Welcome to our comprehensive guide on how to say “yes” and “no” in various languages! Whether you’re a seasoned traveler or simply interested in learning new phrases, this guide will provide you with an extensive list of how to express agreement and disagreement across different cultures. We’ll cover both formal and informal ways of saying “yes” and “no” in each language to ensure you’re equipped with the appropriate vocabulary for various situations. Let’s dive in!
Table of Contents
English
Yes:
- Formal: Certainly, absolutely, affirmative, indeed
- Informal: Yeah, yup, definitely, sure
No:
- Formal: No, negative, absolutely not, not at all
- Informal: Nah, nope, not a chance, sorry
Spanish
Yes:
- Formal: Sí
- Informal: Sí, claro, vale
No:
- Formal: No
- Informal: No, nunca, ni hablar
French
Yes:
- Formal: Oui
- Informal: Oui, bien sûr, d’accord
No:
- Formal: Non
- Informal: Non, pas du tout, certainement pas
German
Yes:
- Formal: Ja
- Informal: Ja, klar, sicher
No:
- Formal: Nein
- Informal: Nein, auf keinen Fall, absolut nicht
Tip: When speaking German, remember to use “Ja, bitte” to mean “Yes, please” and “Nein, danke” for “No, thank you.”
Italian
Yes:
- Formal: Sì
- Informal: Sì, certo, assolutamente
No:
- Formal: No
- Informal: No, assolutamente no, per niente
Japanese
Yes:
- Formal: Hai, はい (pronounced as “high”)
- Informal: Un, うん (pronounced as “uhn”), sou da yo, そうだよ
No:
- Formal: Iie, いいえ (pronounced as “ee-eh”)
- Informal: Iya, いや (pronounced as “ee-yah”), chigau, 違う
Russian
Yes:
- Formal: Da, да
- Informal: Da, konечно, уверенно
No:
- Formal: Net, нет
- Informal: Niet, никогда, ни в коем случае
Portuguese
Yes:
- Formal: Sim
- Informal: Sim, com certeza, claro
No:
- Formal: Não
- Informal: Não, de jeito nenhum, de forma alguma
Mandarin Chinese
Yes:
- Formal: Shì de, 是的 (pronounced as “shr duh”)
- Informal: Hǎo, 好 (pronounced as “how”), duì, 对
No:
- Formal: Bù shì, 不是 (pronounced as “boo shr”)
- Informal: Méiyǒu, 没有 (pronounced as “may yo”), bùduì, 不对
As we explore more languages in future updates, we’ll continue to expand this guide to ensure it becomes a valuable resource for language learners worldwide. Remember, appropriate usage of formal and informal expressions varies from one culture to another, so it’s always wise to observe and adapt to local customs when communicating. Enjoy your journey of language exploration, and may your “yes” open doors and your “no” help you gracefully decline when needed!
