lengi lifi

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Icelandic

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Etymology

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

Verb

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lengi lifi

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

Usage notes

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  • 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

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