ah sí
/a si/from spelling rules
The English phrase "oh ya" can be expressed in Spanish as ah sí.
The phrase ah sí is an informal expression used to signal that you have just remembered something or to acknowledge a piece of information that was just shared.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In Mexico, the word ¡Órale! is used to convey enthusiasm or agreement.
How do you pronounce it?
/a si/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, the phrase ah sí is often accompanied by a quick upward flick of the chin or a nod to signal a sudden realization.
- While ah sí is often used to acknowledge information, saying it with a rising intonation can transform it into a sarcastic way to say 'oh, really?' when you do not believe the speaker.
- The word sí has two completely different origins depending on its meaning. In the phrase ah sí, it comes from the Latin word for 'thus', but when used as 'himself' or 'herself', it derives from a different Latin root meaning 'self'.
Examples in context
- Ah sí, ya me acuerdo.Oh yeah, I remember now.
- Ah sí, es verdad.Oh yeah, that's true.
- Ah sí, lo olvidaba.Oh yeah, I was forgetting that.
Example conversation
Alejandro reminds Sofía about a meeting.
- AlejandroSofía, hoy tenemos la reunión a las tres.Sofía, we have the meeting at three today.
- SofíaAh sí, casi se me olvida.Oh yeah, I almost forgot.
- AlejandroNo te preocupes, te aviso más tarde.Don't worry, I'll let you know later.
- SofíaGracias, Alejandro.Thanks, Alejandro.
Sources
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ah, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
