да
da[ˈda]
The English phrase "yea" can be translated into Russian as да (da).
да is an informal way to say "yes". Beyond a simple affirmation, it can function as a particle to add emphasis to a sentence, acting similarly to how "well" or "so" might be used in English. To express agreement or to confirm that you have understood something, you can repeat да using a rising intonation.
How does it change in a sentence?
While да is the standard word for "yes", it is part of several idiomatic structures. For example, the common phrase да нет, наверное is used to mean "not really" or "no, actually", despite beginning with the word for "yes".
How do you pronounce it?
da
Did you know?
- While да is a simple affirmation, it can also function as a command or a strong wish, similar to the English 'let it be' or 'may it be', such as in the phrase Да здравствует! meaning 'Long live!'
- If you see да in a technical or mathematical text, it might not mean 'yes' at all, but could be the abbreviation for 'deka-', the prefix for 'ten'.
- The word да is used as a conjunction to mean 'so that' or 'in order to' when connecting two parts of a sentence.
Examples in context
- Давай, конечно!Yeah, let's do it!
- Ты точно прав!You're absolutely right!
- Так, ага… Я понял.Alright, yea… I understand.
- Да, я согласен.Da, ya soglasen.Yea, I agree.
- Да, это отличная идея!Da, eto otlichnaya ideya!Yea, that's a great idea!
- Да, я приду завтра.Da, ya pridu zavtra.Yea, I will come tomorrow.
Example conversation
Alexander asks Olga if she wants to go to the cinema.
- Александр AleksandrОльга, ты хочешь пойти в кино?Ol'ga, ty khochesh' poyti v kino?Olga, do you want to go to the cinema?
- Ольга OlgaДа, с удовольствием!Da, s udovol'stviyem!Yea, with pleasure!
- Александр AleksandrТогда встретимся вечером.Togda vstretimsya vecherom.Then we'll meet in the evening.
- Ольга OlgaДоговорились, Александр.Dogovorilis', Aleksandr.It's a deal, Alexander.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry да, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries да, CC BY-SA 4.0.
