Ways to say it
| Spanish | IPA |
|---|---|
| sí | /ˈsi/ |
| sí pues | /si pwes/ (from spelling rules) |
sí is a particle used to indicate agreement or acceptance. As an interjection to express excitement, triumph or pleasure, it is often elongated in speech, such as ¡Siiii! It can also function as a noun meaning an affirmative answer. To say "Of course", you can use Claro que sí. Other ways to express agreement include the formal Desde luego (Certainly or Naturally) and the informal Sí, claro (Yes, of course). In very informal scenarios, you might use ¡Obvio! to mean "Obviously!"
Which one should you use?
While sí is the standard way to say "yes", the colloquial phrase sí pues is used to express a reluctant or dismissive agreement, similar to "yeah, well" or "fine then".
Related words
How does it change in a sentence?
When sí is used as a noun meaning "the affirmative answer", it is preceded by the masculine article el (e.g., el sí).
How do you pronounce it?
/ˈsi/
Did you know?
- While sí is the standard word for 'yes', Spanish speakers often answer questions by repeating the main verb of the question instead of saying sí.
- Adding sí to the end of a sentence can turn a statement into a question to seek confirmation, similar to adding 'right?' in English.
- The Latin root of sí is 'sīc', which meant 'thus' or 'in this manner'. This shows that the word's history is rooted in pointing to a specific way of being.
Examples in context
- ¿Eso es un sí?Is that a yes?This sentence helps you ask if a response is an affirmative "yes".Tatoeba #9704213 by Shishir, translation #7812408 by Hybrid
- Ya dije que sí.I already said yes.This sentence is useful for stating that you have already given an affirmative answer.Tatoeba #4563306 by DarkHollow, translation #4562442 by Hybrid
- Di que sí y ya.Just say yes.This sentence is useful for telling someone to simply agree.Tatoeba #4566620 by cueyayotl, translation #2549760 by CK
- ¿Está disponible para una reunión mañana?Are you available for a meeting tomorrow?
- Sí, por supuesto.Yes, of course.
- ¿Quieres acompañarme al concierto esta noche?Do you want to come with me to the concert tonight?
- ¡Sí, claro!Yes, of course!
- 394 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Javier and Lucía are deciding if they should order pizza.
- Javier¿Quieres pedir pizza hoy?Do you want to order pizza today?
- LucíaSí, me encantaría.Yes, I would love to.
- Javier¿Pedimos la de pepperoni?Should we order the pepperoni one?
- LucíaSí, esa es mi favorita.Yes, that is my favorite.
Sources
- Wiktionary, “yes” translations and entries sí, CC BY-SA 4.0, dump of 2026-09-26.
- IPA marked “from spelling rules” is derived from standard Spanish spelling, where Wiktionary gives none.
- Word origins: Wiktionary entries pues, sí, CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Example sentences: Tatoeba CC BY 2.0 FR.
