yes

Everyday

1. A word used to agree, say something is true, or accept: «Yes, please.» tree →
2. Used to answer when someone calls you: «Yes?» tree →
3. A happy shout: «Yes! We won!» tree →
4. As a noun, an answer that says yes. tree →
5. (casual) «Yeah», «yep», «yup», «ya», «sure», «yeah nah» (Australia, NZ: no) and «deffo» (UK: definitely) are everyday ways to say yes. tree →
6. (casual, sarcastic) «Oh yes, very clever» or «yeah, right» means the opposite: I don't believe you. tree →
7. (rough) «Yes, and?» or «yeah, so what» brushes someone off. tree →
8. (formal) «Affirmative», «indeed», «in the affirmative», «certainly» and «that is correct» are stiff ways to say yes. tree →

In the lessons

In everyday life «yes» agrees or accepts; in safety, you can say no to things that feel wrong even when others say yes. In maths, yes/no questions have only two answers. In casual talk «yeah», «yep», «ya»; «yeah nah» (Australia, NZ) means no. In the exam voice: «Respond in the affirmative or the negative», «State whether…». Phrases: yes, please; say yes; yes or no; yes and no; yes-man.

Examples

• Yes, I would like some juice. tree →
• «Is it raining?» «Yes, it is.» tree →
• Yes! I scored a goal! tree →
• Answer yes or no. tree →
• She said yes to the party. tree →
• «Tom?» «Yes, Miss?» tree →
• If a stranger asks you to go with them, do not say yes. tree →
• The answer is yes and no. tree →
• «coming to footy?» «yep, be there at 4» (casual) tree →
• «I'll pay you back tomorrow.» «Yeah, right.» (sarcastic) tree →
• «You broke it.» «Yeah, so what?» (rough) tree →
• State whether 15 is divisible by 3, responding in the affirmative or the negative. (formal exam) tree →
• "Yes," she said, nodding her head. tree →

Note

Opposite: no. In polite answers say «Yes, please» or «Yes, thank you». You do not have to say yes to anything that feels unsafe. «Yeah» is informal speech. Trap: «yeah, right» (sarcastic) means no; «yeah nah» (Australia, NZ) means no; «nah yeah» means yes. Formal «in the affirmative» = yes. A yes/no question needs yes or no, not a number.

In Jewish tradition

In everyday life «yes» agrees or accepts; in safety, you can say no to things that feel wrong even when others say yes. In maths, yes/no questions have only two answers. In casual talk «yeah», «yep», «ya»; «yeah nah» (Australia, NZ) means no. In the exam voice: «Respond in the affirmative or the negative», «State whether…». Phrases: yes, please; say yes; yes or no; yes and no; yes-man.

Examples

• He said to her, 'My daughter, come and we ivill many thee to Abraham My beloved." She said to him, 'Xo. not until the meek one com- es and takes meekness.' God then consulted the Sefer Yetzirah, which said, "Yes'. (Mordell, The Origin of Letters and Numerals according to Sefer Yetzirah (1914)) tree →

Note

Opposite: no. In polite answers say «Yes, please» or «Yes, thank you». You do not have to say yes to anything that feels unsafe. «Yeah» is informal speech. Trap: «yeah, right» (sarcastic) means no; «yeah nah» (Australia, NZ) means no; «nah yeah» means yes. Formal «in the affirmative» = yes. A yes/no question needs yes or no, not a number.