elef

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic آلَاف (ʔālāf). The expected form is *elief, but the stress was shifted backwards under the influence of a following noun. In independent position, *elief was probably maintained at first; it was then absorbed by eluf and restricted to the vague sense “thousands”.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈɛ.lɛf/

Numeral

elef pl

  1. paucal of elf

Usage notes

  • This form is used with numbers between three and ten to indicate “thousand”:
ħamest elef ― five thousand
għaxart elef siġra ― ten thousand trees
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