yeah

yeah — adverb

1. an informal way of saying 'yes,' used when giving a positive reply to a question

1.adverbA1
Definition

an informal way of saying 'yes,' used when giving a positive reply to a question or showing you agree with a statement someone has made

Example

Pedro asked if I wanted coffee, and I said yeah.

informal affirmative reply to a question

When Kenji texted 'Coming to the party?' I replied yeah.

Common collocations
  • yeah sure
  • yeah okay
  • oh yeah
  • yeah I know
Synonyms
  • yes

    neutral/formal equivalent; preferred in professional contexts

  • yep

    even more casual than 'yeah'; common in relaxed speech

  • uh-huh

    non-verbal affirmative sound, often used while listening

Antonyms
  • no

    direct opposite; formal and informal

  • nope

    informal opposite, same register as 'yeah'

  • nah

    very casual opposite, common in speech

Grammar Patterns

yeah (as standalone reply)

Usage Note

Only used in spoken or informal written contexts (text messages, chat, social media). In formal writing, use 'yes' instead.

Common Mistakes

I told the interviewer yeah to every question.
I told the interviewer yes to every question.
use 'yes' in job interviews and other formal situations.
Yeah, the report is on your desk, Mr. Chen.
Yes, the report is on your desk, Mr. Chen.
use 'yes' when speaking to a superior or in a professional setting.

yeah — exclamation

Word family

  • yes
    adverbA1
  • yes
    exclamationA1
  • yep
    adverbA2
  • yep
    exclamationA2
  • nah
    adverbA2
  • nope
    adverbA2

Synonym discussion

Sense: adverb/1

'Yeah', 'yes', 'yep', 'uh-huh', and 'aye' all signal affirmation, but they differ sharply in register and context. 'Yes' is the only neutral-to-formal option — use it in writing, interviews, and professional exchanges. 'Yeah' is the default affirmative in everyday English conversation: natural, warm, and appropriate with friends, family, and colleagues in informal settings. 'Yep' is a notch more casual and often sounds cheerfully abrupt. 'Uh-huh' is a non-verbal affirmative sound used mainly as a listening signal rather than a firm answer — a speaker might say 'uh-huh' while the other person is still talking, whereas 'yeah' after a question is a complete reply. 'Aye' is rare outside Scottish, Northern English, and nautical use; learners are unlikely to need it. For example: 'Did you finish the report?' 'Yes, here it is.' (formal), versus 'Are you coming for pizza?' 'Yeah, sounds good.' (casual).

yes ↗yepuh-huh ↗aye

Common collocations

Adverbs

Phrases

  • yeah right
  • yeah sure
  • oh yeah
  • yeah yeah
  • yeah no
  • yeah okay
  • yeah I know

Etymology

Old EnglishModern English

A casual spoken variant of 'yea', which comes from Old English 'gēa', meaning 'yes' or 'indeed'. The longer form 'yes' developed from Old English 'gēse' (from 'gēa' + 'sīe' — 'may it be so'). 'Yeah' began appearing in writing during the 1800s as a way to represent informal speech, and it is now the most common affirmative in everyday English conversation.