għoli

Maltese
Root
għ-l-j (height)
5 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
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