ja
/jaː/
The English word 'yes' is translated into Dutch as ja.
ja is the simplest and most common way to say 'yes' in Dutch, used as a particle to indicate agreement or acceptance. In certain contexts, it can also be used as an interjection to express pleasure, joy or great excitement, similar to 'yay' or 'whoo' in English.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
/jaː/
Did you know?
- Dutch speakers may say ja while shaking their head from side to side, which can confuse English speakers who associate that gesture with 'no'.
- In Dutch, saying ja at the start of a sentence can act as a filler word, similar to how English speakers use 'well' or 'so' to bridge thoughts.
- Dutch speakers often use ja, hoor to mean 'yes, sure' or 'yes, go ahead', adding a layer of casual permission to the agreement.
Examples in context
- Ja dat kan ik.Yes, I can.This example shows how to use ja to confirm ability.Tatoeba #7142009 by Micsmithel, translation #35568 by AlanF_US
- Ja. Ik ben Tom.Yes. I am Tom.This example shows how to use ja to introduce oneself.Tatoeba #10014884 by MarijnKp, translation #11272344 by Aphima
- Ja, wat is het?Yes, what is it?This example shows how to use ja to respond to a question or inquiry.Tatoeba #12261433 by Ag12x, translation #11157233 by sundown
- Heeft u een reservering?Do you have a reservation?
- Bent u akkoord met deze voorwaarden?Do you agree with these terms and conditions?
- Ga je mee naar de film?Are you coming to the movies?
- Wil je nog wat drinken?Do you want another drink?
- 226 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daan and Julia are deciding whether to go for a walk.
- DaanZullen we een wandeling maken?Shall we go for a walk?
- JuliaJa, dat lijkt me leuk.Yes, that sounds fun.
- DaanGa je mee naar het park?Are you coming to the park with me?
- JuliaJa, ik kom graag mee.Yes, I would love to come along.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries ja, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
