sei sei

Icelandic

Alternative forms

• sei-sei
• sei, sei

Etymology

Ásgeir Blöndal suggest that this is derived from a demonstrative (e.g. "that thing") related to -si (an Old Norse demonstrative adverb or suffix, used for example in þessi) and sá (“that thing”). Sei does not exist in other contexts in Icelandic.

Interjection

sei sei

1. indicates mild surprise; oh wow; oh dear

   Synonyms: je minn, ja hér, ja hérna, jii, já, þú segir það

   Sei sei, mikil ósköp. ― Oh my.

2. indicates mild disapproval; tsk tsk; hmph

   Synonyms: fuss, svei, iss

   Sei sei, segja margir íbúar Amsterdam við vaxandi fjölda ferðamanna. ― "Hmph!" is what many people living in Amsterdam have to say about the increasing number of tourists.

3. indicates mild emphasis; indeed

   Synonyms: svei mér þá, sannarlega

   Hinn bernski undirtónn er vissulega til staðar í öllum myndunum, sei sei jú. ― The child-like undertone is certainly visible in all of his films, oh yes indeed.

See also

• sisona