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→Etymology: It is not from OE "gea" – per OED, Merriam Webster, etymonline |
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===Etymology=== |
===Etymology=== |
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{{wikipedia|yes and no}} |
{{wikipedia|yes and no}} |
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Shortened colloquial form of {{m|en|yes}}. |
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From a variation of {{m|en|yea}}, itself from {{inh|en|enm|ya}}, {{m|enm|ye}}, from {{inh|en|ang|ġēa|t=yes}}, from {{inh|en|gem-pro|*ja|t=yes; thus, so}}, from {{inh|en|ine-pro|*yē|t=already}}. Cognate with {{cog|fy|ja}}, {{cog|nl|ja}}, {{cog|de|ja}}, {{cog|da|ja}}, {{cog|nb|ja}}, {{cog|nn|ja}} and {{cog|sv|ja}}, {{cog|is|já}}.<ref>{{R:American Heritage Dictionary|edition=4th}}</ref> |
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Interestingly, although perhaps merely coincidentally, modern English {{m|en||yeah}} seems to possess nearly the same pronunciation as its Old English ancestor ({{cog|ang||ġēa}} being {{IPAchar|/jæːɑ/}}, Modern English {{m|en||yeah}} being {{IPAchar|[jɛə̯]}} or {{IPAchar|[jæə̯]}}) and consequently has really no other words that rhyme with it in rhotic dialects. The reason behind its seeming lack of pronunciation shift is uncertain — although it is quite possible that it simply evolved from a dialectal form of {{m|en|yea}} which developed a centring diphthong — as other words that had similar pronunciations in Old English did shift in pronunciation. It is alternatively possible that, due to its constant use (and its never being accepted as a formal term), its pronunciation has remained rigidly in place. |
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Alternative (but less likely) etymology derives ''yeah'' from a drawling pronunciation of {{m|en|yes}}. For further etymology, see {{l|en|yes}}.<ref>Webster's Third New International Dictionary, Unabridged. 2003.</ref> |
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===Pronunciation=== |
===Pronunciation=== |
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Revision as of 11:20, 12 July 2018
See also: þeah
English
Etymology
Shortened colloquial form of yes.
Pronunciation
- (deprecated use of
|lang=parameter) IPA(key): [jɛə̯], [jɛ.ə], or [jæə̯] - (deprecated use of
|lang=parameter)Audio (US): (file) - (deprecated use of
|lang=parameter)Audio (US): (file) - (deprecated use of
|lang=parameter) Rhymes: -ɛə
Particle
yeah (not comparable)
Synonyms
Translations
Note: Many languages have no equivalent of this word; in those cases, the translations given here are for yes.
yes
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Interjection
yeah
- Expressing joy, celebration, glee, etc.
- Yeah! We did it!
Derived terms
Translations
expressing joy
See also
References