yeah

UK: jeə | US: jeə

Definition

  1. adv. informal variant of "yes," expressing agreement or affirmation

  2. excl. used to show enthusiasm or casual acknowledgment

Structure

No data yet.

Etymology

"Yeah" originated as a colloquial pronunciation shift of "yes" in the late 19th century, likely influenced by casual speech patterns. Its spelling mimics the drawn-out vowel sound (/jeə/) in relaxed articulation. As an interjection, it carries a more informal or emphatic tone than "yes," reflecting its roots in spoken English rather than structured morphology.

Examples

  1. "Yeah, I’ll be there by 8 PM."

  2. "Yeah! That’s exactly what I meant!"

  3. "You finished the report?" — "Yeah, just now."

  4. "Yeah, no, I totally agree with you." (casual agreement)

  5. "Yeah, yeah, I heard you the first time." (dismissive tone)