ħabrieki

Maltese

Etymology

Belonging to a four-consonantal root of uncertain origin. Most propably an extension of one of the following Arabic roots (or a merger of them):

Joseph Aquilina linked it with ح ب ك (ḥ-b-k); compare حَبَكَ (ḥabaka, “to tighten, make firm, do properly”).
Reinhart Dozy linked it with ح ر ك (ḥ-r-k); compare حَرَّكَ (ḥarraka, “to move, make move, urge on”).
The root خ ب ر (ḵ-b-r) might also be considered; compare خَبِير (ḵabīr, “expert, knowledgeable, experienced”).

More fanciful possibilities include Arabic هَبْرَك (habrak, “young and full-grown”), where the semantics and (to some degree) also the phonetics are problematic; or a derivation from ħa (“to take”) + barka (“blessing”), in the sense of “one who is blessed in his work” (compare Arabic أَخَذَ بَرَكَةً (ʔaḵaḏa barakatan, “to receive blessing, be blessed”)).

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ħabˈrɪːkɪ/

Adjective

ħabrieki (feminine singular ħabrieka, plural ħabrieka)

diligent; working with diligence and effort