nixxa

Maltese

Root
n-x-j
1 term

Etymology

Probably denominal from nixa (“leak water, leakage”), from Arabic نَشَع (našaʕ). This would explain the absence of the pharyngeal in the root, since word-final għ became weak early on. Alternatively intensive of the verb نَشَعَ (našaʕa).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈnɪʃ.ʃa/

Verb

nixxa (imperfect jnixxi)

1. to ooze, leak (flow out in small amounts)

Conjugation

Conjugation of nixxa
		singular				plural
		1st person	2nd person	3rd person		1st person	2nd person	3rd person
perfect	m	nixxejt	nixxejt	nixxa		nixxejna	nixxejtu	nixxew
	f			nixxiet
imperfect	m	nnixxi	tnixxi	jnixxi		nnixxu	tnixxu	jnixxu
	f			tnixxi
imperative			nixxi				nixxu