ħlieqa

Maltese

Root
ħ-l-q
8 terms

Etymology

Probably identical to ħliqa (“creature”), which see. Artificially distinguished in spelling as -i- and -ie- are merged before -q-. The sense “joke” then from “something unreal, made up”, “a creation of one’s wit”. Compare in classical Arabic أَحادِيث الخَلْق (ʔaḥādīṯ al-ḵalq, “fables of a storyteller”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈħlɪːʔa/
• Homophone: ħliqa

Noun

ħlieqa f (plural ħliqiet)

1. joke; something silly

   Synonym: ċajta

Noun

ħlieqa f (plural ħlejjaq)

1. Misspelling of ħliqa.