A spoken or written yes treated as a decision, approval, or consent to a proposal.
Examples
Viņa beidzot sacīja savu jā.
She finally said her yes.
Komiteja deva skaidru jā jaunajam projektam.
The committee gave a clear yes to the new project.
Bez viņas jā līgums netiks parakstīts.
Without her yes, the contract will not be signed.
Publika ar skaļu jā atbalstīja lēmumu.
The audience supported the decision with a loud yes.
Pirms kāzām abi ģimenes locekļi gaidīja viņas jā.
Before the wedding, both families waited for her yes.
Viņa jā nozīmēja, ka darbs var sākties.
Her yes meant that the work could begin.
Similar words
piekrišana
akcepts
apstiprinājums
Etymology
Borrowed from Middle Low German ja. Sources record it in Latvian religious texts from the 16th century, while everyday spoken use became general only around the middle of the 19th century.
FAQ
What does jā mean in Latvian?
jā mainly means yes. It can also ask for confirmation, answer a call, or name a positive reply as a decision.
Is jā the same as ja?
No. jā means yes, while ja means if. The macron changes both pronunciation and meaning.
Can jā be used at the end of a question?
Yes. In speech, jā can work like right? when the answer is expected or being checked.
How is jā used when someone calls a name?
A reply such as jā? or jā, lūdzu? shows that the person has heard and is ready to respond.
Can jā be a noun?
Yes. In phrases such as teikt jā or sacīt savu jā, it means a yes, approval, or consent.
Is jā formal or informal?
The affirmative and call-response uses are neutral. The tag-question use at the end of a sentence is more conversational.
How is jā pronounced?
jā is pronounced /jaː/, with a long ā vowel.
Is jā the same as the prefix in jālasa?
No. jālasa contains the debitive prefix jā-, which marks obligation and belongs with the verb form.
Comments & contributions
Know this word from another angle? Add a correction, a nuance, or a usage note. New posts go public after a quick review.