għarus

Maltese

Root
għ-r-s
4 terms

Etymology

From Arabic عَرُوس (ʿarūs, usually “bride”, but also “bridegroom”). Used the same way in city dialects of Tunisia. Possibly in part a backformation from the marked feminine għarusa, from Arabic عَرُوسة (ʕarūsa, “bride”). The commoner Arabic word for “bridegroom” is عَرِيس (ʕarīs).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /aˈruːs/
• IPA^(key): /aˤːˈruːs/ (archaic)

• Audio (Gozo):

  (file)

Noun

għarus m (plural għarajjes, feminine għarusa)

1. bridegroom, groom
   • 1975, Anton Buttigieg, “Il-Ħajja u l-Għarajjes”, in L-Għanja tas-Sittin:

     Il-Ħajja ma’ l-għarajjes
     daret kollha daħkana;
     għalihom ferħ biss kellha
     u daqq u żfin u għana,
     xita ta’ ross, xewqiet
     f’għomor mimli għaxqiet;

     (please add an English translation of this quotation)