żżagħbel

Maltese

Root
ż-għ-b-l
1 term

Alternative forms

• iżżagħbel (after a consonant, mostly also after a pause)

Etymology

The sense “to mock, make fun of” is attested in Panzavecchia's Bible translation (earlier 19th c.), hence the original meaning may have been “to joke, talk idly”. Perhaps related with Arabic خُزَعْبِل (ḵuzaʕbil, “made-up and ridiculous story, palaver”). Compare also żeblaħ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /(ɪ)zˈzaː.bɛl/
• IPA^(key): /(ɪ)zˈzaˤː.bɛl/ (archaic)

Verb

żżagħbel (imperfect jiżżagħbel, past participle miżżagħbel, verbal noun żagħbil)

1. to frolic, disport oneself, pass time with idle amusement

Conjugation

Conjugation of żżagħbel

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	żżagħbilt	żżagħbilt	żżagħbel		żżagħbilna	żżagħbiltu	żżagħblu
	f			żżagħblet
imperfect	m	niżżagħbel	tiżżagħbel	jiżżagħbel		niżżagħblu	tiżżagħblu	jiżżagħblu
	f			tiżżagħbel
imperative			żżagħbel				żżagħblu