għoli

Maltese

Root
għ-l-j (height)
6 terms

Etymology

From Arabic عالِي (ʕālī, “high”). The irregular -o- probably from a merger with عُلْيَا (ʕulyā), feminine of أَعْلَى (ʔaʕlā, “higher, very high”), elative of the first-mentioned adjective. Because of this development, homophony with għali (“expensive”), from Arabic غالِي (ḡālī), was avoided; be it that this was by chance or that the beginning merger of Arabic ع (ʕ) and غ (ḡ) reinforced the vowel change.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɔːlɪ/
• IPA^(key): /ˈɔˤːlɪ/ (archaic)

Adjective

għoli (feminine singular għolja, plural għoljin, comparative ogħla)

1. high; tall

   Antonym: baxx

2. loud

   Antonym: baxx

See also

• għali