Svartálfar

Old Norse

Etymology

svartr (“black”) +‎ álfar (“elves”) (note that svartr refers to black objects and black hair, but not black skin; for black skin, blár is used)

Proper noun

Svartálfar

1. (Norse mythology) the "black elves"

Usage notes

Whether the "Svartálfar" are the same beings as the "Dǫkkálfar" is unclear; whether either or each term is a kenning for "dwarves" is also unclear.

Antonyms

• Ljósálfar

See also

• álfar
• Svartálfaheim
• Dǫkkálfar