xiex
Maltese edit
Etymology edit
From x’ + earlier *iex (“what”), of which latter x’ is itself a contraction, thus a reduplicative formation. *iex is from Arabic أَيُّ شَيْء (ʔayyu šayʔ, literally “what thing”), exactly equivalent to Moroccan Arabic آش (ʔāš). Also cognate with Hijazi Arabic إيش (ēš), where the contracted vowel is different, however.
Pronunciation edit
Pronoun edit
xiex
- (interrogative) what
Usage notes edit
- Used following a verb or preposition and in isolation. For details on usage, see the notes at x’.