maħafi

Maltese

Root
ħ-w-f
6 terms

Etymology

Univerbation of ma’ (“with”) +‎ *ħaf (“fear”) +‎ -i, literally “with fear”, *ħaf is possibly the verbal noun of hypothetical form I *ħaf from خَافَ (ḵāfa, “to fear”). Perhaps *ħaf has merged or superceded by ħaf (“to roam”), itself from a metathesis of Arabic حَفِيَ (ḥafiya, “to walk barefoot”) Compare the same in Arabic مَعَ خَوْف (maʕa ḵawf).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ma.ˈħaː.fɪ/
• Rhymes: -fɪ

Noun

maħafi m (obsolete)

1. fear

   Synonym: biża’

   Hemm bżonn li meta taqsam it-triq, dan tagħmlu bil-maħafi. ― Literally: There is need that when you cross the road, you do it with fear.

   It is necessary that when you cross the road, you do so with caution.