¡ah, sí!
/ˈa ˈsi/word by word
The Spanish phrase for "oh yes" is ¡ah, sí!
¡ah, sí! is an exclamation used to express strong agreement or to confirm that something is true. It is often used as an interjection when someone suddenly remembers something or realizes a truth (e.g., 'Oh yes, I forgot my keys!').
Which one should you use?
While ¡ah, sí! expresses enthusiastic agreement or realization, it is distinct from ¡sí! which is a simple affirmative 'yes'.
How does it change in a sentence?
In written Spanish, the exclamation marks at both the beginning and the end are required to convey the appropriate tone.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈa ˈsi/
Did you know?
- In some Spanish-speaking cultures, a sharp ¡ah, sí! accompanied by a slight tilt of the head can be used as a challenge to a dare rather than simple agreement.
- The word sí shares a common ancestor with the English word 'self' through the Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'one's own'.
- If you use ¡ah, sí! with a falling intonation instead of an ascending one, it can shift from a sound of agreement to a sound of sarcastic disbelief.
Examples in context
- ¡Desde luego! Me encantaría asistir a la reuniónAbsolutely! I'd love to attend the meeting
- ¡Claro que sí! Me encantaríaOf course! I'd love to
- ¡Ah, sí! Es la verdad.Oh yes! It is the truth.
- ¡Ah, sí! Me encanta ese color.Oh yes! I love that color.
- ¡Ah, sí! Todo salió muy bien.Oh yes! Everything went very well.
Example conversation
Elena and Javier are discussing a movie they both saw.
- Elena¿Te gustó el final de la película?Did you like the end of the movie?
- Javier¡Ah, sí! Fue muy emocionante.Oh yes! It was very exciting.
- ElenaYo pensé que fue sorprendente.I thought it was surprising.
- JavierTienes toda la razón, Elena.You are completely right, Elena.
Sources
- IPA marked “word by word” joins the Wiktionary pronunciations of each word (ah, sí) and can differ in connected speech.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ah, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
