żżagħbel

Maltese

Root
ż-għ-b-l
1 term

Alternative forms

iżżagħbel (after a consonant)

Etymology

The sense “to mock, make fun of” is attested in Panzavecchia's Bible translation (earlier 19th c.), hence the original meaning may have been “to joke, talk idly”. Perhaps related with Arabic خُزَعْبِل‎ (ḵuzaʿbil, “made-up and ridiculous story, palaver”). Compare also żeblaħ.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /(ɪ)zˈzaː.bɛl/
IPA^(key): /(ɪ)zˈzaˤː.bɛl/ (archaic)

Verb

żżagħbel (imperfect jiżżagħbel, past participle miżżagħbel, verbal noun żagħbil)

to frolic, disport oneself, pass time with idle amusement

Conjugation

Conjugation of żżagħbel

		singular			plural
		1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person	1^st person	2^nd person	3^rd person
perfect	m	żżagħbilt	żżagħbilt	żżagħbel	żżagħbilna	żżagħbiltu	żżagħblu
perfect	f	żżagħbilt	żżagħbilt	żżagħblet	żżagħbilna	żżagħbiltu	żżagħblu
imperfect	m	niżżagħbel	tiżżagħbel	jiżżagħbel	niżżagħblu	tiżżagħblu	jiżżagħblu
imperfect	f	niżżagħbel	tiżżagħbel	tiżżagħbel	niżżagħblu	tiżżagħblu	jiżżagħblu
imperative			żżagħbel			żżagħblu