milgħaqa

Maltese
Root
l-għ-q
5 terms

Etymology

From Arabic ⁧مِلْعَقة⁩ (milʕaqa, “spoon”, literally “licking tool”).

A more etymological spelling would be milagħqa, because the underlying form is *milgħqa, where -a- was inserted to break up the inadmissible consonant cluster (as similarly in mibegħda). The spelling milgħaqa implies an Arabic ⁧*مِلْعاقة⁩ (*milʕāqa). However, Maltese does not apply the etymological principle slavishly.

Pronunciation
  • IPA(key): /mɪˈlaː.ʔa/
  • IPA(key): /mɪˈlaˤː.ʔa/ (archaic)

Noun

milgħaqa f (plural milgħaqiet)

  1. teaspoon, coffee spoon
    Synonym: (commoner) kuċċarina

See also
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