-이시여

Korean

Etymology

First attested in the early twentieth century.

From a reanalysis of -이여 (-iyeo, “O”, exclamatory vocative particle) as being a suffixed form of the copula -이- (-i-), which was then made honorific with the suffix -시- (-si-).

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [iɕʰijʌ̹]
• Phonetic hangul: [이시여]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	isiyeo
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	isiyeo
McCune–Reischauer?	isiyŏ
Yale Romanization?	isiye

Particle

-이시여 • (-isiyeo)

1. (honorific) O honored... (vocative particle showing extreme respect.)

   영명하신 신령이시여, 살려주소서.

   Yeongmyeong-hasin sillyeong-isiyeo, sallyeo-jusoseo.

   O august divinity, save me.

   임금이시여, 나라를 버리시나이까?

   imgeum-isiyeo, nara-reul beorisinaikka?

   O king, shall you abandon the nation?

Usage notes

• Usually used only when addressing deities and (in historical contexts) monarchs. In North Korea, it is used for the Supreme Leader.
• When the particle is used, the honorific suffix -님 (-nim) tends to be deleted.