ħaddiem

Maltese

Root
ħ-d-m
5 terms

Etymology

From Arabic خَدَّام (ḵaddām).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ħadˈdɪːm/

Noun

ħaddiem m (plural ħaddiema or ħaddemin, feminine ħaddiema)

1. worker, laborer
   • 1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Ir-Riħ u l-Bnazzi”, in Mill-Gallerija ta’ Żgħożiti:

     Ħarbat, mewwet dawk id-dwieli,
     wild il-għaraq tal-ħaddiem,
     żomm il-fqir ġol-gorboġ waħdu,
     u bla ħobż, bla dawl, bla sliem!

     Destroy, kill those vines,
     the offspring of the worker’s sweat,
     keep the poor man in the hovel alone,
     without bread, without light, without peace!