tifla

Maltese

Root
t-f-l
8 terms

Etymology

From Arabic طِفْلة (ṭifla, “little girl”), feminine of طِفْل (ṭifl). Equivalent to tifel +‎ -a.

The plural bniet is from Arabic بَنات (banāt), thus originally plural of bint (“daughter”), but now not commonly used anymore to mean “female offspring” specifically, for which ulied bniet (literally “children girls”).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈtɪf.la/
• Rhymes: -ɪfla

Noun

tifla f (plural bniet, masculine tifel, diminutive tfajla)

1. girl, female child