Yes, yep, yeah, yas

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IpseDixit
Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby IpseDixit » 2016-08-27, 14:15

Can you explain when to use them? I know "yes" is the standard form, I also think I know intuitively when to use "yep" and "yeah", but I'm not super confident of intuition when it comes to language learning, so an explanation of those two would be appreciated, too. As for "yas", it's the most obscure to me.

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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby vijayjohn » 2016-08-27, 15:35

"Yes" to my mind is relatively formal whereas "yeah" is informal. Wiktionary claims that "yep" originated as a variant of "yeah." I use it much less frequently than "yeah" (specifically, I think I personally use it only when I'm speaking informally and feel very confident about confirming something).

"Yas" is just a nonstandard form of "yes"; I think it's used when writing out the speech of people speaking some particular dialect(s) of English, but I'm not sure which one(s). I've also seen "yahs," which reminds me of how I see the way people speak in some parts of the northeastern US written out (but again, I'm not sure which accent/dialect that's supposed to represent, either).

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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby hashi » 2016-08-28, 20:23

I would only use 'yas' when I want to convey that I am excited about the situation.

Eg:
A: Do you want to go get chicken nuggets?
B: Yas!

You see it quite a bit on the internet and in text speech where it can be spelt elongated: yassss, or yaaaaaas.
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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby Jimadams » 2016-08-29, 9:02

Yes is the standard form of answer we replied to anybody, specially for our official world. However, yep and yeah can be used informally. But I am really much not sure about these use of yass or yaas.

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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby razlem » 2016-08-29, 9:30

"yes" is standard/formal

"yeah" is informal. I also use it when the next word begins with a consonant sound.
"Yes I did"
vs
"Yeah she did."

"yep" is informal and usually stands on its own.
"He went to the store, right? Yep."
vs.
"He went to the store, right? Yes, he did."

"yas" has an interesting history and modern usage (which is actually part of my MA thesis), but it's used when someone is excited, like hashi said. It's very informal and has been traditionally used more within LGBT spheres, though it has recently moved into the mainstream. A lot of times it's exaggerated: "Yaaaaas"
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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby Mars80 » 2016-08-29, 14:11

"yeah" is the word that's used most often in speech. "yes" is used for emphasis, or in formal situations.

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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby Michael » 2016-08-29, 19:15

I've also heard "yeah-hah" (same intonation as "nah-ah"). :lol:
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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby Dormouse559 » 2016-08-29, 19:28

Can't forget that one. In my experience, it's specifically used to contradict someone who's just said "nah-ah". And it sounds more than a little childish.
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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby nickbradonn » 2017-04-21, 5:56

Yes is a profession/standard word. However, we can use yep :yep: , yeah informally. Just to reply at the formal speech.

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Re: Yes, yep, yeah, yas

Postby vijayjohn » 2017-10-02, 7:19

Michael wrote:I've also heard "yeah-hah" (same intonation as "nah-ah"). :lol:

I always thought those were spelled <yuh-huh> and <nuh-uh>.

Wiktionary uses a compromise between our two forms for the first one: yeah-huh (and it uses my spelling for the second one). :P


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