qalbu sewda

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

• IPA^(key): /ˈʔal.bu ˈsɛw.da/

qalbu sewda

1. sad; doleful

   Konna qalbna sewda.

   We were sad.

   Għandhom qalbhom sewda.

   They are sad.

   Inħossni qalbi sewda.

   I feel sad.

• 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.

• mdejjaq (“unhappy, discontent”)