yes

See also: þes

English

Etymology

From Middle English yes, from Old English ġīese (by all means, of course, yes), derived from the same root as yea.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /jɛs/
  • (file)
  • (file)
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Particle

yes

  1. 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.
    • 2016, VOA Learning English (public domain)
      Hi, Jonathan. Are you busy? Yes, I’m busy.
      (file)
  2. 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!
  3. (humorous) Answer to a question presuming one answer when all answers are correct.
    Do you like cake, or pie?
    Yes.

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

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. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout § Translations.

Interjection

yes

  1. An exclamation of pleasure or approval, usually transcribed with an exclamation point.
    Antonym: no
    Our second goal of the match! Yes!
  2. Response that confirms that the user is paying attention.
  3. (interrogative) Used to ask for more information with a request.
    I need some help.
    Yes?

Translations

Noun

yes (plural yeses or yesses)

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

Translations

Verb

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

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

Derived terms

Translations

See also

Anagrams

Asturian

Verb

yes

  1. second-person singular present indicative of ser

Coatepec Nahuatl

Noun

yes

  1. blood.

Danish

Etymology

Borrowed from English yes.

Interjection

yes

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

Dutch

Etymology

Borrowed from English yes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /jɛs/
  • (file)
  • Hyphenation: yes
  • Rhymes: -ɛs

Interjection

yes

  1. (colloquial) yay (exclamation of happiness or enthusiasm)
    Synonym: jee

French

Etymology

Borrowed from English yes.

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /jɛs/
  • (file)

Interjection

yes

  1. (chiefly Quebec, Louisiana, Missouri, New England, 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)

Interjection

yes

  1. Alternative form of yis (yes)

Determiner

yes

  1. (East Anglia) Alternative form of þes (these)

Noun

yes

  1. (Late Middle English) plural of ye (eye)

Spanish

Pronunciation

 
  • IPA(key): (everywhere but Argentina and Uruguay) /ˈʝes/ [ˈɟ͡ʝes]
  • IPA(key): (Buenos Aires and environs) /ˈʃes/ [ˈʃes]
  • IPA(key): (elsewhere in Argentina and Uruguay) /ˈʒes/ [ˈʒes]

  • Rhymes: -es
  • Syllabification: yes

Noun

yes f pl

  1. plural of ye

Tocharian B

Pronoun

yes

  1. you (plural), you all

See also

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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