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raba'. In DICTIOUS you will not only get to know all the dictionary meanings for the word
raba', but we will also tell you about its etymology, its characteristics and you will know how to say
raba' in singular and plural. Everything you need to know about the word
raba' you have here. The definition of the word
raba' will help you to be more precise and correct when speaking or writing your texts. Knowing the definition of
raba', as well as those of other words, enriches your vocabulary and provides you with more and better linguistic resources.
Maltese
Pronunciation
Etymology 1
From Arabic رابِع (rābiʕ).
The ordinal numbers of 5, 7, 9 and 10 were originally distinguished from the attributive cardinal numbers by vowel length, e.g. ħames with for “five” and for “fifth”. However, since numerals do not usually bear strong stress in the noun phrase, this distinction ultimately collapsed and the short vowel was generalised. Analogously, raba' (“fourth”) was also affected by this shortening, but the form nevertheless remained distinct from erba’ (“four”). By contrast, tieni (“second”) and tielet (“third”) have preserved their long vowel.
Numeral
raba’
- (ordinal number) fourth
Etymology 2
From Arabic رَبْع (rabʕ).
Noun
raba’ m
- agricultural land; fields
- countryside
- Synonym: kampanja