iswed
/ˈɪs.wɛt/masculine
The Maltese word for black is iswed.
The word iswed is used to describe something that is black, meaning it absorbs all light. It can function as an adjective or as a noun to mean the colour black.
Meaning: absorbing all light (adj)
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The plural form of the adjective is iswed. It is provided here in the masculine form.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈɪs.wɛt/. The stress is on the first of the two syllables.
Did you know?
- The word iswed is inherited from the Arabic word aswad, showing the deep Semitic roots of the Maltese language despite its heavy Italian and English influence.
- The phonetic sound of iswed shares a root with words for 'darkness' and 'burning' in other Semitic languages, linking the color to the act of charring.
- Because Maltese is the only Semitic language written in the Latin alphabet, the way you spell and pronounce iswed can look strikingly different from its Arabic origins.
Examples in context
- Il-qattus tiegħek huwa iswed.Your cat is black.This sentence is useful for describing the colour of a cat using iswed.Tatoeba #3231141 by biber, translation #3189153 by zumley
- Il-ħut huwa iswed.The fish is black.
Example conversation
Paul and Maria are looking at a piece of clothing.
- PaulTista' tixtimmi l-iswed?Can you pass me the black one?
- MariaIva, hawn hu.Yes, here it is.
- PaulDak il-iswed jidilu tajju.That black one looks good.
- MariaTebqa' tiegħek!It suits you!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “black” translations and entries iswed, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries iswed, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
