għaliex

Maltese

Etymology

From underlying Arabic عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء‎ (ʿalā ʾayyi šayʾ, literally “on what thing”). Equivalent to 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
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