ହଁ
hã/hɔ̃/
The Odia word for 'yes' is ହଁ (hã).
The particle ହଁ is used to indicate agreement or acceptance.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
While ହଁ is the standard informal way to say 'yes', using it with a stranger or an elder can come across as blunt or disrespectful.
How do you pronounce it?
The romanization is hã. The IPA is /hɔ̃/.
Did you know?
- In Odia, a slight upward nod or a side-to-side head tilt often accompanies ହଁ to signify agreement, which can be confusing to English speakers who associate side-to-side movement only with 'no'.
- When agreeing to a request in a formal setting, Odia speakers may use ହେଉ which literally means 'let it be' rather than using the standard ହଁ.
- In formal Odia conversations, instead of saying ହଁ, it is much more polite to repeat the person's name or use a title like ଆଜ୍ଞା (ājñā), which means 'sir' or 'yes, sir'.
Examples in context
- ହଁ!Yes!This sentence is useful for seeing how to use the exclamation ହଁ.Tatoeba #8159860 by anjan, translation #1148358 by cntrational
- ହଁ, ଦୁଇଟି।Yes, two.This sentence is useful for seeing how to use ହଁ in a sentence with a number.Tatoeba #8163519 by anjan, translation #35589 by shanghainese
- ହଁ, ମୁଁ ବୁଝିପାରିଲି।han, mu bujhiparili.Yes, I understood.
Example conversation
Abhishek and Puja are discussing dinner.
- ଅଭିଷେକ Abhishekପୂଜା, ତୁମେ ଭୋକ ଲାଗୁଛି କି?Puja, tume bhoka laguchi ki?Puja, are you feeling hungry?
- ପୂଜା Pujaହଁ, ମତେ ବହୁତ ଭୋକ ଲାଗୁଛି।hã, mate bahuta bhoka laguchi.Yes, I am very hungry.
- ଅଭିଷେକ Abhishekତେବେ ଆମେ ବାହାରକୁ ଯିବା କି?tebe ame baharaku jiba ki?Then shall we go outside?
- ପୂଜା Pujaହଁ, ଚାଲନ୍ତୁ ଯିବା।hã, chalantu jiba.Yes, let's go.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries ହଁ, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
