xiex
Maltese
editEtymology
editFrom x’ + earlier *iex (“what”), of which latter x’ is itself a contraction, thus a reduplicative formation. *iex is from Arabic أَيُّ شَيْء (ʔayyu šayʔ, literally “what thing”), exactly equivalent to Moroccan Arabic آش (ʔāš). Also cognate with Hijazi Arabic إيش (ēš), where the contracted vowel is different, however.
Pronunciation
editPronoun
editxiex
- (interrogative) what
Usage notes
edit- Used following a verb or preposition and in isolation. For details on usage, see the notes at x’.