sí, en efecto
/ˈsi en eˈfeɡto/word by word
sí, en efecto is the Spanish way to say "yes indeed".
This phrase is used as an emphatic way to agree with a statement or to confirm that something is true.
What does it mean word for word?
The phrase is composed of sí (yes) and the prepositional phrase en efecto (in effect/indeed).
Which one should you use?
While sí, en efecto is a formal way to express emphatic agreement, more common and informal ways to say "yes indeed" include sí, claro or claro que sí.
Is there a formal and an informal way to say it?
sí, en efecto is a formal phrase. It is more commonly found in written text or professional speech than in casual conversation.
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi en eˈfeɡto/
Did you know?
- The word sí is a linguistic twin to the English word 'self', as both trace back to the same Proto-Indo-European root meaning 'oneself'.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, a vigorous nod of the head is often more important than the word sí itself when expressing emphatic agreement.
- While sí, en efecto is a formal way to agree, using it in a casual setting like a bar might make you sound like a character from a 19th-century novel.
Examples in context
- ¿Es este el camino correcto? Sí, en efecto.Is this the correct way? Yes, indeed.
- Sí, en efecto, la película fue muy larga.Yes indeed, the movie was very long.
Example conversation
Lucía and Mateo are discussing the results of a recent exam.
- Lucía¿Crees que el examen fue difícil, Mateo?Do you think the exam was difficult, Mateo?
- MateoSí, en efecto, estuvo bastante complicado.Yes indeed, it was quite complicated.
- LucíaParece que muchos estudiantes fallaron.It seems many students failed.
- MateoEs muy probable que sea así.It is very likely that is the case.
