xebba

Maltese

Etymology

From Arabic شَابَّة (šābba), feminine of شابّ (šābb). By surface analysis, xebb +‎ -a.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ˈʃɛb.ba/
  • Homophone: xebba’ (except archaically)

Noun

xebba f (plural xebbiet, masculine xebb, diminutive xbejba)

  1. female adolescent or young woman; girl (in this sense)
    Synonym: tfajla
  2. bachelorette, damsel (unmarried girl or woman)
  3. (religion or dated) virgin, maiden (girl or woman without sexual experience)
    Synonym: verġni
  • xbubija