għoli
Maltese
Etymology
From Arabic عالِي (ʿālī, “high”). The irregular -o- probably from a merger with عُلْيَا (ʿulyā), feminine of أَعْلَى (ʾaʿlā, “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 (ʿ) and غ (ḡ) reinforced the vowel change.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /ˈɔːlɪ/
- IPA(key): /ˈɔˤːlɪ/ (archaic)
Adjective
għoli (feminine singular għolja, plural għoljin, comparative ogħla)
- high; tall
- loud
Antonyms
- baxx
See also
- għali