għ

See also: gh, GH, Għ, and .gh

Maltese

Pronunciation

  • (phoneme) IPA(key): /-/, /ˁ/, /ː/, /ɛ/, /j/, /w/, /ħ/

Letter

għ (upper case Għ)

  1. The ninth letter of the Maltese alphabet, called ajn and written in the Latin script.

Usage notes

  • Maltese għ continues Arabic ع‎ (ʿ) and غ‎ (ḡ). In the early 19th century, the two phonemes were apparently still distinguished as /ʕ/ and /ʁ/ respectively. Soon afterwards, however, they were merged into one phoneme /ʕ/, which was regularly devoiced to [ħ] in word-final position. This is the phonological system on which Maltese spelling is based.
  • In contemporary Maltese, għ remains a true consonant [ħ] in word-final position (maqtugħ [maʔtuːħ]) and in the cluster -għh-, which becomes [ħː]. Otherwise it is silent or leaves at most a vocalic trace:
    • Following and preceding a, e, o are lengthened: għoġol [ɔːdʒɔl], nagħġa [naːdʒa].
    • Following i, u become diphthongs: bgħid [bɛjt].
    • In intervocalic position it is a glide, [j] after i, ie, and [w] after u: tiegħek [tɪːjɛk], maqtugħa [maʔtuːwa].
    • Adjacent vowels may also be laryngealised in very conservative accents, thus alternatively [ɔˁːdʒɔl], [bɛˁjt], etc., for the above.

See also

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