elef

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic آلَاف (ʔālāf). The expected form is *elief, but the stress was shifted backwards under the influence of a following noun. In independent position, *elief was probably maintained at first; it was then absorbed by eluf and restricted to the vague sense “thousands”.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈɛ.lɛf/

Numeral

elef pl

1. paucal of elf

Usage notes

• This form is used with numbers between three and ten to indicate “thousand”:

ħamest elef ― five thousand

għaxart elef siġra ― ten thousand trees