bitħa

Maltese

Root
b-t-ħ
2 terms

Etymology

From Arabic بَطْحَاء (baṭḥāʔ). As usually in Maltese, the emphatic -ṭ- was made plain early on by dissimilation against the -ḥ- (otherwise we would expect *batħa). Compare Tunisian Arabic بَطْحَة.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈbɪt.ħa/

Noun

bitħa f (plural btieħi, diminutive btejħa)

1. yard, courtyard (open area by a house)