كانَ لَا (ʔin kāna lā, “if it were not so”, literally “if it were no”).


xorta

Short for xorta waħda (“in the same way, no different”, literally “one sort”) and mhux xorta? (“isn't it still the same?”).


miegħi

first-person singular pronominal form of ma’: with me


miegħek

second-person singular pronominal form of ma’: with you


miegħu

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of ma’: with him (it)


magħna

first-person plural pronominal form of ma’: with us


magħha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of ma’: with her (it)


magħhom

third-person plural pronominal form of ma’: with them


magħkom

second-person plural pronominal form of ma’: with you


bikom

second-person plural pronominal form of b’: with you


malajr

Probably from underlying *mal-ajr (“with the air”), the latter word being a variant of arja that goes back to Sicilian airu (alongside aira, aria), from Latin aer (“air”). Aquilina’s suggestion to derive it from Arabic مُلامِل (mulāmil, “quick, swift”, of a mount) seems less likely.


'l hawn u 'l hinn

LL-Q9166 (mlt)-GħawdxiVeru-'l hawn u 'l hinn.wav

here and there, hither and thither, back and forth, around


hekkda

The Lord’s Prayer
Ikun dak li trid int, kif fis-sema, hekkda fl-art.
Thy will be done, as [it is] in heaven, so [be it] on earth.


waħd

waħd- (canonical)
waħdi (first-person singular)
waħedna (first-person plural)
weħidna (first-person plural)
waħdek (second-person singular)
waħedkom (plural second-person)
weħidkom (plural second-person)
waħdu (masculine singular third-person)
waħedha (feminine singular third-person)
weħidha (feminine singular third-person)
waħedhom (plural third-person)
weħidhom (plural third-person)

From Arabic وَحْد (waḥd). The forms from the stem weħid- before consonantal suffixes are influenced by related wieħed (“one”). The forms with waħed- appear to be compromise forms.

Kont waħdi.

u lili firdu minn mal-art għal dejjem,
u jien sfajt blata u gżira l-aktar ċkejkna,
bi ftit faqqiegħ u ftit gremxul sewdieni
ngħix ħajja waħdi.

1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Il-Ġebla tal-Ġeneral”, in Fanali bil-Lejl:

Ħarbat, mewwet dawk id-dwieli,
wild il-għaraq tal-ħaddiem,
żomm il-fqir ġol-gorboġ waħdu,
u bla ħobż, bla dawl, bla sliem!

1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Ir-Riħ u l-Bnazzi”, in Mill-Gallerija ta’ Żgħożiti:

Destroy, kill those vines,
the offspring of the worker’s sweat,
keep the poor man in the hovel alone,
without bread, without light, without peace!

Il-fjamma ntfiet waħedha.


filgħaxija

From fil-għaxija (literally “in the evening”), from Arabic عَشِيّة (ʕašiyya).


kuljum

From kull + jum, from Arabic كُلَّ يَوْمٍ (kulla yawmin).

inh

كُلَّ يَوْمٍ

Nixorbu l-ħalib kuljum.

il-ħajja ta’ kuljum

libsa ta’ kuljum

(attributive or predicative with ta’) everyday; daily


diġà

Borrowed from Italian di già (“already”), used alongside simple già (Maltese ġa). Compare French déjà, which has been borrowed into dialects of Maghrebi and Levantine Arabic.


ġa

Borrowed from Italian già. Compare French jà.

f’żarbun ġa ssikkat. irkiekel dahri
tat-terrakotta － ’kk tmisshom,
isiru frak. dil-belt tentakli waħedha －
għoddha qalftitni fatat.


reliġjożament

Borrowed from Italian religiosamente. By surface analysis, reliġjuż + -ment.


ngħidu aħna

Literally: “say we”, that is, “let’s say”.

Hemm għażliet oħrajn bħal, ngħidu aħna, t-tibdil tal-kuntratt.

