Ghajn

Ghajn is a Maltese word commonly appearing in place names and as a surname. In Maltese orthography it is written Għajn and is usually transliterated as Ghajn in English texts. The term can mean either “eye” or “spring,” depending on context, and it is widely used to denote a natural water source or a place associated with water. The root is Semitic, related to the Arabic ’ayn and the Hebrew ayin, reflecting Malta’s historical linguistic influences; the Maltese form includes the glottal stop represented by the letter għ.

As a toponymic element, Għajn is found in many Maltese localities and street names, often indicating proximity to a spring, well, or small pool. It has historically served as a descriptive locator in both rural and urban landscapes, appearing in compound names that convey “the spring of” or “at the spring.”

As a surname, Ghajn is attested among Maltese families and in the Maltese diaspora. Surnames derived from toponyms frequently signal ancestral connections to a place featuring a spring or water source. In contemporary usage, the spelling Ghajn is common in English-language references to Maltese geography and people.