lengi lifi

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

Verb

 * 1)  long live, "to may live long for a long time"

Usage notes

 * This phrase is followed by a word (or words) in the nominative. When referring to a name (or some objects, like teachers, kings or something else in general), it has an indefinite article (a, an).
 * e.g. "Lengi lifi Jósef!"
 * Long live Joseph!
 * e.g. "Kennarar jarðarinnar lengi lifi!"
 * May the teachers of the world long live!
 * but when referring to certain people, definite article (the, that) is used.
 * e.g. "Lengi lifi konungurinn!"
 * Long live the king!
 * e.g. "Lengi lifi drottningin!"
 * Long live the queen!


 * 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!").