There are other options such as, say, changing the contract.


minnha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of minn: from her (it)


minnu

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of minn: from him (it)


minnkom

second-person plural pronominal form of minn: from you


minnhom

third-person plural pronominal form of minn: from them


minnek

second-person masculine singular pronominal form of minn: from you


lbiraħtlula

Fossilised expression from Arabic الْبَارِحَةَ ٱلْأُولَى (al-bāriḥata l-ʔūlā).

inh

الْبَارِحَةَ ٱلْأُولَى

day before yesterday
day before yesterday

ilbieraħtlura

back; chiefly colloquial alteration after lura


pitgħada

From pit- + għada. The former is in all likelihood from Arabic بَعْدَ (baʕda, “after”), which has been lost in Maltese except in mbagħad. Compare Moroccan Arabic بعد غدا (baʕd ḡadda).


ewliemes

From Arabic أَوَّلَ أَمْس (ʔawwala ʔams). The long vowel is explainable as early contraction with the accusative ending -a, thus ʾawwala ʾams → ʾawwalām(i)s. A variant ʾāmis of Arabic أَمْس (ʔams) is apparently attested in isolated dialects, but it could also be due to backformation from the aforementioned contraction.

أَوَّلَ أَمْس

(archaic) the day before yesterday; two days ago


aktarx

From Arabic أَكْثَر شَيْء (ʔakṯar šayʔ, “mostly, for the most part; most, to the greatest degree”). Analysable as aktar + -x.

أَكْثَر شَيْء


mingħal

mingħal- (canonical)
mingħalija (first-person singular)
mingħalina (first-person plural)
mingħalik (second-person singular)
mingħalikom (plural second-person)
mingħalih (masculine singular third-person)
mingħaliha (feminine singular third-person)
mingħalihom (plural third-person)

From minn (“from”) + għal (“for, to”). Perhaps originally in the sense of “according to, on the authority of”.

Kien mingħalija li sibt l-imħabba ta’ ħajti.

I thought I had found the love of my life.

U hekk kif wasal l-ieħor, dlonk ried ħjiel
 Mingħand dak li kien jistrieħ u ħiemed.
 Qallu: Ħija, mingħalija rajtu dieħel f’dan l-isqaq.

“Rajt, ma rajtx”performed by Tony Camilleri:

So when the other one arrived, he immediately wanted a hint
 From the one who was resting calmly.
 He told him: Brother, I think I saw him enter into this alley.

(false verb) to think, reckon, be under the impression that


kultant

From kull + tant, thus literally “every so much” (that is, “every now and then”).


biha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of b’: with her (it)


bihom

third-person plural pronominal form of b’: with them


fih

third-person masculine singular pronominal form of f’: in him (it)


fiha

third-person feminine singular pronominal form of f’: in her (it)


fikom

second-person plural pronominal form of f’: in you


fihom

third-person plural pronominal form of f’: in them


kulmeta

Kulmeta nintelaq inħares lejn dan l-inkwatru kont inħossni ninħakem minn paċi misterjuża u niftakarni ngħid lili nnifsi, “Ħa mmur noqgħod nilgħab fil-kamra ta’ l-imbarazz, ħalli nidħol fl-inkwatru!”


qatigħ

2019 February 2, “Bkew magħna u ħadmu qatigħ biex isalvaw il-ħajja ta’ Elise”, in One News, archived from the original on 2024-07-05:

They cried with us and worked so hard to save Elise's life.


edukatament

Borrowed from Italian educatamente. By surface analysis, edukat + -ment.


eżattament

Borrowed from Italian esattamente. By surface analysis, eżatt + -ment.


dażgur

Univerbation of dan + żgur, literally “this is certain”.


daqsxejn

From daqs (“to the degree of”) + xejn (“something”). Compare Arabic شَيْئاً مَا (šayʔan mā).

cog

Arabic شَيْئاً مَا (šayʔan mā)

somewhat, fairly, rather (to a moderate degree)


mill-ġdid

Iktebha mill-ġdid


bilħaqq

b’ + ħaqq. Compare Moroccan Arabic بالحق (b-el-ḥaqq, “though”).


