Bulgarian
Etymology
Fused imperative of не (ne, “negating particle”) + де́я (déja, “to do”).
Pronunciation
Verb
неде́й • (nedéj)
- second-person singular imperative of не де́я (ne déja)
Usage notes
Used to give prohibitive orders to a single addressee. Two interchangeable constructions are possible:
- недей + да + finite verb in 2p. sg. present tense:
- Неде́й да гово́риш глу́пости! ― Nedéj da govóriš glúposti! ― Don't speak absurdities!
- Неде́й да се разсе́йваш! ― Nedéj da se razséjvaš! ― Don't get distracted!
- недей + truncated infinitive stem (without the old *-ti ending):
- Неде́й ла! ― Nedéj la! ― Don't bark!
- Неде́й го би! ― Nedéj go bi! ― Don't beat him!
Interjection
неде́й • (nedéj)
- don't [do that]! (addressed to a single person)
References
- “недей”, in Речник на българския език [Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language] (in Bulgarian), Sofia: Bulgarian Academy of Sciences, 2014
- “недей”, in Речник на българския език [Dictionary of the Bulgarian Language] (in Bulgarian), Chitanka, 2010