raba'

See also: raba and Rába

Maltese

Root
r-b-għ
9 terms

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈra.ba/
  • IPA(key): /ˈra.baˤ/ (archaic)
  • Rhymes: -aba, -abaˤ

Etymology 1

Maltese numbers (edit)
 ←  3 4 5  → 
    Cardinal: erbgħa
    Attributive cardinal: (short form) erba’, (long form) erbat
    Ordinal: raba’
    Adverbial: erba’ darbiet
    Fractional: kwart, (obsolete) robbu

From Arabic رابِع (rābiʕ).

The ordinal numbers of 5, 7, 9 and 10 were originally distinguished from the attributive cardinal numbers by vowel length, e.g. ħames with [a] for “five” and [aː] for “fifth”. However, since numerals do not usually bear strong stress in the noun phrase, this distinction ultimately collapsed and the short vowel was generalised. Analogously, raba’ (“fourth”) was also affected by this shortening, but the form nevertheless remained distinct from erba’ (“four”). By contrast, tieni (“second”) and tielet (“third”) have preserved their long vowel.

Numeral

raba’

  1. (ordinal number) fourth

Etymology 2

From Arabic رَبْع (rabʕ).

Noun

raba’ m

  1. agricultural land; fields
  2. countryside
    Synonym: kampanja
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