xniegħa

Maltese

Root
x-n-għ
1 term

Etymology

From Arabic شَنَاعَة (šanāʕa, “repulsiveness, abomination”), probably referring to the scandalous subject matter, but perhaps also because gossip is itself repulsive.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʃnɪː.ja/
• IPA^(key): /ˈʃnɪː.aˤ/ (archaic)

Noun

xniegħa f (plural xnigħat)

1. rumor
2. gossip

   Synonym: zekzik