qalbu sewda

Maltese

Etymology

Literally: “one’s heart is black”. Arabic حَزِين (ḥazīn, “sad”) has come to mean “wrong, bad” in Maltese; see ħażin.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔal.bu ˈsɛw.da/

Phrase

qalbu sewda

1. (figuratively) sad; doleful

   Konna qalbna sewda. ― We were sad.

   Għandhom qalbhom sewda. ― They are sad.

   Inħossni qalbi sewda. ― I feel sad.

Usage notes

• As above, this expression can be construed with kien (“to be”), għand (“to have”), or reflexive ħass (“to feel”). All agree with the logical subject, as does the pronominal ending on qalb. The noun and adjective themselves do not change.

Derived terms

• swied il-qalb

 

See also

• mdejjaq (“unhappy, discontent”)