oo
/ˈʔoʔo/
The Tagalog word for 'yeah' is oo.
oo is used as a particle to mean 'yes'. Its direct antonym is hindi, which is used to express negation or disagreement.
Meaning: yes (particle)
Which one should you use?
You can use Oo nga as an informal way to say 'yeah' to express agreement. For formal agreement, use Oo nga po.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
You should use opo instead of oo when speaking to elders or people in authority to show respect. Opo is a formal way to say yes.
How does it change in a sentence?
In casual speech, oo is often lengthened to oooo to express enthusiastic agreement or to signal that you are listening.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈʔoʔo/
Did you know?
- The word 'oo' is part of the massive Proto-Malayo-Polynesian linguistic lineage that connects the Philippines to many other island nations.
- In the Philippines, the way you say 'yes' can change instantly if an elder enters the room, requiring a switch from 'oo' to 'opo'.
- The word oo is a distant relative of the word 'yes' in many other regional languages, such as the Cebuano 'oo' and the Tausug 'huun'.
Examples in context
- Opo, matatapos po agad ang proyekto.Yes, the project will be finished immediately.
- Oo nga po, tama po kayo.Yes, you are correct indeed.
- Oo, tama ka!Yeah, you're right!
- Oo nga, mukhang masaya ang party.Yeah, the party looks fun.
- Oo, pupunta ako.Yeah, I am going.
- Oo, tama ka.Yeah, you are right.
- Oo, nakita ko na.Yeah, I saw it already.
Example conversation
Jose and Maria are talking about whether they have eaten.
- JoseKumain ka na ba, Maria?Have you eaten yet, Maria?
- MariaOo, Jose. Busog na ako.Yeah, Jose. I am full.
- JoseGusto mo bang sumama sa akin?Do you want to come with me?
- MariaSige, sasama ako sa iyo.Okay, I will come with you.
Sources
- Pronunciation: Wiktionary entry oo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries oo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
