sí
/ˈsi/
In Spanish, 'yes' is expressed as sí. Wiktionary also lists sí pues.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sí | /ˈsi/ |
| sí pues | /si pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
The word sí is primarily used as a particle to indicate agreement or acceptance. It can also function as a noun to refer to an affirmative answer, or as an interjection to express pleasure, joy or great excitement.
Which one should you use?
The word sí (yes) must always include an accent mark. The unaccented version si means 'if'. Additionally, the phrase sí pues is a colloquial way to express agreement or to conclude a point, similar to saying 'yes, then' or 'well, yes'.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When sí is used as a noun meaning 'the affirmative answer', it is preceded by the masculine article el (e.g., el sí).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi/
What mistakes should you avoid?
Be careful not to omit the accent mark. Writing si instead of sí changes the meaning from 'yes' to 'if'.
Did you know?
- Using sí pues can vary wildly in meaning between countries, sometimes sounding like a confirmation in Ecuador and a sarcastic 'yeah, right' in other regions.
- The word sí is a distant relative of the English word 'self' through its Latin root, which originally meant 'to oneself'.
- A common way to say 'yes' in Spanish is to simply repeat the main verb of the question, making the word sí optional.
Examples in context
- ¿Eso es un sí?Is that a yes?This sentence is useful for confirming if a response is an affirmative sí.Tatoeba #9704213 by Shishir, translation #7812408 by Hybrid
- Ya dije que sí.I already said yes.Tatoeba #4563306 by DarkHollow, translation #4562442 by Hybrid
- Di que sí y ya.Just say yes.This sentence demonstrates using sí in an imperative context.Tatoeba #4566620 by cueyayotl, translation #2549760 by CK
- ¿Quieres ir al cine?Do you want to go to the movies?
- ¡Claro que sí!Of course, yes!
- 394 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Daniel and Sofía are deciding what to eat.
- Daniel¿Quieres comer pizza hoy?Do you want to eat pizza today?
- SofíaSí, me parece una buena idea.Yes, it seems like a good idea to me.
- Daniel¿Te gustaría que pidamos una familiar?Would you like us to order a large one?
- SofíaSí, así podemos compartir.Yes, that way we can share.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries sí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pues, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
