sí
/ˈsi/
The Spanish word for "yes" is sí. Wiktionary also lists sí pues.
Meaning: word used to indicate agreement or acceptance (particle)
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, it can also express pleasure, joy or great excitement, functioning similarly to the English "yay". Additionally, sí can be used as a noun to refer to an answer that shows agreement or acceptance.
Which one should you use?
It is important to always include the accent mark on sí to distinguish the word for "yes" from the conjunction si, which means "if".
Related words
How do you pronounce it?
The pronunciation is /ˈsi/.
Did you know?
- The word sí is actually a distant relative of the English word 'self'.
- Spanish has a distinct word for 'yes' used specifically in response to negative questions, where sí can be used to contradict a negative premise rather than just agree.
- In many Spanish-speaking cultures, saying sí while nodding your head is common, but in some regions, a slight upward tilt of the head can also signal agreement.
Examples in context
- ¿Eso es un sí?Is that a yes?This example uses sí to ask if a certain answer is a "yes".Tatoeba #9704213 by Shishir, translation #7812408 by Hybrid
- Ya dije que sí.I already said yes.This example uses sí to state that "yes" has already been said.Tatoeba #4563306 by DarkHollow, translation #4562442 by Hybrid
- Di que sí y ya.Just say yes.This example uses sí to tell someone to simply say "yes".Tatoeba #4566620 by cueyayotl, translation #2549760 by CK
- ¿Quieres venir conmigo al cine? Sí, me encantaría ir contigo.Do you want to come with me to the cinema? Yes, I would love to go with you.
- ¿Tienes hambre? Claro, siempre tengo hambre.Are you hungry? Yes, of course, I'm always hungry.
- ¿Podría ayudarme con esto, por favor? Desde luego, estaré encantado de ayudarle.Could you help me with this, please? Certainly, I will be delighted to help you.
- ¿Puedo contar contigo para la reunión de mañana? Por supuesto, estaré allí puntualmente.Can I count on you for tomorrow's meeting? Of course, I will be there promptly.
- 394 more sentences on Tatoeba
Example conversation
Lucía and Daniel are deciding whether to order pizza.
- Lucía¿Quieres pedir pizza hoy, Daniel?Do you want to order pizza today, Daniel?
- DanielSí, me parece una buena idea.Yes, I think that is a good idea.
- Lucía¡Perfecto! ¿De qué sabor?Perfect! What flavor?
- DanielDe pepperoni, por favor.Pepperoni, please.
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.
