yes

See also: þes

English

Etymology

From Middle English yes, yis, from Old English ġēse, ġīse, ġȳse, *ġīese (“yes, of course, so be it”), equivalent to ġēa (“yes", "so”) + sī(e) (“may it be”). Compare yea.

Pronunciation

  • (UK)IPA(key): /jɛs/
  • (US)IPA(key): /jɛs/
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Particle

yes

  1. A word used to show agreement or acceptance.
    Yes, you are correct.
    Yes, you may go play outside now.
    Yes, sir, we have your package right here.
  2. A word used to indicate disagreement or dissent in reply to a negative statement.
    It was not my fault we lost the race.
    Oh, yes, it was!

Usage notes

  • In Old and Middle English, yes was a more forceful affirmative than yea.
  • An example of yes used to disagree with a statement: the questions "You don’t want it, do you?" and "Don’t you want it?" are answered by "yes" if the respondent does want the item, and "no" if not. Many languages use a specific word for this purpose; see translation table below.

Synonyms

Antonyms

  • Standard form: no
  • Nautical, military, telecommunications: negative
  • Dialect or archaic forms: nay
  • Colloquial or slang forms: ixnay, nah, naw, nope
  • See also: Thesaurus:no

Coordinate terms

  • (expression of agreement or acceptance): nod

Derived terms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Interjection

yes!

  1. Used to express pleasure, joy, or great excitement.
    Our second goal of the match! Yes!
    Antonym: no
  2. Response that confirms that the user is paying attention.

Translations

Noun

yes (plural yeses or yesses)

  1. An affirmative expression; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
    Was that a yes?
    Synonyms: aye, yea, nod
    Antonyms: no, nay
  2. A vote of support or in favor/favour of something.
    The workers voted on whether to strike, and there were thirty "yeses" and one "no".
    Synonyms: aye, yea
    Antonym: nay

Translations

Verb

yes (third-person singular simple present yeses, present participle yessing, simple past and past participle yessed)

  1. (colloquial, transitive) to agree with, affirm, approve.
    Did he yes the veto?
    • 1972 Oct, Barth, John, “Perseid”, in Harper's Magazine, page 79:
      "That's really what you wanted?" I yessed both; ...
    Synonyms: agree, consent, nod
  2. (slang) to attempt to flatter someone by habitually agreeing

Derived terms

Translations

Anagrams

Asturian

Verb

yes

  1. second-person singular present indicative of ser

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English yes.

Interjection

yes

  1. (colloquial) Expression of triumph, vehement approval, etc.

Dutch

Etymology

From English yes.

Pronunciation

  • Audio(file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Interjection

yes

  1. (colloquial) yay
    Synonym: jee

French

Etymology

From English yes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /jɛs/

Interjection

yes

  1. (chiefly Quebec, colloquial) yes!
    Synonym: oui

Ido

Etymology

From Esperanto jes, from English yes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /jes/

Adverb

yes

  1. yes
    Antonym: no

Middle English

Noun

yes (uncountable)

  1. Alternative form of is (“ice”)

Novial

Particle

yes

  1. yes
    Antonym: no

Spanish

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ɟ͡ʝes/

Noun

yes

  1. plural of ye

Tok Pisin

Etymology

From English yes.

Particle

yes

  1. yes (word used to show agreement or acceptance)

Interjection

yes

  1. yes (used to express pleasure, joy, or great excitement)
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