Where does “għalla” come from?

għalla (Maltese) comes from Arabic غلى, from South Levantine Arabic غلي, from Arabic غَلَا — to be excessive, to be or become expensive.

għalla (Maltese): to boil (a liquid); to cause to boil; to cook by boiling

Definitions

  1. to boil (a liquid); to cause to boil; to cook by boiling

Ancestry of “għalla”, step by step

StepLanguageWordMeaning
1Arabicغلىto boil
2South Levantine Arabicغليto boil
3Arabicغَلَاto be excessive, to be or become expensive
Every word from Arabic غَلَا →Every word from South Levantine Arabic غلي →Every word from Arabic غلى →