ġie

From Arabic جَاءَ (jāʔa, “to come”). As in some Arabic dialects, a suppletive form is usually used for the imperative. Maltese ejja, ejjew seem to be from the interjection هَيَّا (hayyā, “come!, come on!, let’s go!”). Since Maltese h would have left no phonetic trace in this position, the lack of it in the spelling may be simply because the relation was not recognised or not considered certain. It is also possible, however, that some early source already spells it without h. This would weaken the proposed etymology, but not rule it out.

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒɪː/

ġie (imperfect jiġi, active participle ġej, verbal noun miġi)

1. to come

   is-sena li ġejja ― next year

   Huwa ma jridx jiġi magħna. ― He doesn’t want to come with us.

   Ejja miegħi. ― Come with me.

2. to land on

   Ġiet għal wiċċha ― She landed on her face.

3. to end up
4. to remember [with f’]

   Ma ġejniex fihom. ― We didn’t remember them.

5. to recover [with f’ta’]

   Ġew f’tagħhom. ― They recovered.

6. to find oneself; to become
7. to menstruate

   Ġieha. ― She is menstruating.

8. to fit, suit

   Din il-ġobba m’għadhiex tiġini. ― This petticoat doesn't fit me anymore.

9. to be situated

   Marsaxlokk fejn jiġi? ― Where is Marsaxlokk situated?