għaliex

Maltese

Etymology

From underlying Arabic عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء (ʕalā ʔayyi šayʔ, literally “on what thing”). By surface analysis, għal (“for”) +‎ *iex (“what”); see xiex for the latter. Cognate with Moroccan Arabic علاش (ʕlāš, “why”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /aˈlɪːʃ/
  • IPA(key): /aˤːˈlɪːʃ/ (archaic)

Adverb

għaliex

  1. (interrogative) why (for what reason)`
    Alternative form: għala
    Synonym: għalfejn

Noun

għaliex m

  1. cause, reason, why
    Alternative form: għala
    Għadni ma nafx il-għaliex ― I still don't know the reason

Derived terms

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