mgħix

Maltese

Etymology

Derived from the present form jgħix (“he lives”) by analogy with other verbs in which the past participle is equivalent to the present tense + prefix m-, such as jibni (“he builds”) → mibni (“built”). The fact that this form is equivalent to Classical Arabic مَعِيش (maʕīš) is merely coincidental. In the verb għex the improper form is equally common as the proper megħjux because the participle as such is rare and therefore mostly formed ad hoc. One also finds mgħin for megħjun (“helped”) and mgħib for megħjub (“disappeared”), but these are exceptional.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /mɛjʃ/, /majʃ/
• IPA^(key): /məˤjʃ/ (archaic)

Participle

mgħix (feminine mgħixa, plural mgħixa or mgħixin)

1. (nonstandard) Alternative form of megħjux, the past participle of għex: lived

   il-ħajja mgħixa ― lived life (i.e. real, actual life)