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
- (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
See also
- mdejjaq (“unhappy, discontent”)