għal għarrieda
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Maltese[edit]
Alternative forms[edit]
Etymology[edit]
From Arabic عَلَى غَيْرِ إرادَة (ʕalā ḡayri ʔirāda, “involuntarily”). By surface analysis, għal + għajr + rieda. The development from “involuntarily” to “unexpectedly” is semantically straightforward. Theories that connect the expression with Arabic عَرَض (ʕaraḍ, “unexpected event, accident”) are ruled out by the fact that Vassali notes għarrieda with initial غ (ḡ).
Pronunciation[edit]
Adverb[edit]
għal għarrieda
- suddenly, at once, unexpectedly, without warning