Phrase guide

dark elf

noun · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈdɑːk ɛlf/
  • General-American: /ˈdɑɹk ɛlf/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.

1

noun

Meaning 1

A member of the race of Dǫkkálfar or Dark Alfs, creatures who live underground.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: Norse

Topics: human-sciences, mysticism, mythology, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

A member of a race of elves that is evil, has a dark (often greyish or bluish) skin and/or lives in dark places.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: fantasy

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

Back-formation from dark elves, a calque of Old Norse dǫkkalfar.

Across languages

Translations

16 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Catalan: elf fosc — a Dǫkkálfar
  • German: Dunkelelb — a Dǫkkálfar
  • Old Norse: Dǫkkálfar — a Dǫkkálfar
  • Swedish: mörkalv — a Dǫkkálfar
  • Swedish: svartalv — a Dǫkkálfar
  • Czech: temný elf — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • French: elfe noir — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • German: Dunkelelb — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Italian: elfo oscuro — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Japanese: ダークエルフ — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Marathi: डार्क एल्फ (ḍārka elpha) — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Portuguese: elfo escuro — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Portuguese: elfo negro — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Spanish: elfo oscuro — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Swedish: mörkalv — a member of a race of elves that is evil
  • Swedish: svartalv — a member of a race of elves that is evil