jaqaw

Maltese

Root
w-q-għ
2 terms

Etymology

Probably from jaqa’ (“it happens”, literally “falls”) + u (“and”), in the sense “it may so happen that ...”. Aquilina interprets the second part as the pronoun hu, but this seems less likely.

Pronunciation

IPA^(key): /jaˈʔaw/

Adverb

jaqaw

maybe, perhaps
Synonyms: (commonest) forsi, (dated) jewwilla, (literary, rarer) jimken
- 2018 [1977], Alfred Massa, L-Istar tal-Imgħoddi, 2nd edition, Horizons, page 18:
  “X’tagħmel, Rob! Isma’, jaqaw ċempiltli d-dar?” staqsejtu biex naqilbu ftit id-diska.
  (please add an English translation of this quotation)