ndiyo
The Swahili word for "yes" is ndiyo.
ndiyo is used to indicate agreement or acceptance. It can also function as an emphatic particle meaning "indeed" or "exactly" to confirm a statement.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
Which one should you use?
ndiyo is the direct opposite of la, which means "no".
How does it change in a sentence?
In colloquial speech, the final vowel of ndiyo is often dropped or shortened to ndio.
Did you know?
- When answering a question in the affirmative, a Swahili speaker might avoid ndiyo entirely and instead repeat the verb used in the question to show total agreement.
- When addressing a person of high status or an elder, using only ndiyo might be perceived as too abrupt or even disrespectful without a preceding respectful greeting.
- Because ndiyo is built from the demonstrative pronoun yo, saying 'yes' is linguistically equivalent to saying 'it is so' or 'that is it'.
Examples in context
- Akili yangu inasema ndiyo, lakini dhamira yangu inasema la.My brain says yes, but my gut says no.This sentence is useful for showing how to express a conflict between one's thoughts and one's gut using the form ndiyo.Tatoeba #10881329 by ecorralest101, translation #6033630 by mailohilohi
- Ndiyo, nimeelewa kila kitu.Yes, I have understood everything.
- Je, unataka chakula sasa? Ndiyo.Do you want food now? Yes.
Example conversation
Bakari asks Neema if she wants some tea.
- BakariNeema, unataka chai?Neema, do you want some tea?
- NeemaNdiyo, tafadhali.Yes, please.
- BakariUnataka sukari ndani yake?Do you want sugar in it?
- NeemaHapana, asante.No, thank you.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries ndiyo, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries ndiyo, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
