sei sei

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”).[1]Sei does not exist in other contexts in Icelandic.

Interjection

sei sei

1. indicates mild surprise; oh wow; oh dear

   Sei sei, mikil ósköp. ― Oh my.

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

2. indicates mild disapproval; tsk tsk; hmph

   Sei sei, segja margir íbúar Amsterdam við vaxandi fjölda ferðamanna.[2] ― "Hmph!" is what many people living in Amsterdam have to say about the increasing number of tourists.

   Synonyms: fuss, svei, iss

3. indicates mild emphasis; indeed

   Hinn bernski undirtónn er vissulega til staðar í öllum myndunum, sei sei jú.[3] ― The child-like undertone is certainly visible in all of his films, oh yes indeed.

   Synonyms: svei mér þá, sannarlega

See also

• sisona

References

1. “sei” in: Ásgeir Blöndal Magnússon — Íslensk orðsifjabók, (1989). Reykjavík, Orðabók Háskólans. (Available on Málið.is under the “Eldra mál” tab.)
2. Morgunblaðið, 10 January 2018. Hertar reglur um Airbnb í Amsterdam.
3. Morgunblaðið, 12 May 1998. Undirvitund og minni.