lengi lifi

Icelandic

Etymology

From the adverb lengi (meaning "for long") + lifa meaning "to live".

Verb

lengi lifi

(with nominative) long live, "to may live long for a long time"
Við vonum að konungar okkar lengi lifi!
We hope that our kings may live for a long time!

Alexandra lengi lifi!
Long live Alexandra!

Usage notes

This phrase is followed by a word (or words) in the nominative. When referring to a name (or some objects, like teachers, kings or something else in general), it has an indefinite article (a, an).
e.g. "Lengi lifi Jósef!"
Long live Joseph!'

e.g. "Kennarar jarðarinnar lengi lifi!"
May the teachers of the world long live!
but when referring to certain people, definite article (the, that) is used.
e.g. "Lengi lifi konungurinn!"
Long live the king!

e.g. "Lengi lifi drottningin!"
Long live the queen!

Whether the subject is behind or after the phrase "lengi lifi" makes little difference; although putting it in front makes the sentence a tad more formal, though not by much.

This is often followed by a triple repetition of the word húrra! meaning "hurray" (or "húrra, húrra, húrra!").

Synonyms

megi lengi lifa

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