dalgħodu

2022, Nadia Mifsud, meta tinfetaq il-folla, Ede Books, →ISBN:


għar-riq

From Arabic عَلَى ٱلرِّيقِ (ʕala r-rīqi, “on an empty stomach”). Equivalent to għal (“on”) + ir-riq (“the saliva”), literally “on the saliva”. Compare Moroccan Arabic عالريق (ʕar-rīq) and Egyptian Arabic عالرايق (ʕar-rāyeʔ).

inh

عَلَى ٱلرِّيقِ


dal-lejl

Dal-lejl ħlomt ħolma.
Waħda ħelwa, imma stramba.
Fil-verità, waħda li qed noħlom ta’ spiss.

2019, Kristina Borg, Imkejjen u Rkejjen, Ede Books, →ISBN, page 18:

Last night I had a dream.
A pleasant dream, but strange.
Actually, it's a recurring dream.

Stagħnejt, ja Qamar,
dal-lejl bil-poeżija
tar-realtà.

1998, Anton Buttigieg, “Lill-Qamar”, in Żibeġ u Boċċi:


mnejn

From Arabic مِنْ أَيْنَ (min ʔayna). By surface analysis, minn + *ejn. Compare Tunisian Arabic منين (mnīn/mnāyn), Moroccan Arabic منين (mnīn), مناين (mnāyin).


bil-maqlub

From Arabic بِٱلْمَقْلُوبِ (bi-l-maqlūbi). By surface analysis, b’ + il- + maqlub.

inh

بِٱلْمَقْلُوبِ


fiex

From Arabic فِي أَيِّ شَيْء (fī ʔayyi šayʔ, “in what thing”). By surface analysis, f’ + *iex. Compare Moroccan Arabic فاش (fāš).

فِي أَيِّ شَيْء


moqbejl

minn + qbejla. Compare Moroccan Arabic من قبيلة (min qbayla).


saħansitra

U ġara li malli għaddew tliet xhur għarrfu lil Ġuda u qalulu: “Tamar, mart ibnek, żniet, u saħansitra tqalet biż-żina tagħha.” U Ġuda weġibhom: “Oħorġuha, u aħarquha.”

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Ġenesi 38:24:

New International Version translation: About three months later Judah was told, “Your daughter-in-law Tamar is guilty of prostitution, and as a result she is now pregnant.” Judah said, “Bring her out and have her burned to death!”

Fejn se nitilgħu aħna? Ħutna qatgħulna qalbna u qalulna: Hemm poplu kbir u nies itwal minna; bliet kbar u mdawra bi swar għoljin sas-smewwiet; u saħansitra rajna hemmhekk ulied Għanak.

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tad-Dewteronomju 1:28:

New International Version translation: Where can we go? Our brothers have made our hearts melt in fear. They say, ‘The people are stronger and taller than we are; the cities are large, with walls up to the sky. We even saw the Anakites there.’”

U Ġonatan neħħa l-mantar li kellu fuqu, u tah lil David, u tah ukoll l-armatura tiegħu, u saħansitra x-xabla u l-qaws u l-ħżiem li kellu.

c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, L-Ewwel Ktieb ta' Samwel 18:4:

New International Version translation: Jonathan took off the robe he was wearing and gave it to David, along with his tunic, and even his sword, his bow and his belt.


għal għarrieda

From Arabic عَلَى غَيْرِ إرادَة (ʕalā ḡayri ʔirāda, “involuntarily”). By surface analysis, għal + għajr + rieda. The development from “involuntarily” to “unexpectedly” is semantically straightforward. Theories that connect the expression with Arabic عَرَض (ʕaraḍ, “unexpected event, accident”) are ruled out by the fact that Vassali notes għarrieda with initial غ (ḡ).

