demgħa

Maltese

Root
d-m-għ
2 terms

Etymology

From Arabic دَمْعَة (damʕa).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛ.ma/
• IPA^(key): /ˈdɛ.maˤ/ (archaic)

Noun

demgħa f (dual demagħtejn, plural dmugħ, paucal demgħat)

1. tear (drop of clear salty liquid from the eyes)
   • 1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Fuq Qabar Oħti”, in Fanali bil-Lejl:

     U waqt li nħares fuq ta’ qalbi x-xitla
     tat-tifkiriet tinbet tifkira ġdida,
     b’warda ta’ swied il-qalb fejn tilma demgħa
     minn ħbub għajnejja.

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)

Usage notes

• The dual is used in the sense of “one or two tears, a few tears”.