ya
/ˈʝa/
In Spanish, ya is an informal way to say yes.
While ya can function as an informal way to say yes, it is frequently used to indicate that an action has already been completed, much like the English word "already".
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʝa/
Did you know?
- When used as an exclamation like ¡Ya!, the word can be a command meaning 'stop it' or 'enough', often used to silence someone or stop a child from misbehaving.
- Using ya in the phrase ya voy literally means 'I am already going', but it is the standard way to say 'I am coming' when someone calls you from another room.
- In some dialects, ya is used to express skepticism or irony, effectively meaning 'yeah, right' when spoken with a rising tone.
Examples in context
- Creo que sería útil si incluyeras cómo generar los diptongos (con ya/yo/yu pequeñas) y las consonantes geminadas (con tsu pequeña).I think it might be useful if you could add how to output the diphthongs (with small ya/yu/yo) and geminate consonants (with small tsu).This sentence shows how to use the word ya in a technical context.Tatoeba #7917789 by fpp, translation #328069 by papabear
- Estaré allí ya mismo.I'll be there in just a moment.
Example conversation
Lucía asks Alejandro if he is ready to leave.
- Lucía¿Estás listo para salir, Alejandro?Are you ready to leave, Alejandro?
- AlejandroYa, dame un segundo.Yes, give me a second.
- Lucía¿Tienes las llaves?Do you have the keys?
- AlejandroYa, las tengo aquí.Yes, I have them here.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry ya, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