عَلَى غَيْرِ إرادَة

m+

suddenly, at once, unexpectedly, without warning


għalliġej

Univerbation of għal + li + ġej, literally “for what is coming”.


għalli

Univerbation of għal + li, literally “for what”.


mnejnsafejn

Univerbation of mnejn + sa + fejn, literally “from where to where”.

univ

“Jgħidilhom dwar Doris?!” sploda s-Surmast. “Niftaħlu rasu ktieb! Dan mnejn safejn ixandar l-affarijiet privati tiegħi?! Intom għidtuli li se jitkellem biss dwar il-kotba tiegħu!”


approssimattivament

Borrowed from Italian approssimativamente. By surface analysis, approssimattiv + -ment.


direttament

Borrowed from Italian direttamente. By surface analysis, dirett + -ment.


indirettament

Borrowed from Italian indirettamente. By surface analysis, indirett + -ment.


drammatikament

Borrowed from Italian drammaticamente. By surface analysis, drammatiku + -ment.


ċivilment

Borrowed from Italian civilmente. By surface analysis, ċivil + -ment.


temporanjament

Borrowed from Italian temporaneamente. By surface analysis, temporanju + -ment.


dettaljatament

Borrowed from Italian dettagliatamente. By surface analysis, dettaljat + -ment.


xjentement

Borrowed from Italian scientemente. By surface analysis, xjenti + -ment.


inxjentement

Borrowed from Italian inscientemente. By surface analysis, inxjenti + -ment.


jaqaw

Probably from jaqa’ (“it happens”, literally “falls”) + u (“and”), in the sense “it may so happen that ...”. Aquilina interprets the second part as the pronoun hu, but this seems less likely.

“X’tagħmel, Rob! Isma’, jaqaw ċempiltli d-dar?” staqsejtu biex naqilbu ftit id-diska.

2018 [1977], Alfred Massa, L-Istar tal-Imgħoddi, 2nd edition, Horizons, page 18:


għodu għodu

/ˌɔˤː.du ˈɔˤː.du/


dakinhar

From dak in-nhar (“that day”). The gemination caused by the definite article was reduced when h was still a consonant. Outside the lexicalised adverb it was later restored, such that both are now pronounced differently. Compare the same in nofsinhar.


ħafna drabi

Ħafna drabi nħossni xbajt mill-ħajja.


wisq drabi

Alternative form of ħafna drabi (“often”)


sikwit

Borrowed from Sicilian siquitu (“followed”).


għall-inqas

Pereżempju qatt innutajtu s-simetrija bilaterali perfetta tal-ġwienaħ ta’ farfett, tad-denb ta’ pagun, jew għall-inqas tal-wiċċ uman?

2018, Antoinette Borg, Amina, Merlin Publishers, →ISBN:

Alternative form of għall-anqas: at least


minnufih

Apparently from minnu + fih, literally “from-it in-it”. Compare Moroccan Arabic بيه فيه (bīh fīh, “immediately”, literally “with it, in it”).


fil-mija

From Arabic فِي الْمِئَة (fī l-miʔa, literally “in the hundred”).

inh

فِي الْمِئَة

Disgħin fil-mija taċ-ċittadini ma jaqblux mal-liġi ġdida.

Ninety percent of the citizens do not agree with the new law.


jewwilla

Equivalent to Arabic أَوْ إلَّا (ʔaw ʔillā, literally “or other than”), as if saying “perhaps A, and otherwise perhaps B”.


diffiċilment

Borrowed from Italian difficilmente. By surface analysis, diffiċli + -ment.


teknikament

Borrowed from Italian tecnicamente. By surface analysis, tekniku + -ment.


popolarment

Borrowed from Italian popolarmente. By surface analysis, popolari + -ment.


irrispettivament

Borrowed from Italian irrispettivamente. By surface analysis, irrispettiv + -ment.


rispettivament

Borrowed from Italian rispettivamente. By surface analysis, rispettiv + -ment.


Q.K.

Abbreviation of qabel Kristu (“before Christ”): BC


W.K.

