We present absorption measurements in HgCdTe/CdTe multiple quantum wells as a function of temperature, polarization, and well size in the 3–4 &mgr;m wavelength region. The energy levels are calculated using a model that includes band nonparabolicity. The spectra are fitted to a sum of continuous broadened steps including the two‐dimensional Sommerfeld enhancement factor. Polarization measurements confirm the assignment of heavy and light holes. The ratio between heavy and light hole absorption of 2.3/1 agrees well with theory. The fit of the linewidth with temperature shows a homogeneous linewidth of 4.6 meV times the density of longitudinal optical phonons and an inhomogeneous linewidth of 6.4 meV, which is similar to the alloy broadening in the bulk material.