-ejn

Maltese

Alternative forms

• -ajn (sometimes after “dark” consonants)

Etymology

From Arabic ين (-ayn), oblique case form of ان (-ān), the dual suffix.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ɛjn/

Suffix

-ejn

1. a plural suffix used in a few nouns that come in pairs

   għajn (“eye”) → għajnejn (“eyes”)

   id (“hand”) → idejn (“hands”)

2. a dual suffix used in a few nouns that are often counted, chiefly measures of time

   jum (“day”) → jumejn (“two days”) versus jiem (“days”)

   sena (“year”) → sentejn (“two years”) versus snin (“years”)

See also

• -i
• -iet
• -ijiet
• -in