Abbreviation of wara Kristu (“before Christ”): AD


pubblikament

Borrowed from Italian pubblicamente. By surface analysis, pubbliku + -ment.


soltu

Borrowed from Sicilian solitu, from Latin solitus.


sommarjament

Borrowed from Italian sommariamente. By surface analysis, sommarju + -ment.


ekonomikament

Borrowed from Italian economicamente. By surface analysis, ekonomiku + -ment.


jum fost l-oħrajn

Literally, “a day among the others”. Compare the similar construct in Arabic يَوْمًا مِنَ ٱلْأَيَّامِ (yawman mina l-ʔayyāmi, literally “a day of the days”).

cog

يَوْمًا مِنَ ٱلْأَيَّامِ


għenelli

/ɛˤːˈnɛl.lɪ/

inh

Arabic عَنَى لِي (ʕanā lī)


klassikament

Borrowed from Italian classicamente. By surface analysis, klassiku + -ment.


sekondarjament

Borrowed from Italian secondariamente. By surface analysis, sekondarju + -ment.


bikri

From Arabic. Compare Tunisian Arabic بكري (bikri/bokri), Moroccan Arabic بكري (bakri).


inċidentalment

Borrowed from Italian incidentalmente. By surface analysis, inċidentali + -ment.


amministrattivament

Borrowed from Italian amministrativamente. By surface analysis, amministrattiv + -ment.


psikoloġikament

Borrowed from Italian psicologicamente. By surface analysis, psikoloġiku + -ment.


regolarment

Borrowed from Italian regolarmente. By surface analysis, regolari + -ment.


konsiderabilment

Borrowed from Italian considerabilmente. By surface analysis, konsiderabbli + -ment.


konsiderevolment

Borrowed from Italian considerevolmente. By surface analysis, konsiderevoli + -ment.


finanzjarjament

Borrowed from Italian finanziariamente. By surface analysis, finanzjarju + -ment.


definittivament

Borrowed from Italian definitivamente. By surface analysis, definittiv + -ment.


indefinittivament

Borrowed from Italian indefinitivamente. By surface analysis, indefinittiv + -ment.


armonikament

Borrowed from Italian armonicamente. By surface analysis, armoniku + -ment.


profondament

Borrowed from Italian profondamente. By surface analysis, profond + -ment.


alaxalxè

Alternative form of alaxanxè: nonchalantly, carelessly


peress

Peress li din it-tip ta’ għana jkunu improviżżati, l-għannejja jridu jkunu kapaċi jaħsbu malajr.

Since this type of ghana is improvised, the singers must be capable of thinking quickly.


frankament

Borrowed from Italian francamente. By surface analysis, frank + -ment.


jimken

(literally, rare) perhaps, possibly, maybe


ġeografikament

Borrowed from Italian geograficamente. By surface analysis, ġeografiku + -ment.


frekwentement

Borrowed from Italian frequentemente. By surface analysis, frekwenti + -ment.


debitament

Borrowed from Italian debitamente. By surface analysis, debitu + -ment.


indebitament

From Italian indebitamente. By surface analysis, indebitu + -ment.


bl-imnut

prezz bl-imnut

bejgħ bl-imnut ― retail


tassewwa

Alternative form of tassew: really, truly


simbolikament

Borrowed from Italian simbolicamente. By surface analysis, simboliku + -ment.


simmetrikament

Borrowed from Italian simmetricamente. By surface analysis, simmetriku + -ment.


effettivament

Borrowed from Italian effettivamente. By surface analysis, effettiv + -ment.


effiċjentement

Borrowed from Italian efficientemente. By surface analysis, effiċjenti + -ment.


ġenjalment

Borrowed from Italian genialmente. By surface analysis, ġenjali + -ment.


ġudizzjalment

Borrowed from Italian giudizialmente. By surface analysis, ġudizzjali + -ment.


letteralment

Alternative form of litteralment: literally


impossibilment

Borrowed from Italian impossibilmente. By surface analysis, impossibbli + -ment.


perennement

Borrowed from Italian perennemente. By surface analysis, perenni + -ment.


providenzjalment

Borrowed from Italian provvidenzialmente. By surface analysis, providenzjali + -ment.


provvidenzjalment

Alternative form of providenzjalment: providentially


potenzjalment

Borrowed from Italian potenzialmente. By surface analysis, potenzjali + -ment.


