Yeah is not a word

Asked by: Dr. Adolphus Kertzmann

Score: 4.2/5
(32 votes)

There’s nothing rude about «yeah». It’s the normal affirmative word in English and all native speakers use it, even those who complain about it. In «yeah right», using «yeah» is mandatory.

Is it unprofessional to say yeah?

Informal Yes. yeah American English, colloquial, by 1863, from drawling pronunciation of yes. You can check this similar question as well: When is it appropriate to use «Yeah» and «Yep» as variants of the word «Yes»?

Is it proper to say yeah?

The correct spelling of the word depends on which way you want to use it. In an informal setting, where it is being used to agree, affirm, or in the place of the word yes, yeah is the more modern, preferred, and commonly used version.

What does Yeah mean in texting?

yeah Add to list Share. Yeah is a casual form of yes. When you’re hanging out with someone you really look up to and they ask you if you want to go to a party, play it cool by saying “Yeah, sure,” instead of “Yes! I’d love to!” You would almost never write “yeah” unless you were trying to mimic the sound of talking.

What does Yeah mean from a girl?

Yeah means okay, whatever you say, I don’t agree though. If you just wrote her a big paragraph of how your day was and she replied yeah, you know what that means now. (ALSO READ Signs of a jealous and possessive girlfriend: 10 red flags you simply cannot ignore!)

30 related questions found

Main Takeaways:

• Yea, yeah, and yay are all real words that mean different things.
• Yeah is a more casual form of yes.
• Yea means yes too, but it’s reserved primarily for formal votes.
• Yay is an expression of joy or excitement.
• Though yah can be used in place of yes, it’s not as popular as yeah.
• Use ya if you’re trying to convey yes with a Southern accent or other similar dialects.

There are so many ways to express affirmation verbally. For instance, you can say yes if you agree with an idea or someone you’re in conversation with. But what about yea or yeah? Do they mean the same as yes? When is the right time to use them? In this post, we will discuss the difference between yea, yeah, and yay.

What Does it Mean to Say Yeah?

Yeah is a popular substitute for yes, and it means the same thing. The biggest difference is that yeah is considered very relaxed, while yes is suitable for more formal situations.

If you’re talking to a family member or close friend who asks you a question, yeah would be an appropriate response. But if you’re interviewing for a job or talking with your professor, yes, maybe a better choice. Both can be used in writing, though the same rules apply. So, use yeah in dialogue or more casual settings like a text, and reserve yes for academic work, journalistic content, etc.

What Is the Full Meaning of Yay?

Unlike yeah and yes, yay is an interjection. Meaning, it’s a word used to convey emotion. People use this term to express joy, enthusiasm, or triumph. On the other hand, writers often use yay to emphasize elation, pleasure, and approval in writing.

Is Yea a Real Word?

Yes, yea is a real word. You can use it as an adverb or noun. As an adverb, yea means yes. However, as a noun, it can be used as an affirmative statement or to refer to a person who’s casting a vote. Check the following examples.

Yea as an adverb:

Yea as a noun:

It would be unusual to use yea in conversation unless perhaps you’re in a period movie or pretending to be an old-timey judge.

Finally, there’s yeah.

What Does Yeah Mean?

This simple word is the most common informal alternative for yes. You may hear it said quickly or drawn out to suggest hidden doubt or sarcasm.

What is a Slang Term for Yes?

In addition to yeah, there are several other words and phrases considered to be slang alternatives to yes:

• Cool
• For real
• Sure
• Good call
• Good to go
• Hells yes
• Okay
• You got it
• Yep
• Yup

In the example above, all of those alternatives meant the same thing as the first response.

Is it Ya or Yah?

This is another tricky one. Both ya and yah seem like they’d sound and mean the same thing, but not so fast. In most cases, yah is indeed another way to say yes, so the same rules apply here as with yeah.

It looks a little weird, though, right? Yah is less frequently used than other slang forms of yes, so you may want to stick with yeah or even yup.

Ya is slang, but it might not mean yes. In some situations, ya can be used to show agreement.

But more often, ya is used in place of you, especially in dialects in the American South known for their drawls. Though it’s spelled y-a, here it sounds more like y-u-h.

When it comes to yea, yeah, or yay, meaning matters. So, decide what you’re trying to communicate, and pick the best word for that exact situation. It’s okay to be casual, but only if your audience will appreciate that informality. Does this make sense? Just give us a yay or nay!

Quick Quiz on Proper Usage of Yea, Yeah, and Yay

Read More: My Apology or My Apologies: Saying Sorry the Right Way

This is driving me crazy. I just got an email with the subject, “Yeah a Birthday Baby is Born”. I’m not sure the sender (who is not known for her grammatical prowess) meant to sound as sarcastic as the teenagers we teach, but to someone who knows the difference between “yeah”, “yea” and “yay”, she did.

And just what is the difference? If you don’t know, you’re certainly not alone. Even Spell Check doesn’t know the difference. It’s a trivial thing, and most people don’t care. But I do.

Let’s review:

Yeah, it’s, like, teenager talk. “Yeah” is pronounced yah-uh. This is not a celebration word. This isn’t something you’d say when a friend has a new grandbaby born on her birthday (as the email I received told me). It’s slang. It means “yes” or “whatever.” Sometimes we even use it with «so» to make it even more casual (or obnoxious), “Yeah, so, I was bored.” Big freakin’ deal.

“Yea”

Hey, everyone, let’s vote. Do you vote yea or nay? “Yea” sounds like may, hay or even yay (which we’ll get to in a minute), but it means an old-fashioned “yes.” It is the oldest of the collection and was the root of all versions of yes words today. “Yeah”, which means yes, definitely derived from “yea”, which also means a more formal yes, but then so did an exclamation of excitement that is almost never used correctly.

“Yay”

Yay! We’re finally using “yay” correctly! Ironically as I type this, Microsoft Word is trying to correct me. It doesn’t think that “yay” is a word. Apparently I should use “yap” instead, but I won’t. I think we all know Word isn’t right all the time. If you’re excited, “yay” is the word to correctly use according to what we consider “proper” English. “Yea” gives you a vote and “yeah” is just agreeing – only “Yay!” can really convey true enthusiasm.

My challenge to you: Pay attention to just how often these words are mixed up, flipped around and blatantly misused. At the same time, you might try to avoid misusing them yourself.

Yay! Yeah and yea are finally sorted out!