zekzek

Maltese

Root
z-k-z-k
1 term

Etymology

Probably an alteration of żekżek (“to peep, chirp”), from Arabic زَقْزَقَ (zaqzaqa). The change from [z] to the harsher [t͡s] perhaps onomatopoetic for muffled, aggressive speech.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡sɛk.t͡sɛk/

Verb

zekzek (imperfect jzekzek, past participle mzekzek, verbal noun zekzik)

1. to gossip

   In-nies biss izekzku fuqha, għaliex jgħiru għaliha.

   People only gossip about her because they envy her.

2. to hiss
3. to twitter
4. to utter a number of repeated [t͡s]-sounds to express disapproval

Conjugation

Conjugation of zekzek

		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	zekzikt	zekzikt	zekzek		zekzikna	zekziktu	zekzku
	f			zekzket
imperfect	m	nzekzek	zzekzek	jzekzek		nzekzku	zzekzku	jzekzku
	f			zzekzek
imperative			zekzek				zekzku