tnikker

Maltese

Root
n-k-r
2 terms

Etymology

Apparently from Arabic تَنَكَّرَ (tanakkara). The Maltese sense of workshyness (seen as a grave character flaw) could derive directly from the original meaning “to change to a dubious or negative state”. An alternative path might be “to disguise oneself” → “to feign, affect” → “to act unwillingly”.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈtnɪk.kɛr/

Verb

tnikker (imperfect jitnikker, verbal noun tnikkir)

  1. to be workshy, to work little or reluctantly
  2. to loiter, hang around, lie in

Conjugation

Conjugation of tnikker (Form V)
positive forms
singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person
perfect m tnikkirt tnikkirt tnikker tnikkirna tnikkirtu tnikkru
f tnikkret
imperfect m nitnikker titnikker jitnikker nitnikkru titnikkru jitnikkru
f titnikker
imperative tnikker tnikkru
negative forms
singular plural
1st person 2nd person 3rd person 1st person 2nd person 3rd person
perfect m tnikkirtx tnikkirtx tnikkirx tnikkirniex tnikkirtux tnikkrux
f tnikkritx
imperfect m nitnikkirx titnikkirx jitnikkirx nitnikkrux titnikkrux jitnikkrux
f titnikkirx
imperative titnikkirx titnikkrux
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