tnikker

Maltese

Root
n-k-r
2 terms

Etymology

Apparently from Arabic تَنَكَّرَ (tanakkara). The Maltese sense of workshyness (seen as a grave character flaw) could derive directly from the original meaning “to change to a dubious or negative state”. An alternative path might be “to disguise oneself” → “to feign, affect” → “to act unwillingly”.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /ˈtnɪk.kɛr/

Verb

tnikker (imperfect jitnikker, verbal noun tnikkir)

to be workshy, to work little or reluctantly
to loiter, hang around, lie in

Conjugation

Conjugation of tnikker
		singular			plural
		1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person	1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person
perfect	m	tnikkirt	tnikkirt	tnikker	tnikkirna	tnikkirtu	tnikkru
perfect	f	tnikkirt	tnikkirt	tnikkret	tnikkirna	tnikkirtu	tnikkru
imperfect	m	nitnikker	titnikker	jitnikker	nitnikkru	titnikkru	jitnikkru
imperfect	f	nitnikker	titnikker	titnikker	nitnikkru	titnikkru	jitnikkru
imperative			tnikker			tnikkru