нехай

Ukrainian

Etymology

Inherited from Old Ruthenian нехай (nexaj, “let”), the second person singular imperative of Old Ruthenian нехати (nexati, “to leave be, to let go, to abandon”). Cognate with Czech nechť, Polish niech, Serbo-Croatian neka, Bulgarian не́ка (néka).

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [neˈxai̯]

• Audio:

  (file)

Particle

неха́й • (nexáj)

1. may, let (expressing a wish)

   Synonyms: хай (xaj), най (naj)

   Неха́й щасти́ть! ― Nexáj ščastýtʹ! ― Good luck! (literally, “May one get lucky!”)

   Стра́ху неха́й не зна́ю я! ― Stráxu nexáj ne znáju ja! ― May I not know any fear!

References

• Bilodid, I. K., editor (1970–1980), “нехай”, in Словник української мови: в 11 т. [Dictionary of the Ukrainian Language: in 11 vols] (in Ukrainian), Kyiv: Naukova Dumka
• “нехай”, in Горох – Словозміна [Horokh – Inflection] (in Ukrainian)
• “нехай”, in Словник.ua [Slovnyk.ua] (in Ukrainian)