Maltese edit

Maltese numbers (edit)
2 3  → [a], [b]
    Cardinal: tnejn
    Attributive cardinal: (short form) żewġ, (long form) żewġt, (short form) ġiex, (long form) ġiext
    Ordinal: tieni
    Adverbial: darbtejn
    Fractional: nofs

Pronunciation edit

Numeral edit

ġiext m or f

  1. long attributive form of of tnejn (two)
    Synonym: żewġt
    Coordinate term: (short attributive form) ġiex
    Alternative form: ġuxt

Usage notes edit

  • The attributive forms are used before counted nouns.
  • The long form is often favoured in words containing fewer syllables and beginning with either an epenthetic vowel or a consonant cluster requiring an epenthetic vowel before the first consonant. In the latter case, the epenthetic vowel is added as in the following example: tfal (children)ġiext itfal (two children). Note, only select exceptional words such as (i)jiem, erwieħ or snin strictly warrant the long form, other words merely consider it optional and usage varies from speaker to speaker from time to time. That is to say ġiex tfal is possible, but unlikely given the consonant cluster & monosyllabic nature of the word.