“Yes” is a little word with a big job. It can be the answer to a yes-or-no question, or it can mean “that’s correct,” “I agree,” or “that’s fine with me.” And if you’re traveling to another country or learning a new language, “yes” is one of the first words you should know!
Learn to say “yes” in different languages with a complete guide to this short affirmation. You’ll also discover the different cultural norms for saying “yes”, including polite phrases like “yes, please,” informal replies like “yeah” or “okay,” and which languages don’t even have a word for “yes.” (There’s at least one!)
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Saying ‘yes’ in different languages
If you’re traveling or doing business abroad, being able to answer “yes” in the local language is the first step in making a good impression. From Arabic to Vietnamese, learn how to say “yes” in different languages.
| Language | “Yes” | Pronunciation |
| Arabic | نعم (Na’am) | nahm |
| Chinese (Mandarin) | 对 (duì) | dway |
| Dutch | Ja | yah |
| Farsi (Persian) | بله (Beleh) | BAH-leh |
| French | Oui | we |
| German | Ja | yah |
| Greek | Ναί (Naí) | ney |
| Hebrew | כֵּן (Khen) | ken |
| Hindi | हाँ (Haan) | hahn |
| Irish | Tá | taw |
| Italian | Sì | see |
| Japanese | はい (Hai) | hye |
| Korean | 예 (Ye) | yeh |
| Latin | Sic | seek |
| Polish | Tak | tahk |
| Portuguese | Sim | seem |
| Russian | да (Da) | dah |
| Spanish | Sí | see |
| Swedish | Ja | yah |
| Tagalog | Oo | OH-oh |
| Turkish | Evet | EH-veht |
| Vietnamese | Vâng | vuhng |
‘Yes’ in English: Yes
The English word “Yes” traces back to the Middle English word yis, meaning “So be it.” But that spelling or pronunciation doesn’t appear in many languages around the world.
Besides ‘yes,’ there are a few other ways to express affirmation, consent, and agreement in English. You’ll commonly hear a casual yeah for ‘yes.’ To agree, the word okay (often written OK) will be a daily staple. If someone asks you for something and you want to respond with a friendly but slightly more formal ‘yes,’ try of course or certainly.
‘Yes’ in French: Oui
Even non-French speakers may know that oui means “yes” in French, but what about “Yes, please”? That would be oui s’il vous plait, and is a polite way to respond to someone.
If you’re chatting with French-speaking friends, you may hear ouais, a casual “okay” or “yeah” response. And if you’d like to say “absolutely” or “of course,” try absolument.
| French Phrase | English Translation |
| Oui s’il vous plait | Yes, please |
| Ouais | Okay |
| Absolument | Of course |
‘Yes’ in German: Ja
Like Dutch, the best way to say “yes” in German is ja. But you may also hear the similar-sounding joa (yeah) in German conversation, or ja, bitte (yes, please) when the request is more formal or polite.
Jawohl is another phrase that means “yes” in German, but it’s got a stronger implication or enthusiastic agreement. This phrase comes from a military context and would be similar to “yes, absolutely” in English. German speakers usually use it playfully when someone is being extra bossy or authoritative, though it is still used in the military today.
| German Phrase | English Translation |
| Ja, bitte | Yes, please |
| Joa | Yeah |
| Jawohl | Yes, absolutely |
‘Yes’ in Italian: Sì
The word for “yes” in Italian is sì with a grave accent on the “i.” But that’s not the end of the way Italians agree or confirm responses, which can include sì, per favore (yes, please) and va bene (Okay).
Like Irish speakers, Italian speakers often respond in the affirmative by echoing the verb in the question. For example, if you hear the question vuoi cenare? (Do you want dinner?), a more common response than sì would be voglio (I want it.)
| Italian Phrase | English Translation |
| Sì, per favore | Yes, please |
| Va bene | Okay |
| Certo | Certainly |
‘Yes’ in Japanese: はい (Hai)
While the most common word for “yes” in Japanese is はい (Hai), it’s not the most common phrase you’ll hear in Japanese conversation. はいお願いします (Hai onegaishimasu), which is closer to “Yes, please,” is a more respectful way to confirm something or agree with someone.
In casual conversation, you’ll also hear うん (Un), which means “yeah.” You could also say そうそう (Sō sō) if you’re agreeing with something a person said.
| Japanese Phrase | English Translation |
| はいお願いします (Hai onegaishimasu) | Yes, please |
| うん (Un) | Yeah |
| そうそう (Sō sō) | I agree |
‘Yes’ in Spanish: Sí
You don’t have to be a Spanish speaker to know that sí means “yes” in Spanish. While this Spanish affirmation looks a lot like the Italian sì, note that they use different accent marks: Spanish accent marks are acute accents, while Italian uses grave accent marks instead. Additionally, the Spanish word si (with no accent) means “if,” not “yes.”
Sí, por favor is a common way to say “yes, please” in Spanish, and claro (Of course) can reassure the person you’re speaking to. Depending on where you are, you may also hear ya, which sometimes means “already” in Spanish, but has become a common Spanglish word to mean “yeah.”
| Spanish Phrase | English Translation |
| Sí, por favor | Yes, please |
| Claro | Of course |
| Ya | Yeah (Spanglish) |
Say ‘yes’ to learning a new language
Once you can say “yes” in different languages, you’ll open your mind to new cultural experiences and opportunities. Just imagine the incredible sites you’ll see, delectable dishes you’ll try, and amazing friends you’ll make—just by saying “yes” in all languages you encounter!
Next, learn to make corrections or give negative responses with a guide to saying “no” in different languages. You can also learn how to say “hello” in other languages to make everyone around you feel welcome, whether you’re a visitor in their hometown or you’re greeting a visitor to your own community.
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