għoli

Maltese

Etymology
Root
għ-l-j
7 terms

From Arabic عالِي‎ (ʕālī, “high”). The irregular -o- probably from a merger with عُلْيَا‎ (ʕulyā), feminine of أَعْلَى‎ (ʔaʕlā, “higher, very high”), elative of the first-mentioned adjective. Because of this development, homophony with għali (“expensive”), from Arabic غالِي‎ (ḡālī), was avoided; be it that this was by chance or that the beginning merger of Arabic ع‎ (ʕ) and غ‎ (ḡ) reinforced the vowel change.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /ˈɔːlɪ/
  • IPA(key): /ˈɔˤːlɪ/ (archaic)

Adjective

għoli (feminine singular għolja, plural għoljin, comparative ogħla)

  1. high; tall
  2. loud

Antonyms

See also
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