tja
Danish
Etymology
Variant of ja (“yes”). This etymology is incomplete. You can help Wiktionary by elaborating on the origins of this term.
Pronunciation
- Rhymes: -aː
Interjection
tja
- Expression of contemplation.
- Tja... jeg ved ikke rigtig.
- Well... I am not sure about this.
Dutch
Alternative forms
Etymology
Variant of ja (“yes”). Compare tjonge (from jongen). Compare also Danish ja (“yes”) vs tja (“well…”); Finnish jaa (“yes; oh, well”), tjaa (“well…”).
Pronunciation
Audio (file)
Interjection
tja
- Used to express thinking or pondering; hmm, yeah well
- Tja, eigenlijk weet ik dat niet.
- Yeah well, actually I don't know that.
- Waar liggen de autosleutels? — Tja, daar vraag je me wat.
- Where are the car keys? — Hmm, that's a good question.
- Used to express ambivalence or resignation
- Een zeilboot is wel veel onderhoud, hoor. — Tja, dat hou je toch.
- A sailboat requires a lot of maintenance, though. — Oh well, it's part of the game.
- Zullen we morgen ergens gaan koffiedrinken? — Tja, of brunchen?
- How about we go somewhere for coffee tomorrow? — Hmm, how about brunch?
- 2017 October 9, Bart van Eldert, “'Creatiever op je werk? Doe een dutje' ['Want to be more creative at work? Take a nap']”, in De Gelderlander, retrieved 14 November 2022:
- Iedereen kan er wel eens last van hebben: een inkakmomentje op het werk. Tja, wat doe je eraan?
- It can happen to anyone: an energy slump at work. Oh well, what to do about it?
- 2022 October 17, Ingmar Vriesema, “Dan maar douchegel gebruiken als scheerschuim [Making do with shower gel in stead of shaving cream]”, in NRC Handelsblad, retrieved 14 November 2022:
- Door alle „onvrede” gebruikte hij deze zomer weer eens harddrugs. Maar thrills vindt René sinds kort ook in de supermarkt. Hij steelt. Een gewoonte van vroeger. Tsja. Hij komt nog altijd nauwelijks rond.
- All the "disquiet" made him use hard drugs once more this summer. But recently, René has gotten his thrills in the supermarket, too. He has been stealing. An old habit. Oh well. He still barely makes ends meet.
- Used to express indifference
- Zal ik een tatoeage laten zetten? — Tja. Dat moet je zelf weten.
- Should I get a tattoo? — What can I say? It's up to you.
- Heb je de nieuwe Star Wars-film al gezien? — Tja, ik heb echt helemaal niets met sciencefiction.
- Did you see the new Star Wars movie yet? — Well, I'm not into science fiction at all.
- Used to express that something is to be expected or anticipated
- Er zaten voornamelijk vijftigplussers in de zaal. — Tja, wat verwacht je bij een Bach-uitvoering?
- There were mostly over-50s in the audience. — Well, what do you expect at a Bach performance?
- Ik ben kletsnat geworden. — Tja, had je maar een regenjas moeten meenemen.
- I got soaked. — Well, should have brought a raincoat, shouldn't you?
- Used to indirectly express disagreement or disapproval
- Gerard Cox is een geweldige zanger. — Tja, vind je?
- Gerard Cox is an amazing singer. — Hmm, you think so?
- We hebben heerlijk gewandeld tijdens onze vakantie. — Tja, ik lig liever aan het strand.
- We had some lovely hikes during our holiday. — Well, I, for one, would rather be at the beach.
- Hij vindt dit een goed voorstel... Tja.
- He thinks this is a good proposal... I have my doubts.
Descendants
- Negerhollands: tscha
Anagrams
German
Etymology
Probably from an onomatopoeia for clicking one’s tongue, which is used with the same meaning. Perhaps also a variant of ja (“yes”). Similar expressions are found in nearby Germanic languages and in Finnish, suggesting an areal feature.
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tja/, /tjaː/
Audio (file) - Rhymes: -aː
Interjection
tja
Further reading
- “tja” in Duden online
Icelandic
Interjection
tja
- Expression of contemplation or hesitation
- Má bjóða þér að borða? - Tja, ég veit ekki ...
- Would you like to eat? - Well, I'm not sure ...
Norwegian Nynorsk
Etymology
From ja (“yes”).
Serbo-Croatian
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /tja/
Swedish
Interjection
tja
- (colloquial) hi! hiya!
- 2013, Ingrid Olsson, Långt ifrån cool:
- – Tja!, säger Hampus och Andreas och stannar precis framför oss.
- – Hi!, say Hampus and Andreas and stop just in front of us.
See also
- hej (has a list of greetings and farewells)
Etymology 2
Variant of ja (“yes”).
Pronunciation
- IPA(key): /(t)ɕɑː/
- Homophone: shah (without /t/)
Interjection
tja
- an expression of doubt and uncertainty; well
- 2015, Stieg Larsson, Män som hatar kvinnor:
- Sedan dess hade hon juridiskt betraktats som… tja, knäpp.
- Since then she had been regarded as… well, crazy.
See also
References
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