svartalfar
Old Norse
Etymology
svartr (“black”) + alfar (“elves”) (note that svartr refers to black objects and black hair, but not black skin; for black skin, blár is used)
Proper noun
svartalfar m pl
- (Norse mythology) the “black elves”
Usage notes
Whether the svartalfar are the same beings as the dǫkkalfar is unclear; whether either or each term is a kenning for "dwarves" is also unclear.
See also
- alfar (“elves”)
- Svartalfaheim
- dǫkkalfar (“dark elves”)
- ljósalfar (“light elves”)