partikularment

Borrowed from Italian particolarmente. By surface analysis, partikulari + -ment.


parzjalment

Borrowed from Italian parzialmente. By surface analysis, parzjali + -ment.


oġġettivament

Borrowed from Italian oggettivamente. By surface analysis, oġġettiv + -ment.


suġġettivament

Borrowed from Italian soggettivamente. By surface analysis, suġġettiv + -ment.


preċiżament

Borrowed from Italian precisamente. By surface analysis, preċiż + -ment.


impreċiżament

Borrowed from Italian imprecisamente. By surface analysis, impreċiż + -ment.


astroloġikament

Borrowed from Italian astrologicamente. By surface analysis, astroloġiku + -ment.


astronomikament

Borrowed from Italian astronomicamente. By surface analysis, astronomiku + -ment.


astrattament

Borrowed from Italian astrattamente. By surface analysis, astratt + -ment.


attentament

Borrowed from Italian attentamente. By surface analysis, attent + -ment.


sempliċement

Borrowed from Italian semplicemente. By surface analysis, sempliċi + -ment.


kollettivament

Borrowed from Italian collettivamente. By surface analysis, kollettiv + -ment.


qawqbija

Alternative form of qawqbijiet: squattingly


sagramentalment

Borrowed from Sicilian sagramentalmenti. By surface analysis, sagramentali + -ment.


ċass

From Arabic, related to Arabic جَصَّصَ (jaṣṣaṣa).


teoloġikament

Borrowed from Italian teologicamente. By surface analysis, teoloġiku + -ment.


teorikament

Borrowed from Italian teoricamente. By surface analysis, teoriku + -ment


teoretikament

Borrowed from Italian teoreticamente. By surface analysis, teoretiku + -ment

Alternative form of teorikament: theoretically


awtorevolment

Borrowed from Italian autorevolmente. By surface analysis, awtorevoli + -ment


attwalment

Borrowed from Italian attualmente. By surface analysis, attwali + -ment.

currently, now, at present, nowadays, at the moment


awtentikament

Borrowed from Italian autenticamente. By surface analysis, awtentiku + -ment.


sadattant

Probably from sa (“until”) + dan (“this”) + intant (“meanwhile”), the latter from Italian intanto (“meanwhile”). Aquilina doesn’t say anything about it.

Sadattant, mal-medda tas-snin dan l-antagoniżmu anti-Semitiku baqa’ dejjem jiżdied, anki fost il-Ġermaniżi.

2022, Alfred Massa, Il-Ħarba, Horizons, →ISBN, page 6:


validament

Borrowed from Italian validamente. By surface analysis, validu + -ment.


kimikament

Borrowed from Italian chimicamente. By surface analysis, kimiku + -ment.


oxxenament

Borrowed from Italian oscenamente. By surface analysis, oxxen + -ment.


espressament

Borrowed from Italian espressamente. By surface analysis, espress + -ment.


espressivament

Borrowed from Italian espressivamente. By surface analysis, espressiv + -ment.


traġikament

Borrowed from Italian tragicamente. By surface analysis, traġiku + -ment.


vokalment

Borrowed from Italian vocalmente. By surface analysis, vokali + -ment.


volontarjament

Borrowed from Italian volontariamente. By surface analysis, volontarju + -ment.


involontarjament

Borrowed from Italian involontariamente. By surface analysis, involontarju + -ment.


inegwalment

Alternative form of inugwalment: unequally


umanament

Borrowed from Italian umanamente. By surface analysis, uman + -ment.


inumanament

Borrowed from Italian inumanamente. By surface analysis, inuman + -ment.


umilment

Borrowed from Italian umilmente. By surface analysis, umli + -ment.


ġeometrikament

Borrowed from Italian geometricamente. By surface analysis, ġeometriku + -ment.


