ja
/jaː/
The English word 'yes' is translated into Afrikaans as ja.
ja is a particle used to indicate agreement or acceptance. It can be used as a standalone response to a question or as a particle to confirm a statement.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
The opposite of ja is nee.
Is it said differently in some regions?
In some regions, particularly in South Africa, the colloquial phrase Ja, man is used to express agreement in a relaxed manner.
How do you pronounce it?
/jaː/
Did you know?
- When answering a question in the negative, an Afrikaans speaker might say nee but then follow it with ja to soften the blow or indicate a 'yes, but' scenario, creating a paradoxical response.
- In certain South African slang, the phrase Ja, man' can be used sarcastically to mean 'Yeah, right', expressing skepticism rather than agreement.
- Afrikaans shares the word ja with Dutch, German, and Swedish, reflecting a common Germanic root for the affirmative response.
Examples in context
- Ja, ek verstaan.Yes, I understood.This sentence shows how to use ja to confirm understanding.Tatoeba #13370642 by Pietpetoors, translation #13370509 by frpzzd
- Ja.Yes.This sentence demonstrates using ja as a standalone response.Tatoeba #12757732 by lingomaxim, translation #477086 by soweli_Elepanto
- Ja, twee.Yes, two.This sentence shows ja being used alongside a number.Tatoeba #12757733 by lingomaxim, translation #35589 by shanghainese
- Jaaa, ek stem saam!Yeees, I agree!
- Kan jy my help?Can you help me?
- Wil jy saamgaan?Do you want to come along?
- 1 more sentence on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Johan and Liezel are at a cafe deciding what to order.
- JohanWil jy koffie hê?Do you want coffee?
- LiezelJa, asseblief.Yes, please.
- JohanWil jy ook beskuit hê?Do you also want rusks?
- LiezelJa, dit klink heerlik.Yes, that sounds delicious.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries ja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ja, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
