ma’ nżul ix-xemx – s východem slunce

 

 

 

The Maltese word ix-xemx means “the sun.”

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• xemx (noun, feminine) – sun

• ix-xemx – the sun, with the definite article “ix-“

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🧬 Etymology:

• From Arabic: šams (شمس) – “sun”

• Same Semitic root in:

  • Hebrew: שמש (shemesh)

  • Aramaic: šemša

  • Syriac: šemšā

• Notice the phonetic conservation of the “š-m-š” consonantal root across Semitic languages.

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📚 Grammatical Notes:

• Gender: Feminine (like Arabic and Hebrew!)

• With article: Because xemx begins with the consonant “x”, which corresponds to the voiceless postalveolar fricative /ʃ/ (like English “sh”), the definite article “il-“ becomes “ix-“, as per Maltese sun-letter assimilation rules:

  • xemx → ix-xemx (the sun)

• Plural: Very rarely used in plural, but xemxijiet can exist in poetic or figurative usage (“suns”).

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🌍 Usage & Idioms:

• Qed toħroġ ix-xemx – “The sun is coming out.”

• Xemx taħraq – “Scorching sun.”

• Il-ħajja hija xemx u dell – “Life is sun and shadow.” (used proverbially)

• Bla xemx, bla tama – “Without sun, without hope.”