Għawdex

Maltese

Mappa satellitari ta' Għawdex u Kemmuna

Etymology

From Arabic غَوْدَش (ḡawdaš), eventually probably from a Phoenician root 𐤂-𐤅-𐤋 (g-w-l), meaning something like “turn around”. If this derivation is correct, the Arabs must have got the name from Ancient Greek Γαύδος (Gaúdos), Γαύλος (Gaúlos), perhaps through Latin Gaudos, Gaulos. The specifics of the borrowing are related to the question of the pre-Arabic language of Malta and whether there was any population continuity after the conquest.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈaːw.dɛʃ/, /ˈaw.dɛʃ/
  • IPA^(key): /ˈaˤːw.dɛʃ/ (archaic)
  • IPA^(key): /ˈɣaw.dɛʃ/ (archaic, rural)

Proper noun

Għawdex m

1. Gozo (The second-largest island of the Republic of Malta)

Derived terms

• Għawdxi
• Għawdxija