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.

English - Pronunciation

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

English - 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!

Synonyms

• Dialect or archaic forms: arr, ay, aye, yea, yassuh
• Nautical, military, telecommunications: affirmative
• Colloquial or slang forms: ya, yah, yeah, yeh, yep, yeppers, yup, yuppers, yus, ahuh, mhm, uh huh.
• See also: Wikisaurus:yes

Antonyms

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

Derived terms

• yes and amen
• yes and no
• yes-no question

Translations

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 above.

English - Interjection

yes!

1. Used to express pleasure, joy, or great excitement.

   Our second goal of the match! Yes!

Antonyms

• no

Translations

English - Noun

yes (plural yeses or yesses)

1. An affirmative expression; an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.

   Was that a yes?

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

• (answer that shows agreement or acceptance): aye, yea
• (vote in support): aye, yea

Antonyms

• (answer that shows agreement or acceptance): no, nay
• (vote in support): nay

Translations

English - Verb

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

1. (colloquial, transitive) To agree with, to affirm, to approve.

   Did he yes the veto?

2. (slang) To attempt to flatter someone by habitually agreeing.

Synonyms

(to approve, to affirm): agree, consent

Translations

Derived terms

• yes man
• yes to death

Asturian - Verb

yes

1. second-person singular present indicative of ser

Dutch - Etymology

From English yes.

Dutch - Pronunciation

• Rhymes: -ɛs

Dutch - Interjection

yes

1. (colloquial) yes!

Synonyms

• ja

French - Etymology

From English yes.

French - Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /jɛs/

French - Interjection

yes

1. (chiefly Quebec, colloquial) yes!

Synonyms

• oui

Ido - Adverb

yes

1. yes

Antonyms

• no

Novial - Particle

yes

1. yes

Antonyms

• no

Tok Pisin - Etymology

From English yes.

Tok Pisin - Adverb

yes

1. yes (all senses)

قافية