Ġesù

See also: Gesù

Maltese

Etymology

Borrowed from Sicilian Gesù, from Latin Iesus, from Ancient Greek Ἰησοῦς (Iēsoûs), from Hebrew יֵשׁוּעַ (yēšu^aʿ), contraction of יְהוֹשֻׁעַ (yəhōšu^aʿ). Around 1800 the Muslim Arabic form Għisa was still attested, albeit marginally. The final stress in Maltese Ġesù also makes it seem likely that this Italo-Romance form did not immediately establish itself among the general populace, since it would then be expected to a stress shift of the first syllable.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /d͡ʒɛˈsuː/

Proper noun

Ġesù m

1. Jesus

   Synonym: (obsolete) Għisa