bugħarwien

Maltese

Etymology

From bu (father) +‎ għarwien (naked), thus “father of naked”, meaning “the one who’s always naked”. Compare semantically German Nacktschnecke, Greek γυμνοσάλιαγκας (gymnosáliagkas).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /bu.warˈwɪːn/
  • IPA(key): /bu.aˤːrˈwɪːn/ (archaic)
  • Rhymes: -ɪːn

Noun

bugħarwien m

  1. slug

Usage notes

  • No plural forms are attestable in actual use on the internet, though one dictionary gives bugħariewen. Generally, the form bugħarwien seems to be used as both singular and collective.