ġjometrikament

Alternative form of ġeometrikament: geometrically


lampravisa

(Munxar) suddenly, all of a sudden, unexpectedly, out of the blue


faċilment

Borrowed from Italian facilmente. By surface analysis, faċli + -ment.


korrettament

Borrowed from Italian correttamente. By surface analysis, korrett + -ment.


inkorrettament

Borrowed from Italian incorrettamente. By surface analysis, inkorrett + -ment.


enerġikament

Borrowed from Italian energeticamente. By surface analysis, enerġiku + -ment.


enfatikament

Borrowed from Italian enfaticamente. By surface analysis, enfatiku + -ment.


entużjastikament

Borrowed from Italian entusiasticamente. By surface analysis, entużjastiku + -ment


esaġeratament

Borrowed from Italian esageratamente. By surface analysis, esaġerat + -ment


esklużivament

Borrowed from Italian esclusivamente. By surface analysis, esklużiv + -ment


domestikament

Borrowed from Italian domesticamente. By surface analysis, domestiku + -ment.


nvell

Borrowed from Sicilian nivellu. Doublet of livell.


abbużivament

Borrowed from Sicilian abbusivamenti. By surface analysis, abbużiv + -ment.


ċavi

Borrowed from Sicilian chiavi. Doublet of ċavu.

Alternative form: ċova


lajma lajma

Borrowed from Sicilian leime leime. Compare Italian lemme lemme.


erojkament

Borrowed from Italian eroicamente. By surface analysis, erojku + -ment.


għalissa

for the time being, for now, for the moment


verament

Borrowed from Italian veramente. By surface analysis, veru + -ment.


stupidament

Borrowed from Italian stupidamente. By surface analysis, stupidu + -ment.


indeliberatament

Borrowed from Italian indeliberatamente.


indemokratikament

Borrowed from Italian indemocraticamente.


dependentement

Borrowed from Italian dipendentemente. By surface analysis, dependenti + -ment.


dipendentement

Alternative form of dependentement: dependently


independentement

Borrowed from Italian indipendentemente. By surface analysis, independenti + -ment.


indipendentement

Alternative form of independentement: independently


differentement

Borrowed from Italian differentemente. By surface analysis, differenti + -ment.


indifferentement

Borrowed from Italian indifferentemente. By surface analysis, indifferenti + -ment.


kontrija

first-person singular pronominal form of kontra: against me


kontrik

second-person singular pronominal form of kontra: against you


kontrih

second-person masculine singular pronominal form of kontra: against him


kontriha

second-person feminine singular pronominal form of kontra: against her


kontrina

first-person plural pronominal form of kontra: against us


kontrikom

second-person plural pronominal form of kontra: against you


kontrihom

third-person plural pronominal form of kontra: against them


falzament

Borrowed from Italian falsamente. By surface analysis, falz + -ment.


familjarment

Borrowed from Italian familiarmente. By surface analysis, familjari + -ment


ġieli

From ġie + li, literally “it came that”.


bilwieqfa

standing; in a standing position (used with verbs like qam)


jankella

Alternative form of jonkella: else, otherwise


nażalment

Borrowed from Italian nasalmente. By surface analysis, nażali + -ment.


etimoloġikament

Borrowed from Italian etimologicamente. By surface analysis, etimoloġiku + -ment.


topografikament

Borrowed from Italian topograficamente. By surface analysis, topografiku + -ment.


terminoloġikament

Borrowed from Italian terminologicamente. By surface analysis, terminoloġiku + -ment.


dallejl

kollox għafsa. kollox fastidju. forsi
għax għadu (wisq) kmieni. forsi.
għax dallejl xtaqt stajt nimtedd maġenbek
u dalgħodu stenbaħt
b’subgħajja mwebbla għal ponn ramel
u d-diqa mwebsa ma’ ħaddejja.

Alternative spelling of dal-lejl: last night


wkoll

post-vocalic and alternative basic form of ukoll


dlonk

U tela’ għas-sur, wisq imgħaddab,
u kaxkar kull xitla, kull żrara,
u l-bejta dlonk ħataf, ġarr miegħu
bl-għasafar, jaħasra xi ħsara!


ħoss il-miss

Rhyming reduplication of ħoss. Compare Moroccan Arabic حسي مسي (ḥassi massi).