yea
word
/ˈjeɪ/
yay
/jˈeɪ/
yay
Definition
'Yea' is an old-fashioned or formal way to say 'yes.' It is especially used in voting or to express agreement in a very formal, literary, or archaic style.
Usage & Nuances
Do not confuse 'yea' with 'yeah'. 'Yeah' is common informal speech, but 'yea' is rare in modern conversation and sounds formal, biblical, or old-fashioned. The fixed pattern 'yeas and nays' is still used for votes.
Spanish: sí (voto formal) - así esPortuguese (BR): sim (voto formal) - isso mesmoPortuguese (PT): sim (voto formal) - isso mesmoChinese (Simplified): 赞成 - 是的（古旧/正式）Chinese (Traditional): 贊成 - 是的（古舊/正式）Hindi: हाँ (औपचारिक मतदान में) - हाँ, ऐसा हीArabic: نعم (في التصويت الرسمي) - أجلBengali: হ্যাঁ (আধুনিক) - জী (পুরাতন/সাহিত্যিক)Russian: да (устаревшее/официальное)Japanese: はい（古語・形式的）Vietnamese: vâng (trang trọng/cổ xưa)Korean: 예 (격식체/고어)Turkish: evet (eski/edebi)Urdu: ہاں (قدیم/ادبی)Indonesian: ya (kuno/formal) - ya (resmi/sastra)
Example Sentences
The clerk wrote down one yea and one nay.
basic
You still hear yea in formal votes, but almost never in daily speech.
natural
When the teacher asked if we agreed, he said, "Yea."
basic
In the old text, yea means "yes."
basic
The motion passed with twenty yeas and five nays.
natural
In that poem, 'Yea' gives the line an old, solemn tone.
natural