יחי
The Hebrew phrase for "long live" is יחי.
יחי is a formal way to express the sentiment "long live."
What does it mean word for word?
The word יחי is a third-person singular masculine imperative/subjunctive form of the verb "to live," literally meaning "he will live" or "may he live."
Did you know?
- While יחי is used for kings, the common Hebrew phrase for wishing someone a long life is עד מאה ועשרים, which means 'until one hundred and twenty'.
- The phrase יחי המלך is rarely heard in spoken modern Hebrew and is almost exclusively found in translated literature or historical films.
- The word יחי shares its root with the Hebrew word for 'single' or 'unique', יחיד. This connects the concept of 'living' to the idea of an individual existing or being one of a kind.
Examples in context
- המלך מת, יחי המלך!The king is dead, long live the king!This sentence is useful for the phrase "The king is dead, long live the king!" using יחי.Tatoeba #6047681 by fekundulo, translation #1526486 by pauldhunt
- יחי הקיסר!Long live the Emperor!This sentence is useful for expressing "Long live the Emperor!" using יחי.Tatoeba #819215 by Eldad, translation #569233 by Scott
- יחי הצבא!Yachi ha-tsava!Long live the army!
Example conversation
Daniel and Noa are joking about Noa being the boss of the house.
- דניאל Danielנועה, את מחליטה הכל היום.Noa, at machlita hakol hayom.Noa, you are deciding everything today.
- נועה Noaזה נכון, אני הבוסית כאן.Ze nakhon, ani ha-bosit kan.That's true, I am the boss here.
- דניאל Danielאם כך, יחי המלכה!Im kak, yechhi ha-malka!In that case, long live the queen!
- נועה Noaתודה לך, דניאל.Toda lak, Daniel.Thank you, Daniel.
Sources
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
