леле

Macedonian

Etymology

Perhaps related to Ancient Greek ἐλελεῦ.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): [ˈlɛlɛ]
• IPA^(key): [ˈlælɛ] (dramatic, depreciative)

The initial vowel may be distorted in many ways for dramatic effect, being changed into sounds which are otherwise not part of Macedonian phonology.

Interjection

леле • (lele)

1. oh, oh my, oh dear, alas
2. ouch
3. wow

Derived terms

• лелек m (lelek)
• лелека (leleka)
• лелекав (lelekav)
• лелекање n (lelekanje)
• лелекне (lelekne)
• лелекнува (leleknuva)

See also

• оф (of)

References

• “леле” in Дигитален речник на македонскиот јазик (Digitalen rečnik na makedonskiot jazik) [Digital dictionary of the Macedonian language] − drmj.eu

Serbo-Croatian

Etymology

Onomatopoeic, from the sound of wailing.

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /lêle/
• Hyphenation: ле‧ле

Interjection

ле̏ле (Latin spelling lȅle)

1. Used to express pain or woe, usually in the collocation куку леле; ouch, alas

References

• “леле”, in Hrvatski jezični portal [Croatian language portal] (in Serbo-Croatian), 2006–2024