ua
/ˈwa/
In Kapampangan, the English word 'yes' is expressed as ua. Wiktionary also lists ne and o.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Ways to say it
| Kapampangan | IPA |
|---|---|
| ua | /ˈwa/ |
| ne | /ˈne/ |
| o | /ˈo/ |
| opu | /oˈpuʔ/ |
The words used to express agreement or acceptance vary depending on the structure of the conversation. While some forms are used to indicate a simple 'yes', others function as interjections to confirm attention or as tag questions to seek confirmation.
Which one should you use?
The forms ua, ne and o are used in different conversational contexts. The form ne is frequently used at the end of a sentence as a tag question to mean 'right?' or 'isn't it?' The form o can function as an interjection to express 'yes?' or 'huh?' when confirming if someone is addressing you.
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
The form ne is often positioned at the end of a sentence to serve as a tag question, seeking confirmation from the listener.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈwa/
Did you know?
- While o is used for 'yes', it is actually a loanword from the Spanish word o, which means 'or' in English.
- The formal 'yes' opu is actually a combination of two separate words, o and the respect marker pu.
- Using opu is not just about the meaning of 'yes' but signals the social hierarchy and the speaker's respect for the listener.
Examples in context
- O mamaus ka?Yes? Are you calling me?This sentence demonstrates the use of o to confirm if someone is calling you.
- Ua, magkanu ya?Yes, how much is it?
- Ua, mako na ku.Yes, I am leaving now.
Example conversation
Mark and Maria are deciding on a place to eat.
- MarkMangan ta king tindahan?Shall we eat at the store?
- MariaUa, sige.Yes, okay.
- MarkMangan tana ngeni?Shall we eat now?
- MariaSige, tara na.Okay, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries ua, ne, o, opu, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ne, o, opu, ua, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Wiktionary CC BY-SA 4.0.
