Ways to say it
| Russian | Romanization (Wiktionary) | IPA | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| так | tak | [tak] (narrow) | |
| ага́ | ahá, agá | colloquial |
The terms provided here are used to indicate agreement or acceptance. While да is the simplest and most common way to say 'yes', так often functions to confirm a specific state or manner, such as answering 'is it so?' You may also see the idiomatic phrase так и есть, which means 'that is how it is' or 'that is correct'. Other variations include the informal ага́ (uh-huh/yeah), the informal угу (yep) and the informal давай, which can be used to say 'sure' when someone suggests an activity. For more emphasis, конечно means 'of course' and the formal безусловно means 'undoubtedly'.
Which one should you use?
да is the most common and direct way to say 'yes' to a question. In contrast, так is often used to confirm a specific state or manner.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
For casual conversation, you can use the colloquial ага́. If you want to be very formal, you might use безусловно to mean 'undoubtedly'.
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
tak
Did you know?
- Russian has a specific way of saying 'yes' to a negative question, which often involves using нет to mean 'no, you are wrong, the answer is yes'.
- The word да can be used to express doubt or skepticism, similar to how an English speaker might say 'yeah, right' when they actually mean 'no'.
- In some Russian dialects, да can actually function as a conjunction meaning 'and' or 'but', which can confuse a learner expecting a simple 'yes'.
Examples in context
- Да, так и есть.Yes, that is true.This sentence shows how to use так to confirm that something is true.Tatoeba #12827935 by marafon, translation #10620754 by belvis
- Да, я так и думал.Yes, I thought so.This sentence shows how to use так to express that something was thought to be a certain way.Tatoeba #5493334 by marafon, translation #4292111 by ddnktr
- Да, боюсь, что так.Yes, I'm afraid so.This sentence shows how to use так to confirm a suspicion or an unpleasant reality.Tatoeba #3547246 by marafon, translation #35567 by shanghainese
- Вы говорите по-русски? – ДаDo you speak Russian? – Yes
- Вы согласны с предложением? – БезусловноDo you agree with the proposal? – Without a doubt
- Пойдем в кино? – АгаShall we go to the movies? – Yes
- Ты готов к вечеринке? – УгуAre you ready for the party? – Yep
- Пойдем покататься на велосипедах? – ДавайLet's go for a bike ride? – Sure
- Ты пойдешь со мной в магазин? – Угу, дай мне минутку.Will you come with me to the store? – Yep, give me a minute.
- 49 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Ekaterina and Dmitry are discussing a plan for the weekend.
- Екатерина EkaterinaМы поедем в парк в субботу?My poyedem v park v subbotu?Are we going to the park on Saturday?
- Дмитрий DmitryТак, договорились.Tak, dogovorilis.Yes, it's a deal.
- Екатерина EkaterinaВстретимся в двенадцать часов?Vstretimsya v dvenadtsat chasov?Shall we meet at twelve o'clock?
- Дмитрий DmitryДа, так будет удобно.Da, tak budet udobno.Yes, that will be convenient.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries так, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
