ziju

Borrowed from Sicilian ziu, from Latin thius, from Ancient Greek θεῖος (theîos). Displaced the native Arabic terms għamm (“paternal uncle”) and ħal (“maternal uncle”), in part probably because this distinction is less relevant in the European family system.

• IPA^(key): /ˈt͡siː.ju/

ziju m (plural zijiet, feminine zija)

1. uncle

   Hyponyms: ħal (“maternal uncle”), għamm (“paternal uncle”)

   Għandu relazzjoni ħafna tajba ma’ zijuh.

   He has a very good relationship with his uncle.

   • c. 2015, Il-Bibbja : il-Kotba Mqaddsa, 5th edition, Valletta: Ghaqda Biblika Maltija, →OCLC, Il-Ktieb tal-Levitiku 10:4:

     Mosè sejjaħ lil Misael u lil Elsafan, ulied Għużżijel, iz-ziju ta’ Aron, u qalilhom: “Ersqu ’l hawn u ħudu lill-kuġini tagħkom minn quddiem il-post qaddis ’il barra mill-kamp.”

     New International Version translation: Moses summoned Mishael and Elzaphan, sons of Aaron’s uncle Uzziel, and said to them, “Come here; carry your cousins outside the camp, away from the front of the sanctuary.”