Heia

Chiefly Central German word attested since the 18th century. Related to common lullaby verses like heia popeia. This is probably of mere interjectional origin, though some have ventured to derive it from Proto-Indo-European *ḱey- (“to lie down”), in which case it would be related with Heirat. The late attestation is only a weak counterargument in such a childish word; nevertheless the relation seems rather hypothetical.

• IPA^(key): /ˈhaɪ̯a/

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1. (childish) bed or sleep; beddy-bye

   in die Heia gehen ― to go to bed

   Zeit für die Heia ― time for bed / time for sleep

   Heia machen ― to sleep

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• “Heia” in Duden online