Wow! It’s Wednesday! How Do You Spell “Yay!”
- Image Credit: Khantipol
So I have this character in my second novel who gets weirdly and rather childishly excited about everything and therefore ends up saying, “Yay!” a lot.
Or should it be “Yea!”?
Or should it be “Yeah!”?
Like me you’ve probably seen this exclamation spelled all three ways by others. I personally prefer “yea,” but will go with “yay” according to the addressee and/or the occasion.
For example, I might say, “Yea! I can’t wait to see you again” to a college buddy visiting town.
And “Yay! The 2010 reunion is going to rock” to a family member.
I never say “Yeah!” b/c I feel it sounds a little too much like I’m pumping my fist in the air when I write it this way, but I do understand what attracts other people to it.
Still, I wish we could all agree one way of spelling this exclamation. Then I’d really say yea!
Or yay!
Or yeah!
Sigh… But seriously, how do you think we should spell it? Let’s hash it out in the comments.
I'm a YAY girl, but now I think YEA is proper, actually. As in yea or nay, right? Maybe yay is then a totally different word.
Hmm.
I'm a YAY girl, but now I think YEA is proper, actually. As in yea or nay, right? Maybe yay is then a totally different word.
Hmm.
I vote Yea. IMO Yeah (ya) is more like yes and less like Hooray.
I vote Yea. IMO Yeah (ya) is more like yes and less like Hooray.
I'm usually a nice person, but not when it comes to people who write "Yea" for "yay."
It's "Yay! I'm excited!" Like "Hooray!"
As Keldoo said, "yea" means "yes," as in yea or nay, and is used in voting situations. All in favor say yea or nay.
People who say "Yea, I'm so excited!" might as well say "Hell nay, I'm not gonna eat that!"
Also, "yeah" is like the casual "yes." As in "Yeah, I guess I'll do that."
I'm not sure what's up with "Yah." I personally use it as a one word answer. "Are you finished?" "Yah." But the word "ya" has no place in my vocab. I do use "ya'll" cuz i'm from Atlanta ;)
"Any other OCD grammar issues, slpc?" Nay, that's about it.
The dictionary actually says that "yay!" is a variation of "yea!" It's all very confusing. And I wonder if strunk and white cover this subject.
Also, I think I'm actually going to start saying, "Hell nay" as opposed to "Hell no" or "Hell naw." Sallie, you might have kicked off a trend.
i just googled and found this to back me up, which happens to be one of my favorite sites, and not just because it agrees with me:
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/yea.html
Can I just say that I KNEW you would find the for-sure answer? So surprising. But I will say "yay" from now on. Thanks!
Hooray for YAY! ; )
I'm usually a nice person, but not when it comes to people who write "Yea" for "yay."
It's "Yay! I'm excited!" Like "Hooray!"
As Keldoo said, "yea" means "yes," as in yea or nay, and is used in voting situations. All in favor say yea or nay.
People who say "Yea, I'm so excited!" might as well say "Hell nay, I'm not gonna eat that!"
Also, "yeah" is like the casual "yes." As in "Yeah, I guess I'll do that."
I'm not sure what's up with "Yah." I personally use it as a one word answer. "Are you finished?" "Yah." But the word "ya" has no place in my vocab. I do use "ya'll" cuz i'm from Atlanta ;)
"Any other OCD grammar issues, slpc?" Nay, that's about it.
The dictionary actually says that "yay!" is a variation of "yea!" It's all very confusing. And I wonder if strunk and white cover this subject.
Also, I think I'm actually going to start saying, "Hell nay" as opposed to "Hell no" or "Hell naw." Sallie, you might have kicked off a trend.
i just googled and found this to back me up, which happens to be one of my favorite sites, and not just because it agrees with me:
http://www.wsu.edu/~brians/errors/yea.html
Can I just say that I KNEW you would find the for-sure answer? So surprising. But I will say "yay" from now on. Thanks!
Hooray for YAY! ; )
"Hell nay, I'm not gonna eat that!" Um, that literally made me laugh out loud.
"Hell nay, I'm not gonna eat that!" Um, that literally made me laugh out loud.
I like yay, but acknowledge that yea is more correct. Yea to me looks like yeah.
Yeah is pronounced yah and means yes, totally different.
Nay on yeah.
As it turns out, your first instinct was right. slpc confirmed that the proper spelling is “yay” — so yay!Bored? Check out http://www.fierceandnerdy.com
I like yay, but acknowledge that yea is more correct. Yea to me looks like yeah.
Yeah is pronounced yah and means yes, totally different.
Nay on yeah.
As it turns out, your first instinct was right. slpc confirmed that the proper spelling is \”yay\” — so yay!
Bored? Check out http://www.fierceandnerdy.com
This is great. I have thought about this for quite some time. Used to always spell it "yah" which is probably the weirdest and most "wrong" way to spell it. Then someone said, "why do you always have people saying 'yah' as in, a caribbean 'yah mahn.'" Then I switched to "yay," because it really seemed the only logical way to spell it without confusing the reader. I wouldn't use "yeah" or "yea" , but I never have felt too natural with "yay" either. But at least I know people will be pronouncing it right in their heads.
This is great. I have thought about this for quite some time. Used to always spell it "yah" which is probably the weirdest and most "wrong" way to spell it. Then someone said, "why do you always have people saying 'yah' as in, a caribbean 'yah mahn.'" Then I switched to "yay," because it really seemed the only logical way to spell it without confusing the reader. I wouldn't use "yeah" or "yea" , but I never have felt too natural with "yay" either. But at least I know people will be pronouncing it right in their heads.