għaliex

Maltese

Etymology

From underlying Arabic عَلَى أَيِّ شَيْء (ʕalā ʔayyi šayʔ, literally “on what thing”). By surface analysis, għal (“for”) +‎ *iex (“what”); see xiex for the latter. Cognate with Moroccan Arabic علاش (ʕlāš, “why”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈlɪːʃ/
• IPA^(key): /aˤːˈlɪːʃ/ (archaic)

Adverb

għaliex

1. (interrogative) why (for what reason)

   Synonyms: għalfejn, għala

Noun

għaliex m

1. cause, reason, why

Derived terms

• għax (perhaps)