xiex
Maltese
[edit]Etymology
[edit]From x’ + earlier *iex (“what”), of which latter x’ is itself a contraction, thus a reduplicative formation. *iex is from Arabic أَيُّ شَيْء (ʔayyu šayʔ, literally “what thing”), exactly equivalent to Moroccan Arabic آش (ʔāš). Also cognate with Hijazi Arabic إيش (ēš), where the contracted vowel is different, however.
Pronunciation
[edit]Pronoun
[edit]xiex
- (interrogative) what
Usage notes
[edit]- Used following a verb or preposition and in isolation. For details on usage, see the notes at x’.