ja
/jaː/
In Dutch, yeah is translated as ja. Wiktionary also lists jawel.
Meaning: yes (particle)
Ways to say it
| Dutch | IPA |
|---|---|
| ja | /jaː/ |
| jawel | /jaːˈʋɛl/ |
The word ja is a particle used to express simple affirmation. When you want to express joy, you might use related forms such as yes or jippie.
Which one should you use?
ja is used for simple affirmation, whereas jawel is used to correct a misconception or a negative assumption.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/jaː/
Did you know?
- A common Dutch expression ja, ja can actually be interpreted as 'no' or 'I don't believe you' depending on the intonation.
- When Dutch people are being sarcastic or dismissive, they may elongate the word into jaaaaa, which transforms the affirmation into a sigh of resignation.
- The Dutch ja shares the same Proto-Germanic root as the English 'yea'. While the spelling has changed, they are distant linguistic cousins.
Examples in context
- Ja, het gaat heel goed.Yeah, it's going very well.This sentence shows how to use ja to confirm a state of being.Tatoeba #8449556 by doemaar14, translation #6586670 by Eccles17
- Oh ja, dat klopt! Dankje.Yeah, that's right! Thanks.This sentence demonstrates using ja to express agreement.Tatoeba #12326419 by doemaar14, translation #12372317 by Miktsoanit
- Ja, dat kan je wel zeggen.Yeah, you could say that.This sentence illustrates ja being used to acknowledge a statement.Tatoeba #3705079 by PaulP, translation #3096848 by CK
- Wilt u alstublieft uw paspoort laten zien? – Ja, natuurlijk.Could you please show your passport? – Yes, of course.
- Kunt u dit document ondertekenen? – Zeker, geen probleem.Could you sign this document? – Certainly, no problem.
- Wil je een stuk taart? – Ja hoor, lekker!Do you want a piece of cake? – Yeah, sure, delicious!
- Nee, dat is niet waar. – Jawel, dat is wel waar!No, that is not true. – Yes, it actually is true!
- 21 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Levi and Julia are talking about a plan for the weekend.
- LeviGa je morgen naar de markt?Are you going to the market tomorrow?
- JuliaJa, dat lijkt me leuk.Yeah, that sounds fun to me.
- LeviZal ik je dan ophalen?Shall I pick you up then?
- JuliaJa, graag!Yeah, please!
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yeah” translations and entries ja, jawel, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, jawel, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
