għal għarrieda

• għall-għarrieda

From Arabic ⁧عَلَى غَيْرِ إرادَة⁩ (ʕalā ḡayri ʔirāda, “involuntarily”). By surface analysis, għal +‎ għajr +‎ rieda. The development from “involuntarily” to “unexpectedly” is semantically straightforward. Theories that connect the expression with Arabic ⁧عَرَض⁩ (ʕaraḍ, “unexpected event, accident”) are ruled out by the fact that Vassali notes għarrieda with initial ⁧غ⁩ (ḡ).

• IPA^(key): /ˌaː.l‿arˈrɪː.da/
  • IPA^(key): /ˌaˤː.l‿aˤːrˈrɪː.da/ (archaic)
  • IPA^(key): /ˌaːl ɣarˈrɪː.da/, /ˌaˤːl-/ (archaic, rural)

għal għarrieda

1. suddenly, at once, unexpectedly, without warning