fqir

Maltese

Root
f-q-r
4 terms

Etymology

Inherited from Arabic فَقِير (faqīr).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /fʔiːr/
• Rhymes: -iːr

Adjective

fqir (feminine singular fqira, plural fqar or foqra, diminutive fqajjar, comparative ifqar)

1. poor (lacking; of little financial means)

   Synonym: (rare in this sense) povru

   Antonyms: għani, rikk

   Il-qasma bejn l-għonja u l-fqar qed tikber.

   The gap between the rich and the poor is growing.

   • 1949, Anton Buttigieg, “Ir-Riħ u l-Bnazzi”, in Mill-Gallerija ta’ Żgħożiti:

     Ħarbat, mewwet dawk id-dwieli,
     wild il-għaraq tal-ħaddiem,
     żomm il-fqir ġol-gorboġ waħdu,
     u bla ħobż, bla dawl, bla sliem!

     Destroy, kill those vines,
     the offspring of the worker’s sweat,
     keep the poor man in the hovel alone,
     without bread, without light, without peace!

See also

• miskin