għal għarrieda

Maltese

Alternative forms

• għall-għarrieda

Etymology

From Arabic عَلَى غَيْرِ إرادَة (ʕalā ḡayri ʔirāda, “involuntarily”). By surface analysis, għal +‎ għajr +‎ rieda. The development from “involuntarily” to “unexpectedly” is semantically straightforward. Theories that connect the expression with Arabic عَرَض (ʕaraḍ, “unexpected event, accident”) are ruled out by the fact that Vassali notes għarrieda with initial غ (ḡ).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˌaː.l‿arˈrɪː.da/
  • IPA^(key): /ˌaˤː.l‿aˤːrˈrɪː.da/ (archaic)
  • IPA^(key): /ˌaːl ɣarˈrɪː.da/, /ˌaˤːl-/ (archaic, rural)

Adverb

għal għarrieda

1. suddenly, at once, unexpectedly, without warning